***
Half an hour later, Sage walked into Big Bad Burgers, holding Canyon’s hand, her head held high. She and Rhogun had talked a few more minutes, then Timber had ushered Rhogun back into his cell, for the time being. They’d left, and she’d never had to talk to anyvod.
She felt good. She felt strong. She felt like she could hold her own in a conversation with afoxenabout why she was with avod. She could find her footing in both worlds, if such a thing was possible, and she was determined to try. Rhogun had given her strength, and much to think about. She held Canyon’s hand, barely able to focus on the menu, and not even interested in looking around this restaurant she’d never been inside before. Her mind was on Rhogun and everything he’d told her.
“Hey,” Canyon said, squeezing her hand. “What do you want?”
She blinked, bewildered, realizing they’d moved right up to the cashier.
“Little Mouse Meal? What you had last time?” he asked.
Sage shook her head. “I’m starved.”
“Big Bad Burger?”
“Yeah.”
Canyon ordered and paid. Timber got their drinks, Canyon took the bags and they went out to the truck, Sage opening doors for them. She climbed into the back next to the robot, who was strapped in with a seat belt, the silver silhouette of a wolf’s head spinning on its screen.
Canyon drove to a park, then went around a barricade and right up onto the grass between some bushes. He turned off the truck and twisted in his seat, giving Sage a grin. Timber doled out the food, handing Sage her Big Bad Burger. Canyonand Timber each had gotten the Three Little Pigs meal, which appeared to be three massive pulled pork sliders, topped with coleslaw, with a tub of Howls dipping sauce, and fries.
Canyon unwrapped a slider, dipped it, then held it out to her. “First bite dibs.”
She bit into it and it was sweet, spicy, and satisfying. “Yum.”
Sage picked up her Big Bad Burger and offered it to Canyon, and he took a massive bite, then grinned at her while he chewed it. “Big and bad.”
Sage laughed. She scooped up some greens with the burger and bit into the combination, thinking what she should tell them first.
“His name is Rhogun Russell Van Crimson,” she said between bites.
“Rhogun Russell Van Crimson,” Canyon repeated. He glanced at the robot, then said, “Did he want you to tell us his name?”
“Yes. He’s convinced you and I are mates, and that was before he knew anything about, uh, you know, me being a One True Mate.” Sage stumbled over her words, then internally steeled herself. She didn’t feel like she fully believed yet, but she almost did. That had to count for something.
She pulled the plant label out of her pocket and unfolded it. “He told you how to get out of the hole becausefoxenprophecy said so.” She read: “The captive knows the captor’s interests lie deep and many-faceted. Foxen secrets spill orwolvendie.”
Timber blinked several times. “Canyon is named infoxenprophecy?”
Sage nodded. “Rhogun says he is.”
Canyon looked like he was considering it, and he nodded, his lips set like he was proud of it.
Timber shook his head like it didn’t make sense. “Why wouldfoxenprophecy care if we stayed alive or not?”
“We have prophecy that saysvodandfoxenwill combine forces against Khain, and someday even work and live together. Rhogun thinks that starts now.” She pointed at herself and Canyon. “With us.”
Timber whistled. “Damn.”
“Why did he think it was me? There were lots of us around that night.”
Sage rubbed Canyon’s shoulders. “How you treated him told him, and then he looked at you with his bad eye, and it confirmed.”
Canyon raised a brow. “I remember him lifting his eyepatch. His eye is…?”
Sage shrugged. “He said it sees differently when there’s something different to see.”
“That prophecy foretold that big-ass spider almost eating us,” Timber said. “That’s spooky.”
