"I resemble that remark,” he said jokingly.
Syssi shook her head. "You're terrible."
"I know, but you love me anyway."
"I do." She wrapped her arm around his waist.
"I should call my mother and tell her what we suspect," Kian said, his tone shifting back to practical matters.
Allegra had climbed back up to the top of the slide and was preparing for another descent. This time, she at least put one hand on the rail before launching herself.
"Progress," Kian said dryly. "Maybe there is still hope for us, and we won't go gray before she reaches eighteen."
Syssi laughed. "We will never go gray. We are immortal, but we might go crazy. Immortality doesn't shield our minds."
16
TONY
"You're not wearing that."
Tony looked down at his button-up shirt and slacks. "What's wrong with it?"
Shira crossed her arms and leaned against the bedroom doorframe. "You're going to get bitten by an immortal, not attend a job interview. You need to wear loose clothing. Something you can move in."
"I want to look presentable, and I'm not planning on moving around much. Isn't the whole point to just let Yamanu do his thing?"
He was supposed to make a few threatening moves to spur Yamanu's aggressive response, but Tony sincerely doubted that anything he could do would seem threatening to the Guardian.
Maybe he should use some of the creative cussing he'd learned from his Italian grandmother?
Did Yamanu even speak Italian?
Immortals were supposed to be good with languages, so maybe he did, but it would be too embarrassing to use them anyway. His grandmother had been very inventive with her cussing. He should write a book of her 'poetry' and include an English translation. It would become an instant bestseller.
"Even if you don't do anything, you'll sweat just from the anxiety. Sweats and a t-shirt are what everyone wears to these ceremonies."
"Fine." He retreated to the closet and changed into a pair of gray sweatpants and a t-shirt.
"Happy?" he asked.
"Ecstatic." Shira's voice softened. "How are you feeling?"
"Terrified." The word came out before he could stop it. "I mean, I'm fine. Nervous. A little nervous."
"Terrified is allowed." She sat on the edge of the bed. "This is a big deal. There is no shame in admitting that you are nervous."
"It's only a big deal if it works." He sat beside her. "If I'm not actually a Dormant, then it's a lot of pomp and ceremony for nothing."
"You're a Dormant," she said, with conviction that was touching but unfounded. "Everything points to it."
"Circumstantial hints at best. So, I found myself gravitating toward another Dormant, and then I was kidnapped to an island of immortals. Could have happened to anyone."
She snorted. "Right. Anyone. Come on, Tony. I know you don't believe that. Do you think Yamanu would volunteer to induce you if he didn't believe you could transition?"
"Yamanu would agree to induce a golden retriever if it wagged its tail convincingly enough. He's just a super nice guy."
Shira laughed, and the sound unknotted something in his chest. "That's probably true. He's a sweetheart."
