“Well, I don’t know if anyone has considered this, but isn’t there a chance that when you destroy Janine, Wes will be freed?”
My brain blinks a couple of times. Could that be right? It sounds like a possibility.
“Wills,” I gasp. “That’s, that’s…”
“A sliver of hope?”
“I’ll take it. A sliver is better than none.”
She nudges the plate of breakfast pastries towards me. “You can’t wallow in guilt and pessimism. You are Theodora Wilson, heir to Amirene’s Lumina. The rest of us are allowed to get overwhelmed, but you, Theo, you don’t get that luxury.”
Frowning, I bite into an apple turnover.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m giving you a best friend pep-talk. There are three days to go. Three days until we end the ascensions, send the dark energy packing, and restore balance to Havengard. You are our general and we are your army. If the general mopes around looking defeated, how will the troops fare?”
“This is how your Grandpa talks, isn’t it?”
“Bloomhower’s never back down from a battle.”
I think about her words and know she’s right. The odds of success may be…small, but they’ll get smaller if I don’t shift my attitude.
“That’s the spirit,” Willow grins as she watches me square my shoulders. “You should go get another boost of Lumina, that will also cheer you up.”
“Willow…”
She picks up a long eclair and wiggles it in my face. “I’m sure you can squeeze in a few more sparkles. From what I’ve heard, you’ve got amazing capacity.”
“I should never have told you,” I say, gritting my teeth. “I blame the rum.”
“Correct, you should not have told me. I don’t need the mental imagery of Donovan, Max and Alexis…” I grab the eclair out of her hand and smack her on the cheek with it. She just laughs. “What about Lu? You didn’t mention him in your, er, sparkle-sessions.”
It’s true. Ludo has been strangely absent the last few days. We’ve communicated a little, but I haven’t seen him at all.
I’m taking turns being worried, and being hurt. I explain as much to Willow
“I mean, he’s still sweet when we talk, but it feels like there’s something he’s not telling me—you know?”
Willow hums. “In that case, it’s time to get some answers. Go see him. If he’s keeping secrets, it will be for a good reason. But maybe he doesn’t understand he’s not alone anymore, that he has people to share with?”
If Ludo is keeping secrets, once this is over, I’m going to kill him for making me worry.
“What about talking to Max?” she suggests. “He and Ludo seem like they’re getting pretty close—bonding.”
A blush heats my cheeks as I think about exactlyhowthey bonded recently.
“Why the red face, or should I not ask?” she laughs.
“Probably best if you don’t.”
“Oh Gods. Too late. That’s a combo I hadn’t expected.” Willow nudges me with her Elite-blazered shoulder.
“Sorry, cousin,” I whisper.
Everytime one of us says the word, it makes my stomach fill with butterflies. I’m so happy Wills is my family, but also tied in knots about the rest of my new parentage.
“I’m still on the fence about talking to Opal,” I mutter.
“No! Why?”
