Page 33 of Shadow & Stars
We took the slope, leaving the desert behind us.
Roman kept pace with me. “How are you feeling, broken arm aside?”
“Stressed.”
“Yeah. Same. But we can make it out. I know we can.”
Another wooden doorway waited up ahead, a tangled arch of vines around it.
“Earth will give us some breathing room,” I answered. “We’ll find a remote place, gather the things Butterfly needs.” A faint tremor passed through the slope.
Roman stopped, spinning to check on the others. “Shit.”
“Must have come from the desert,” Darcy said. “Why would the sky fall in like that?”
“This world may be dying,” Butterfly answered. “Or possibly integrating further with your lands. The possibilities are endless.”
His suggestions made sense, even if I didn’t want to believe it. Although I’d left my homelands behind, they were still a part of me. This wasn’t the fate I wanted for my kind. If the demon realm did die, what would it do to Earth?
“Come on,” I ordered, this spacious area of concrete feeling too suffocating.
The sooner we were out of here, the better.
“What if we reach out to Queen Piper?” Roman wondered. “She’ll help if she can.”
“My darling daughter,” Margarite said a little too brightly.
Roman pulled an uncomfortable face.
“It’s an option,” I answered him.
We were almost at the door.
“I’m gagging for a cup of tea,” he added. “More than ever.”
Darcy groaned. “Please don’t mention tea. My cravings are wrecking my soul.”
“Because of the lack of tea?” Butterfly questioned, sounding concerned and missing the point.
“You wouldn’t understand,” Darcy countered. “Tea is life. Tea makes everything better. Well, the kind of tea I drink does. What I call proper tea. Not that hideous chamomile he enjoys.” He pointed at his best friend.
Roman laughed. “Such a bitch.”
“Such a truth teller.”
“Says the guy who kills the flavor of tea with four sugars and too much milk.”
I winced for different reasons this time. “Four?”
“Yeah. Explains a lot, right?”
Darcy huffed. “What does that mean?”
Roman turned, walking backwards. “That you’re the sweetest bestie in the world.”
“Christ on a bike.” Darcy snorted a laugh. “What is he after, Xavier?”
Listening to these two friends brought me a lot of joy. “I have no idea.”
