and
poured a golden liquid into them. Everyone took one.
“To Cyrus, a true artistic
genius,” Dulcea said.
“And to Valerie, a
true inspiration,” Cyrus added, never taking his eyes from Valerie’s.
After lots of dessert and
Dulcea’s punch, Cyrus and Valerie started wandering back to her home.
“Thank you,” Valerie said, glad
that it was dark and he couldn’t see her. “I really needed someone to remind me
that maybe I’m up for everything that’s coming.”
Cyrus slipped his warm hand into
hers. “Consider it a belated birthday present, since you wouldn’t let us throw
you a party this year.”
“You do have a knack for getting
me the best presents,” Valerie admitted.
“I know, I’m kind of an
all-star,” Cyrus said with mock seriousness. Then he was quiet for a minute,
and when he spoke again, his voice was serious. “So give me something back this
time.”
Valerie’s heart started beating
faster in her chest. “What do you want?” she asked. She didn’t know if she had
much left to give right then.
“For me to be yours and you to
be mine,” Cyrus said. He rushed through his next words as if he’d practiced
them. “I know that Thai broke your heart, and Zaki, Jet, and Midnight died, and
you’re a little lost yourself right now, but I don’t care. If we wait for the
perfect time, it might never come.”
“I don’t know if I can give you
what you’re asking for,” Valerie said. Her heart still felt like it was
duct-taped together after Thai had broken it.
“Give me a chance. A date,”
Cyrus said.
Valerie smiled. She couldn’t
help it. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Cyrus said, his voice
going up an octave.
She nodded, and Cyrus swept her
up in a hug and spun her around in a circle. When he put her down, Valerie
wondered if he’d kiss her again. But Cyrus was looking at something over her
shoulder.
Valerie turned
around and saw Oberon standing in the door of their house. She grinned and
kissed Cyrus on the cheek before backing away. This must be what it was like to
be a normal teenage girl.
That night Valerie pulled the crystal
that she used to connect with Thai out of her drawer. She’d been dreading this
visit, but after seeing Tan again tonight, a fresh wave of guilt had washed
over her. She had to make sure that Thai really knew that Tan was okay. She
wished that this thread of connection with Thai didn’t still burn inside her,
as if somehow they were still linked, even though they were a universe apart
and barely even friends.
Valerie gripped the crystal and
found herself on Thai’s university campus, where he was striding across a green
lawn. It was beautiful—probably another reason he’d never want to leave Earth.
At the sight of her, Thai let
out a strangled sound and spilled his coffee all over his pants.
“Sorry,” Valerie said, trying to
keep a straight face. She enjoyed seeing the usually unruffled Thai taken off
his guard.
“It’s fine. I didn’t think I’d
see you again. What’s wrong?” Thai asked, regaining his usual calm.
That’s when Valerie noticed that
he had a huge, yellowing bruise on one cheekbone, and a series of blue and
purple bruises on his throat. He’d obviously been in a fight.
The blood drained from her face.
“What happened to you? Who did this?”
Thai reached up to touch the
bruise on his cheek and winced. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. Chisisi
and I are on it.”
“If you had to talk to Chisisi,
then those aren’t from a normal fight. Start talking,” she commanded.
A grin crossed Thai’s face, but
he hid it quickly. “You sound different. Like you’re getting used to being in
charge.”
Valerie fought the blush rising
to her cheeks. “Don’t change the subject.”
Thai resumed walking, not making
eye contact with her. “I found someone trying to break into my bedroom two
nights ago. The person reminded me of Venu—and I was sure I could smell that
poison Venu had on his hands. We fought, and I
Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child