‘My pleasure,’ he says dryly, and lets go of me.
I hit the ground with a thud, letting out a traitorously high-pitched yelp. I glare at Sheen. The ghost of a smirk quirks the corners of his sullen mouth. I’m too weak to stand, so I swallow my pride and start crawling over to where Spinner is holding out a waterskin.
‘Slow down,’ she says mildly as I drain it in a few gulps.
I lean back against a boulder. ‘How did you even find me?’
‘We may have been … observing you these past few days.’
‘You werespyingon us?’ I exclaim, outraged.
‘We were simply checking in on you, that’s all,’ Spinner says, raising her hands defensively. ‘We just dropped by occasionally to make sure you were both all right. You and Blaze – well, you’re important. And you’re important to me.’
I soften, just a fraction. Then a thought hits me. ‘My grandmother didn’t hire you to keep tabs on us, did she?’
Spinner giggles. ‘Gods, no. Your grandmother terrifies me.’
I snort. ‘Join the club. You should’ve seen the way she looked at me at Fire Mountain, as though I wereencouragingmy sister to put herself in harm’s way.’ I pause, rolling a vialof painkiller between my fingers. ‘I promised her I’d take care of Blaze …’
‘Blaze is alive,’ Spinner says gently. ‘We’ll find her, I promise.’
‘Then what are we waiting for?’ I ask, hauling myself up.
‘Don’t be a fool,’ says Sheen, sounding bored.
‘There’s no time to waste,’ I snap over my shoulder.
‘Look at you. You can barely walk.’
As soon as I turn back, Sheen is there, standing right in front of me. I let out a hiss of irritation before side-stepping him and carrying on. But he just does it again, and again, until I’m overcome with the urge to punch him in his stupid, surly face.
‘Listen,’ he says curtly. ‘Your sister could’ve emerged from any of the Ridge tunnels. Rather than wandering around like an idiot, you have to think logically. You don’t know where she is, so head to where you think she’d go.’
I frown, puzzled.
Sheen pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation. ‘Are you really as dim as you are vain? You and Blaze – where were you going?’
I consider not telling him, then tell him anyway. ‘The Court of Waves.’
‘Well, then,’ he says. ‘There’s your answer.’
I hesitate, mulling over his words.
‘He’s right, Flint,’ says Spinner.
‘I’m always right,’ Sheen tells her matter-of-factly.
I scowl, drawing myself up to full height, though Sheen still towers over me by several irritating inches. ‘Fine. I’ll go to the Lagoon.’
‘Excellent.’ Spinner beams. ‘I’ve always wanted to see it.’
I glance round at her. ‘You’re coming with me?’
‘Ofcoursewe are,’ she says. ‘You think we’d leave you to fend for yourself? Besides, I’ve missed you, Flint Flameborn. I don’t intend to let you out of my sight.’
I return her smile. I’ve missed her too. Being with Spinner makes me feel like my old self again. Or at least, it’s easier to pretend to be.
Then I turn back to Sheen. ‘And you?’
