Page 67 of The Dragon Queen

"Getthis,"Ireadaloud,droppingmyvoiceintoitslowest,scratchiest,spookiestregister. "Preyuponyourtarget'sdeepestfears--forthebestillusiontodestroytheirwillisonetheyweavethemselves."

"Charming,"Brynndrawls.

"Seriously."Isetthescrolldownandrubmytemples. "Theseguysaresosadistic."

Foronce,Idon'tevenhavetofretaboutthefactthattheirbloodrunsthroughmyveins.Maybe,ifIhadbeensteepedinthisshitfrombirth,Iwouldviewitdifferently,butasitis,Icanclearlyseetheevilpervadingthecryptictext.

Amyfrowns,closingtheold,yellow-pagedbookshe'dbeenleafingthrough.Reachingout,shepatsthebackofmyhand. "Doyouthinkmaybeit'stimeyouwentandgotsomerest?"

Idon'tmisstheglancesheexchangeswithBrynn.Mystomachdipsatthesuddencertaintythatthey'remanagingme.It'sbadenoughwhenmymatescolludetotakecareofme;nowmyfriendsaredoingit,too?

It's...kindoftouching,honestly.

Butstillannoying.

Rollingmyeyes,Ihuffoutalaughandturnthequestionbackonher. "Andwhataboutyou?"

"Idon'tneedasmuchrestasyoudo,"Amysays,liftingonebrow.She'simplyingthatshe'stalkingabouttheroleIhavetoplayintomorrow'sattack,butIhearthesubtext.She'stalkingaboutthebaby.

"I'mfine,"Itellherpointedly. "Besides--you'retheonewithbagsunderyoureyes."

"Firstofall,rude."Shesitsupstraighter,gesturingtoourlittletable,piledhighwithancienttexts. "Second,I'mjustreallyintoreadingoldlore,andkeepingmybestiecompany."Amy'smouthpullsdownandtotheside.Sourly,sheadds, "AndavoidingGrace."

Myannoyancefadesaway. "Youtwostillhavingissues?"

"She'shavingissues,"Amyclarifies,blowingherbrightpinkbangsoutofhereyes. "I'mhavingthelesbianequivalentofblueballs."Shebrightens. "Buthey!Thegoodnewsisthatmaybewe'llalldietomorrow,andI'llbeputoutofmymisery!"

She'sbeingflippant,buthercommenthitsalittletooclosetomyowndeepwellofbarely-suppressedanxiety.

"Uh."Brynn'sbrowsdrawtogether. "I'dhardlycallthatgoodnews."

"Easyforyoutwotosay,sinceyou'rebothgettingbang-bangedontheregular."

"Jeez,Amy,"Isplutter.

"What?It'strue."Amy'sgazedartstosomeplaceovermyshoulder,beforeshesarcasticallyflicksitskywardagain. "Andspeakofthedevils..."

Idon'thavetoturnaroundtoknowwhojustwalkedinthedoor.Mymates'presenceisawashofwarmthagainstmyspine.Heatpricklesupmyarmsbeforezippingtothesoftplacelowinmybellywheredesirealwaysblooms.

Amymighthavebeenoutofline,talkingaboutmymatesandourbedroomshenanigansbeingareasontowanttolive.Butshealsowasn'twrong.

Iextendahandbackward,andwarm,strong,callousedfingersslipbetweenmine.Storm.

Malikleansinfromtheothersideandpressesakisstomytemple. "Latenight?"

"Iwasjusttellingherthatsheshouldgotobed,"Amysays.

"Actually,"Iinterrupt,gentlysqueezingStorm'spalmwhilekeepingmyfocusonmyfriend. "Youweretellingmethatwe'reallgoingtodietomorrow,andthatmaybethat'sagoodthing."

Withoutmymeaningforitto,ahintofinvectiveshadowsmytone.

Amythrowsherhandsupintheair,feigninginnocence. "Ijustsaidwemightalldie,andthenIfoundthesilverliningofithypotheticallygettingmeoutofanawkwardinterpersonalsituation."

"Youknow."Rafecrosseshisarmsoverhischest. "IhaveatherapistIcanrecommend."

"Really?"Amyasks.Whenwealllookatherfunny,sheshrugs. "What--goodmentalhealthprofessionalsarehardtofind,especiallywhenyou'reinexileandbeinghunteddownbyawholehordeofevilShadowDragons."Sheputsherhandtoherchestandflickshergazetome. "Nooffense."

Consideringshe'shalfShadowDragonherself,Ididn'ttakeany.

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