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“We were told to send someone. I’m just going to be my own representative. Nothing says I can’t do that.”

I turned to glare at Galen. “Did you know about this little plan?”

His glare said he hadn’t known, and that he wasn’t all that happy about it.

“It wasn’t a plan,” Kelvin added. “I didn’t know that Porter or Ruben were going to be here until they showed up tonight.”

Which meant that they hadn’t all gotten together to work this out? This wasn’t some joint plan to annoy me?

That led me to only one obvious option.

Kelvin, Porter and Ruben had, on their own, decided to show up for me. They’d had the ability to not come, to send others, to keep themselves safe, but instead they’d each determined that coming for me was the right thing to do.

I set my hand on my chest at the realization, at the weird warm fuzzies I got from it.

“Careful now, she just might swoon,” Kelvin said with a chuckle. “You want me to catch you?”

Thatwoke me up.

I didn’t need to act like some idiot in front of them all, like someone who needed romance and reacted like a teenager over it.

“Shut up,” I muttered, warmth on my cheeks. I could only pray the light was low enough that they couldn’t see it. I did pause and shift so I could see all of them at once.

“So if you’re all going to come, what happens here? Can things go on without you?”

Galen shrugged. “I have Matt taking care of things while I’m gone.”

“I’ve put someone in charge,” Kelvin assured me.

“We don’t really have ‘in charge,’” Porter denied. “But should anyone have issues, I’ve put someone else in place to receive any such requests.”

“I’ve already assigned another Justice to take over while I’m gone. The Justices are able to operate well no matter who is removed from the group. They will be fine without me.”

I looked over at the last one, the one I didn’t recognize.

He shrugged. “I’m not in charge, so no one will miss me. I just go where I’m told.” He peered around. “I also have a feeling I’m missing a lot of details here, but honestly? As long as I get paid when I get back, I don’t think I need to know.”

He tucked his hands into the pockets of his sweater as though he didn’t really care anymore, and I had to admit, I rather liked that.

I didn’t trust people who weretooeager, or even too curious. I’d take a good hired gun who admitted that they were here for the money over someone who proclaimed their allegiance to me.

Plus, it meant I didn’t have to act like we were best friends.

“So, is this it, then?” I asked, looking around.

“I believe so,” Porter said. “Now, I am the only one who has been here before. That means it’s important for you to listen to me. Trustnothing.This is not our world, no matter how it feels.”

“You sound paranoid,” Kelvin said. “We’re some of the most powerful Spirits in the world. I don’t think a little hike is going to pose that great a difficulty for us.”

Porter shook his head. “You don’t understand. This isn’t a little hike. The area we will be isn’t Earth, and the things there are pure Spirit energy. We are half-breeds compared to what resides there. It means we need to watch our step. It also means we will feel a certain pull or affinity in a certain direction—you must ignore that. We have to follow Galen to ensure we end up where we need to be. Do you understand?”

“Don’t get eaten by the wildlife, ignore the call of nature, follow Galen. Got it.” I listed the items like a to-do list, using a finger to mark off each one. “Let’s get this over with. The sooner we go, the sooner we’re back.” I peered at Porter and Kelvin who, surprisingly, had nothing with them. “You packed a little light, didn’t you?”

Porter crossed his arms. “I am rather at home in natural spaces like that. I have no worries about needing anything.”

“And you?” I lifted my eyebrow in Kelvin’s direction.

“I brought food.”