Page 7 of Cherish

“You say that because you’ve never met the Shadow Queen.”

“And you have?” he shoots back.

Of course Jaxon doesn’t know Hudson and I have been there. Hudson has never said a word about what happened during our time trapped together, and I’ve only just remembered. I expect Hudson to update everyone now, but he doesn’t. Instead, he looks over at me in question.

“Hudson and I fought her,” I answer, diving right in. “I feel like that should count for something.”

Hudson laces our fingers together now, his touch letting me know he’s got my back as I catch everyone up on my missing memories. Well, as much as I feel comfortable sharing with Jaxon here.

“So you’re saying…” Jaxon eventually starts. “You were trapped in this Shadow Realm with Hudson for much longer than four months?”

“I was,” I tell him, uneasiness crawling through my belly like ants. Because there’s a lot in that simple statement, and as Jaxon’s dark eyes meet mine, I can tell that he knows it, too.

Even before Heather’s cup of tea rattles on the table between us.

“Umm, what was that?” Heather gasps, looking around a little wildly, as if expecting the Big One to hit us at any second.

“Just a tremor,” Hudson says but glances at his brother with somber eyes.

“ThisisSan Diego,” I add, trying to help him cover for Jaxon. But judging by the way Flint is suddenly staring at Jaxon like he wants to flip our table and pull him closer, nothing I say is going to help.

“When did you remember?” Eden asks, completely ignoring the sudden tension. Or maybe she’s just so wrapped up in Heather that she doesn’t feel everything else going on.

“Today,” I reply. “And there’s a lot for me to unpack in the memories. But I think I need to shelve that for now. Mekhi needs to be our focus. And yes, the Shadow Queen is scary as fuck, even worse than Cyrus. Shadow magic is the oldest magic in the universe, and she can do all kinds of twisted shit with it. She nearly killed us and did kill a lot of other people. Still, if Mekhi is dying from shadow poison, I agree she’s our best chance of finding a cure.”

“There’s a difference between knowing how and being willing to do something,” Eden comments.

I nod. “I know. And trust me, I’m not excited toeverface her again.”

Flint shakes his head, looking more than a little freaked out. “Is she really worse than Cyrus?”

“Deadly plus bugs,” Hudson answers, deadpan, and we all kind of shudder, remembering the Trials. Everyone except Heather, who wasn’t trapped in that hellish room with us. “The shadow-bugs-covering-every-inch-of-your-skin experience will haunt you forever, Heather.”

Flint runs his hands along his arms, as though checking for bugs without realizing it, and I get it. Those bugs are enough to bring even a dragon to their knees.

Jaxon leans over to whisper something in Flint’s ear. Something that sounds suspiciously like, “I won’t let any shadow bugs close enough to touch you.”

A quick glance at Hudson shows my mate ready to jump in with a snarky comment, but a swift—if gentle—kick under the table keeps his mouth shut. Though it doesn’t stop him from winking at me.

Hudson continues. “Plus, in the Shadow Realm she’s upgraded from just bugs to a full menagerie of shadow creatures, some with sharp teeth and claws.”

Heather squares her shoulders. “Well, I’m willing to fight whatever it takes to save your friend. What are we waiting for?”

Before anyone can answer, our waitress comes back with our order, mainly coffee—and a hot cocoa for Flint, of course.

As she walks away, Hudson scratches his jaw. “Actually, I’m not sure we have tofightanyone to save Mekhi.” He must see the nonplussed expression on my face because he adds, “She wanted the mayor to reset the timeline to before she was cursed. So she fought us because we were trying to stop him, and ultimately, stop her. But she lost, obviously, and now that she has no means of escape, maybe we can bargain with her.”

I blink. It’s not a bad idea, except for one fact. “She’s trapped for a reason, Hudson. We can’t find a way to set her free. She’s pure evil.”

“Is she?” Hudson raises one eyebrow.

“Umm, bugs. Remember?” Flint says, shuddering again.

“Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying she’s perfect,” Hudson clarifies. “But I think there’s a real chance she’s not as evil as we believe.”

“Were you not in the Trials, man?” Eden barks out. “She tried tokillus.”

“We don’t know for sure that she was the one attacking us during the Trials. Other people can wield shadow magic, too, for all we know.”

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