I laugh. “I traded my car for them, if you can believe it. Before the hunt.”
Feels so long ago. What’s it been? A couple weeks?
“Nice. Hey, people trade stuff,” Lila says, like she read my mind. “You want a lamp?”
“I’m not trading my boots. Sorry.”
“I didn’t ask you to. I have a lamp. Battery-powered. Old display one from a shoe store. I don’t need it anymore.”
“Why?”
She shrugs.
I don’t ask what that means.
“Yeah,” I say slowly. “I’d like a lamp.”
“Meet me after,” she says.
Something about the way she says it tells me not to ask more questions.
We finish eating.
Then I feel it. That shift in the air again. The awareness.
I don’t look far. All three of them are near the center of the food court. Armen leaning against one of the old counters, arms crossed, slightly lowered, talking low toSting. Rogue perched on the edge of a table, mask on, boot resting on a chair rung. They look like they own the place. People move around them instead of through them.
My pulse kicks up.
I hesitate. Then remind myself I’m not going to chase. So I walk. Not straight at them. Toward the exit path that passes close enough to hear.
Rogue’s eyes catch mine first. Amusement sparks there instantly.
Sting notices next. His body shifts subtly, attention locking in.
Armen’s gaze follows.
I keep walking.
“Vi,” Rogue calls casually.
I turn slowly. “Yes?”
“Eat good?”
“About as good as mystery stew gets.”
Rogue chuckles.
Armen studies my face. “What do you want?” Straight to it.
“I had another question,” I say.
Sting shakes his head. “You’re stubborn.”
“I just want to know if there’s anything you heard that didn’t make the news.”
“Drop it,” Armen says flatly.
