“Oh, shut up,” she says to him. “Figures you’d take Ziva’s side. She’s the special one after all, isn’t she? The one worthy of being written about in your book?”

Temra runs ahead, pushing through the hordes of relatives until she reaches Volanna’s side and takes her hand like a child.

“I’m sure she didn’t mean—”

“No, Petrik,” I say. “Don’t defend her. She meant every word.”

Am I so pathetic that I’m blind to safety and happiness? Is she right?

We’re approaching the house, but the last thing I want to do is go inside.

“I’m going on a walk,” I tell Petrik. “Can you hide my absence and keep an eye on Temra?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

CHAPTER
TWELVE

I never walk the streets alone, not if I can help it. Even back in Lirasu, I wouldn’t go anywhere unless Temra was free to join me. I can’t help but be wary of everyone and everything. Because no matter what, it all feels like a threat.

I startle at every sound and have to eye every stranger I pass, ensuring none of them is Kymora. And damn this town, but everyone is too friendly, saying hello whenever I pass them by.

I don’t want to talk. Why can’t everyone just keep to themselves?

Careful not to get lost, I finally get the courage to ask for directions to the Dancing Kiwi Tavern. Turns out a kiwi isn’t just a fruit but yet another kind of flightless bird. I stare up at the image of the squat bird with a long, thin beak painted on the sign above the door.

He’s probably not even inside. It’s not like he’s going to spend his days just sitting in the public area all day. No, he’ll be off enjoying the city. Although it is lunchtime. So maybe he’s eating?

Honestly, I can’t tell if I want him to be inside or not. I sort of want to talk to Kellyn, but I’m also equally terrified of it.

But I need to talk him out of a weapon, and I can’t do that if I don’t actually speak to him.

Pathetic.

Pathetic.

Pathetic.

That word rings in my ears in Temra’s voice. She’s usually so supportive of my weaknesses, but I can’t help but think that was all a lie and she’s finally told me how she really feels.

If it were Temra, she wouldn’t think twice about going to talk to a boy. She would be confident, smiling, ready to take on anything.

For just a second, I pretend I’m her, and I enter the tavern.

My first objective is simple: Don’t panic, and find an empty table to sit at.

It only takes one quick perusal to confirm there are no empty tables.

I can’t sit next to someone I don’t know. That leaves the stools near the front counter. There are seven of them. There’s a person in numbers one, three, four, and seven. Which means no matter which stool I sit in, I’ll be next to someone.