Page 211

Aspen said, “What about her earth powers? What could she do with those?”

“Control the flora and the fauna.”

Travis shared a loaded glance with Max.

“You mentioned mind powers,” Dominic cut in. “What did those entail?”

“She could create illusions.”Like Shay,Travis thought. “Freeze time. Speak to spirit creatures, such as Hobs. Animate lifeless objects.”

Dallas turned toward Max. “Freeze time,” Dallas mused. “Loren did that at the carnival. Remember?”

Max nodded.

They lapsed into silence as the boat coasted through the water, all the way to a bridge not far from Yveswich General Hospital.

Malakai moored the boat along the quay, and everyone got out.

This place was quiet compared to the last time Travis was here. But he spotted lights coming from the direction of the hospital, a muddy glow stifled by supernatural darkness that was difficult to see through, even with the Sight.

Shoes scuffed as Jewels came up beside him.

“You okay?” he asked her.

“Fine,” she gritted out, but she was hugging her middle, as if she were trying to physically hold herself together.

“Someone should stay behind and guard the boat,” Aspen suggested. “If some asshole steals it, we’ll be screwed.”

No one volunteered.

“Malakai, you stay,” Jewels said, the sentence broken apart by labored breaths. “I’ll go with Travis?—”

“Oh-ho no!” Malakai interrupted. “Not happening, Bean. Nice try.”

“Malakai.”She paused to catch her breath. “I amreallynot in the mood.”

The sight of Jewels flattening a hand over her heart kept him from arguing further, though he muttered under his breath, as if arguing withhimself. There were so many loose screws in that head, Travis wouldn’t be surprised.

“We need to split ourselves up evenly,” Jewels continued, breathless, “so I say you stay behind with whoever else wants to stay—” She paused again, panting. “—and I’ll go with Travis and a few of the others to get my meds. I know what I’m looking for—it shouldn’t take long.”

Aspen spoke up, cutting off Malakai’s next objection. “Why don’t you two—” She gestured between Travis and Jewels with a black-gloved hand. “—go with Max, Dallas, and Dominic, and the rest of us will stay here?” Five and five.

Travis shrugged. “Fine by me.” He could use a break from Delaney.

And some time alone with theotherDelaney.

“It’s settled, then,” Max said. “Let’s move.”

78

I-5

STATE OF KER

The humof the tires on the road and the tinkling of chains were the only sounds in the prisoner transport van.

Shay sat on the hard bench opposite from Roman. There was nothing separating them, no metal partition down the middle. But he might as well be oceans away for how close she felt to him.

He was bent forward, his elbows propped on his knees, hands cupping his face. He was crying—she could smell the salt of the tears coursing down his cheeks. Since the moment the doors had slammed shut, trapping them in here, they hadn’t said one word to each other.