She hums dramatically. “Already run into some here? Yes, I knew you would…”
I can never tell if she’s messing with me.
She pulls a random sheet of paper from one of her many pockets and produces a pencil that’s been worn down to the nub. She scribbles a few quick symbols and passes me the page. They’re not in Traditional Chinese writing, which is what I’ve always seen her use before, but they have a similarfeelto them. They’re ancient, that’s for certain.
“These will keep them out, as long as we don’t have any more spills,” she says.
I narrow my eyes on her. “You know about the sugar?”
She smiles, salt and pepper eyebrows waggling. “And the fiery man.”
“He’s not a man. He’s an asshole, and probably an ifrit. I should ward against him, too,” I say.
She scoffs from the back of her throat. “Nonsense. A son of Zhurong? You should invite him up for tea when you’re done.”
“That’s not happening,” I say.
“Suit yourself. Off you go,” she says, shooing me away.
I run to my room to change. I’m not wearing a nightshirt and skimpy little shorts to draw wards with a demon. I rip open my backpack and dump all my clothes out. I throw each piece of clothing aside as I assess its potential until there’s a big pile of rejects and nothing left in front of me.
Shit.
I roll my eyes. Why do I even care? Just cover up my bare legs and go meet this stupid, hulking, fiery asshole. I grab my blue jeans and throw them on. My oversized shirt looks stupid, but whatever, I’m not trying to win a beauty contest.
I poke my head out the door and check around. Ace is on his bedroll with headphones on, clickity-clacking away on his laptop.
He laughs. “Dude, that’s crazy. I’ve only been gone three days.”
I linger, though I know I shouldn’t.
“Maybe a few months?” he says after a pause.
My heart squeezes painfully and I reach out for him with my astral spirit. His aura is shrunken, pulled in on itself, defensive. He’s scared and lonely.
“Yeah, definitely.”
I shouldn’t be spying on him.
“Games tomorrow, then?”
I retract my intrusive presence and dash down the hall. The door clicks shut behind me and I tiptoe down the stairs that still creak like mad no matter how hard I try to quiet them.
“You’re late.” His voice makes me jump and I grasp my heart.
Maybe if I’d been minding my own business instead of snooping on my brother, I would’ve sensed him.
I purse my lips. “Yeah, well, some of us have a life.”
He rises from a chair in the darkness, all brooding, smoky wings and hot coal eyes. “You are not among that hypotheticalsome.”
I choke on my retort. Thatasshole. I do too have a life…
Just not right now.
He smirks. “Are you ready to get to work, or not?”
I clutch Nai Nai’s paper in my hand and smile right back. “I wasbornready.”
