Suri frowned at the cards. “I know how to play.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I think this deck is cursed,” Suri said. “We’ve played six rounds, and Genna’s won every single one.”
Nes settled onto the bed across from her friend. She pulled her bag into her lap. “Maybe it’s time to face facts.”
Suri lifted her gaze from the cards to Nes.
“You suck at Blank.”
“Just because you beat me every time doesn’t mean I suck.”
Nes scrunched her lips. “Except Genna’s beating you, too, so it kind of does.”
Suri reached around behind her. Grabbing a pillow, she threw it at Nes. Hands still wrapped around the bag in her lap, Nes took Suri’s shot right in the face. When she opened her eyes again, Suri was grinning.
“Cheap shot,” Nes muttered.
Suri shrugged. “It’s the only way to take you by surprise.”
“Speaking of, I have a surprise for you.” Excitement trickled in, her mouth widening into a smile, as she opened her bag and pulled out the piece of parchment Phineas had given her. Handing it to Suri, she said, “Happy freedom day.”
Suri took the paper but didn’t unfurl it. “Freedom day?”
Nes nodded. “Wasn’t it a year ago today you left your fiancé at the altar and journeyed to Gadore on your own?”
“Yeah,” Suri said, though the word was slow and hesitant. “I guess it was.”
“I got you a present to mark the occasion.”
Suri’s fingers were careful as they pulled open the parchment. Nes held her breath, her own fingers tapping out a rhythm against her thumb, as Suri scanned the page. Seconds passed, and Suri didn’t speak. Nes couldn’t hold back.
“Well? What do you think?”
Suri blinked at the writing, her gaze focused on the bottom of the page where Nes knew Phineas had scrawled Suri’s name.
“How did you—” Suri cut off, shaking her head. “You got him to give up the Siren’s Hair?”
Nes was beaming. Her cheeks hurt from the strength of her smile. “I did. I finally figured out what makes Phineas tick.”
Suri chewed on her lip. “Why didn’t you have him sign it over to you?”
Nes’s smile dropped. A cold that had nothing to do with the temperature outside had crept into the bedroom. It left her fidgety—what had once been a comfortable position on the bed now felt awkward. “Because if it weren’t for you, I’d have never figured him out. And I thought you should have it.”
“You’re not staying, are you?”
“I can’t,” she forced herself to say. That was the plan. She had to stick to it. “Once Toran frees my father, we’re leaving.”
“Nes,” Suri started. “I won’t be staying, either.”
That took her by surprise. For as long as she’d known Suri, the girl had never talked about leaving Gadore. “You’re leaving? When?”
Suri tensed. “I suspect shortly after you do.”
“But why?”
Suri twisted the paper between her hands, crinkling the page. “There’s nothing for me in Gadore.”
