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THIRTY-NINE

THEO

MYSTERIES

Day 534

Adrian’s mouth falls open in exaggerated shock, brows drawn together in disbelief as he hurls his hands up in mock outrage at Todd’s revelation. “I still can’t believe you never told me you’ve been hoarding a Magic The Gathering collection the whole time I’ve been here,” Adrian tells him, gesturing wildly, fingers moving so I can follow along. “Toddy, I thought we were friends. I thought you were someone I could always count on.”

Todd raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk, and I watch as he brings a closed fist up over his heart, rubbing it in circles. My cheeks ache from how hard I’m smiling. There’s something so fulfilling in these small moments—the easy banter, the way Todd and Jay have picked up a few gestures in ASL to include me without breaking the rhythm of conversation. I glance at Kenji, watching his hands follow whatever Todd’s saying next.

“I’m not sorry to you ,” Todd clarifies, throwing a wink my way. “I’m sorry for Theo and Kenji, who could have had some fun with Jay and me these last few months. You would be awful to play with. I just know you’re a sore loser, especially when any of your creatures get banished to the graveyard.”

“Oh!” Adrian’s eyes widen as he begins gesticulating so wildly that we have to be getting the attention of a few others in the barn tonight. “I am so sorry that I care about my creatures! That I want to win! You’ve made an enemy of me, Toddy. You’ll rue the day.”

“Sometimes you use words like ‘rue,’ and it reminds me that you’re not illiterate,” I jump in, trying to keep a straight face.

Adrian whips to the side, feigning offense, and I barely dodge him as he swings his hand in my direction, aiming to thwap me. His eyes are crinkled at the corners, though, and his grin gives him away. I catch Jay and Kenji exchanging a look, Jay’s mouth twitching like he’s trying to keep from laughing.

Kenji starts signing with a slow, exaggerated sigh, his head shaking in dismay. “I don’t know why we put up with the two of you sometimes,” he says, his brows lifted as he gives Adrian a mock-serious look.

Adrian, unphased, blows Kenji a kiss. “Because you guys love me,” he teases, looking between us all. “Plus, you’re stuck with me after all these years. And now that we have Farron, I’m definitely not going anywhere. Sorry, brother-boyfriends.”

I let out a long groan, rolling my eyes in exasperation. Adrian’s grin widens as he continues, his gaze sliding to Todd and Jay with a smirk. “As for you two...I’d say Jay puts up with him because the D is too good, but Todd is not giving top energy.”

My mouth falls open at the crass joke, and before anyone can react, Jay’s already stepped up to smack Adrian upside the head. “Bad,” Jay mouths, shaking his head, his expression between amusement and disbelief. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Adrian opens his mouth to retort, but Daisy's sudden appearance catches everyone’s attention. I notice Peter and Jasper watching from across the barn as Daisy, heavily pregnant and visibly out of breath, hurries toward us, her hand on her belly, face flushed. A woman this pregnant should not be trying to run. My eyes dart between her lips, trying to read them, but her words blur in her hurry.

“Farron,” I catch her saying, the name clear but little else. My chest tightens, a prickle of worry rising up my spine. I look around the Alden barn, scanning for that familiar head of curls, but Farron’s nowhere to be seen.

Daisy’s lips move faster now, her words rushing past, and I strain to make sense of her frantic gestures. My pulse quickens, and discomfort and frustration build as I wait for someone to interpret for me and tell me what’s going on.

Whatever Daisy’s saying has everyone suddenly in motion—Kenji and Adrian take off at a run, Todd close behind them. I hesitate, my instincts urging me forward, but I look back at Daisy, who seems winded and uneasy. I don’t want to leave her here alone, especially with how far along she is.

But she sees Jasper and Peter coming over and then meets my gaze, her face softening in a smile. Daisy catches my eye and gives me a reassuring nod, mouthing, “Go.” Her hands flutter, waving me toward the door, and that’s all the permission I need. I take off at a sprint, heart hammering as I race after the others, my mind racing with fear for Farron.

Outside the barn, I come to a stop, scanning the surroundings, but I don’t know which way to go. Panic tightens in my chest, and I bite back a curse. But then Jay’s next to me, his shoulder nudging mine. He points to the side of the barn, his expression sharp, his eyes focused as he silently directs me to follow.

We move quickly, rounding the corner, and as soon as we reach the back, I spot the others gathered in a loose circle. And right there in the middle of the group, standing tall and fierce, is Farron. My eyes widen, disbelief flooding me as I take in the scene.

Farron’s boot is planted firmly on Trevor’s face, pinning him to the ground as he lies sprawled in the dirt. Blood smears his nose and mouth, a red stain on his face as he grimaces up at her. She stands over him, looking every inch the warrior I know her to be, her dark curls wild around her face, her chest heaving as she stares him down with fiery intensity.

“What the hell?” I mouth, my eyebrows shooting up as my gaze goes back to Adrian and Kenji, the two of them clearly as stunned as I am.

I only notice that others have made their way from the barn when Farron’s attention is drawn upwards, away from Trevor and towards us. Though her stance is one of power, I notice the way her hands are trembling and her eyes look wild. Feral. She looks around at everyone who’s gathered to see the scene, and for just a second, it looks like she wants to bolt. But then her eyes meet mine, and the fire in her eyes softens just slightly as she takes me in. Her eyes fall closed, and I watch as she takes a deep breath in, holding for three, before slowly breathing out.

When she opens her eyes again, I can tell that my Star is back. She’s steeled herself and prepared for the fallout of whatever the hell just happened out here before we arrived.

Which reminds me…

I wave my hand to get Adrian and Kenji’s attention. “Can someone explain what the hell happened?”