The time between flash and bang grew longer.The storm whipped and raged, but it was shifting, moving.
“I think we’re in the clear,” Pamela said.“Anyone?Card?Abbi?”
Card had pushed his sleeves up so he could clasp his wrists.The glow of his quiescent magic seeped through his fingers.
“Again, I’d need magic to know for sure, but that power is moving past us.West.”
“I don’t hear the god anymore,” Abbi said.“He…wasn’t here.Not physically.He was just looking.”
“Hell,” I breathed.If that was “just looking” I didn’t want anything to do with the god actually finding us.
“Will that attract more gods?”Josie asked.“Now that one’s been sniffing around the place?”
Abbi shook her head, then stopped.“I don’t know.The other gods are helping keep us hidden.Cupid.Raven.”
“If Apep knew we were here,” Lu said, “we’d know.”
She was right.
Elmer tapped on the doorframe.“Scout says he’s moved on.For now.”
“You trust this scout?”Card asked.
“Sure do.”
I caught the skitter of a little brown lizard disappearing behind a shelf in the corner of the room.I couldn’t be sure it was Sniffer, who had vetted Card outside earlier today, but I had a feeling that was who the scout was.
Card’s head jerked toward the corner.“Do you smell dragon?”
“Dragons?Down here?Can’t see how that’s likely,” Elmer said.“It’s getting on late.I’ll monitor the screens.Everyone else, get some sleep if you can.”
He pressed his steady hand on Pamela’s shoulder, and she glanced up at him.
“You sure?”she asked.“I’m good for a couple hours.”
“You can spell me then.”
She stood and Josie reached for her.
“Not that I think I’m gonna sleep,” Pamela said.“Nothing like a brush with a god to get the old heart pumping.”
“Once you hit the pillow, you’ll be out cold.”Josie tugged her toward the door and out of the room.“Night all.See you in a few hours.”
“You sleeping?”I asked Card.
He was still staring at the corner where the lizard had disappeared, but he shook his head.“I don’t need much sleep.Besides, I still have some research I want nailed down before we address the book.”
“I’m staying up!”Abbi announced.“Come on, Hado, let’s find new places to hide.”
She leaned into my leg again, almost like a sideways hug without arms, then bounced out of the room, Hado a huge shadowy panther prowling behind her.
“I know she’s spying on me,” Card said.
I checked how I should take that and was relieved by his smile.
“I don’t mind,” he went on.“But I just wanted to say, again, I’m here to help you with the book.I don’t want the cursed thing.I don’t want to use it.I have my own problems, believe me.”
“We heard you’ve made some enemies,” I said.“Wizards?”
