Page 23 of Hunger & Harmony

I blink at him twice. A small smile brightens his face.

“Don’t tell Ryel I said that. There’d be a stake driven through my heart before we got to Gravemont.”

We share a quiet giggle. The air eases, and I can breathe again.

“Thank you,” I say.

“Hm?”

“Thank you for sharing your story. You don’t owe me that much explanation, but it helps.”

His hand finds the back of his neck, and he shrugs.

“Ah, well . . . A good assistant should know the ins and outs, right?”

It’s good to see his ease return.

“Speaking of, I’m keeping you from your duties,” he says, the chair scraping as he stands. “No more, uh . . . what you folks call ‘trauma dumping’ from me tonight.”

“More to come, then?” I tease, and he raises a brow.

“Maybe after we address your weird back-and-forth with His Majesty.”

He snatches the blood pouch and zips out the door before I can whine at him. I scrunch my nose at the space he used to occupy before looking down at the homemade merch in my hands.

A familiar warmth blooms in my heart when I hold it up to admire the blue swirls and hand-pressed logo. It’s the same feeling from when Viola would sneak me into her performances or share an earbud at our favorite coffee shop.

I’m not sure what to make of Ezren’s last statement. Not normal? In a good way? He’s probably just being nice. But . . .I’ll keep that compliment in the back of my mind.

It can be something to hold onto when we’re all trapped in an enclosed vehicle with Niko and Ryel for hours and hours. Selene is terrifying, but at least she’s reasonable. Ezren had better be prepared for level-three clinging.

Slurping the last of my apple juice, I then slam it onto the table with a prayer looping in my mind. A beg, if I’m being honest.

Because I can only hope my being resigned to not care about him won’t crumble when Niko looks like a dream but acts like a nightmare.

6

CRIMSON ROADS

Daylight gives way to darkness as the tour bus rolls onto the open highway. My beacon of hope lies in a bed of navy and stars above, the waxing gibbous moon bright and energizing.

This is it.

I almost lost sight of my excitement. It bubbles to the surface as I stare out the tinted window, unable to believe I’m finally here. On the road, on tour with rock stars, and all without anyone’s permission but my own.

“Cadie!”

Not that I can forget I’m still very much on the clock.

“Uh-huh?” I ask as I swivel around to face Lorelai.

She sits at the table across the walkway, her laptop open. When I take a seat across from her, I’m not surprised there’s already coffee rings stained onto the silver wood.

“Make sure everyone is fed and resting, m’kay?”

“Of course.”

“No dillying,” she says, not looking up from her screen.