Ivy squeezed my neck, then drew back, leaving me with a perfect view of Decoy stepping into a pair of faded jeans.
He’s going somewhere.Mild panic hit me, but with Ivy so close, it was easier to ignore than it had been since... actually, I didn’t know since when.
“It’s Rubi Tuesday,” Ivy announced.
“You were right.” Decoy tugged a shirt over his head. I took heart in the fact that I resented it. He crouched beside me. “About the storm. Even the compound got flooded.”
“And my school.” Ivy wriggled away from me and jumped off the bed. “So I’m having a sleepover with Lili at Rubi’s house. He got me a special suitcase.”
She darted out of the room and returned with a mini suitcase on wheels. It was lilac and covered in mermaid stickers.
I approved. “I like it. But I’ll miss you. When are you coming home again?”
“Tomorrow. I have to tidy my room.”
She swooped in for another hug. Then she disappeared with her suitcase and it was just me and Decoy.
Me andSeth.
He slid an arm around me, pressing his other hand to my forehead. “How’re you doing? Back with us yet?”
“Where’ve I been?”
“Asleep, mostly. This is the most awake I’ve seen you in the last four days.”
“Four days. It really is Tuesday?”
“Yup. You hungry?”
“No.”
“All right. But you have to drink something. Or Locke’ll stick another IV in you.”
“Is Alexei okay?”
“You’ve asked me that a few times.” Decoy brushed my hair back. “He’s fine. Just knackered. His body didn’t freak out the way yours did.”
“Must be nice to be young.”
“You’re not old.”
“I feel it.”
“Then you’re still here, and that’s what matters.” Decoy kissed my cheek. Then let me go and stood. “I need to drop Ivy off, then go to the police station.”
What I’d left behind before my grand adventure with Alexei came rushing back.
He got hurt.
I sat up straighter and grabbed his wrist. “You’re okay, though, right? They’re not letting her out?”
“Easy.” Decoy crouched again and lay me back down, tugging a pillow under my head.Thepillow, that smelled of timber andhim. “It’s all good. I just need to go over some parts of my statement. Jeanette’s coming with me.”
“Your lawyer?”
“That’s the one. I won’t be long, I promise. And you’re not alone. Locke’s downstairs.”
“On the couch. Asleep.”
