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“His friend recognized me.”

My heart drives madly against my ribs as I scrounge around in my brain for an exit plan. “I … I can’t stay. I need my car, I need⁠—”

A steaming bowl of soup appears in front of my face. “You need to eat.”

“He could be on his way to kill me.”

“First, he’d need to find you. Second, he’d need to get through me.”

“You’re not invincible, you know?”

He grins, shoving the bowl closer and giving me no choice but to take it. “I don’t need to be. I told them what would happen if I saw his face.”

Lynx’s confidence at least helps ease some of my anxiety. “He’s dangerous.”

“So am I.”

“He could kill you.”

“Lots of things could kill me. Now, eat your dinner and get some sleep.”

“How am I supposed to sleep knowing he could be on his way here right now?”

Lynx pinches his nose like I’m being the unreasonable one. “He doesn’t know where I live. He doesn’t know you’re with me. He’d have to navigate through the End to try to find you, and even if he managed to do the impossible, he’d still have to get through me and Bob. The only place he knows exists is Hobby Straight. The rest of the End is a mystery to him.”

“Oh, no. Queenie.”

“I gave her the heads-up. Luckily, she was already planning her next trip away.”

“She can take me with her.”

“She’s already left.”

I scowl, and as much as I want to ignore the food he’s given me, my stomach growls loudly, like a warning not to dare put it down. Fuck, it smells good too. I’m craving something warm to eat, and if this is going to be my last meal, I might as well enjoy it.

I take a bite and moan at the flavor. “If I wasn’t about to be murdered, I’d bully you into teaching me how to cook.”

“I’ll do it without the bullying. It’s an important skill.”

“Not if I’m dead.”

“You’re not going to die.”

“I guess we’ll see.” I take another bite. “You said I’m going home tomorrow, so he’ll know exactly where to find me.”

Lynx hesitates for a second and then shrugs. “You’ll stay here.”

I’m not sure I’ve heard him right at first. “Permanently?”

“Until you leave or the threat is gone.”

“You didn’t want me here at all a few hours ago.”

“Yeah, well, no one else I know is going to die if I can stop it.”

“No one else?” I repeat. “Who do you know that died?”

“Just eat your food, Sasha,” he snaps before turning on his heel and leaving again. I have a second of panic that he’s going to get himself into more problems, but through the window, I see him pause on the porch, leaning his arms on the railing.