CHAPTERFIVE
“So whoever setthat up knew exactly what they were doing,” Eliana said. “And not just with the poison. They had distractions ready for whoever accompanied you and were waiting with the dart as a backup. And none of it, including a fury-forced confession, clearly points to anyone.”
“Not true,” Megan said. “Adira’s the one who told Ashlyn to get to the lake. Even if she’s not the one who stuck Ashlyn with the dart or mind-wiped the mermaids, she’s not absolved of her involvement. And after her blatant refusal to speak to me in person, she can’t be trusted.”
Eliana looked at me and wrinkled her nose. “So, the safest thing truly is for you to stay home. I’m sorry. I know how you feel about that.”
“I survived isolation once. I’ll survive it again. I’m more worried about Adira kicking me out as soon as both of you are distracted with something else.”
“Adira’s very good at distractions,” Eliana agreed. “But you won't be alone. You’ll have Zotera with you, right?”
We all looked at Zotera. Not a hint of anger lingered in her gaze now, only her normal cheer.
“My place is with Ashlyn. I won’t leave her.” Her expression fell, and her earnest gaze met mine. “I won’t be tricked again like at the lake.”
“The lake’s not your fault,” I said. “None of us was expecting the mermaids to do what they did.”
“You kept me from standing when you had Oanen against the wall,” Megan said. “Do you think you can stop Adira from taking Ashlyn if she shows up here?”
Zotera smiled. “I saw Adira this morning. Ashlyn is safe from her.”
“Good. Then, for now, sit tight,” Megan said, looking at me as she stood. “And if Adira shows up, I’m on speed dial. Any time. Day or night. Call me, okay?”
I nodded and walked them to the door. Megan left in a ball of flames on the lawn, and Eliana pulled away in her car after a wave goodbye. I closed the door on the day’s fading light and faced Zotera.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. What should we make for dinner?”
Zotera’s gaze lit up. “Lemon cheesecake.”
“I’m not sure we have the ingredients for that,” I said, walking to the fridge.
“I can change whatever you have into whatever we want, Ashlyn. Remember?”
Pausing, I looked at her with a growing smile.
“I could really go for that steak dinner again.”
She clapped her hands and beat me to the kitchen. I watched her take out a plate and set a single slice of bread on it. The bread changed into a full meal. The mouthwatering steak was back, swimming in its own juices next to a baked potato topped with some fancy blobs of butter and sour cream and a side of asparagus.
I accepted my plate and went to sit at the table while she turned another slice of bread into a cheesecake.
“Thank you for this,” I said, cutting into my steak. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of your ability to change things sooner. We wouldn’t have had to clean out my uncle’s room if I had. You could have just changed it.”
“I liked cleaning it and listening to your stories,” she said. “But I can change anything you’d like.”
“I’d like you to change the room into whatever you want. Whatever makes you comfortable,” I said.
I glanced around the house as I chewed my next bite.
“In fact,” I said after swallowing. “The whole house could use an update.”
Zotera nodded eagerly.
As soon as we were done eating and cleaning up our dishes, we went to her room. She changed it to an exact replica of the one Hades had created for her.
“I love the marble,” I said, touching a wall. “It’s so pretty.”
“Do you want me to change your room too? I can make it look like the one you shared with Father.”
