They made good, if quiet, time to the park. Melaton didn’t bother parking properly, not when there were so few cars around. “You two stay safe, all right,” Melaton said. “You did good today. You’ve got loads of potential. If you wanna do anything with it, then . . . yeah, I could show you around some more.”

Emily felt her cheeks warming, so she acted, stepping out of the car, and shaking Teddy awake before taking the girl’s phone and leaving it on the back seat. “I . . . I’ll think about it,” Emily said. “Um, thanks for today?”

“No problem. I’ll be sure to swing a bit of cash your way. The way you’re caring for the kid, I figure you’ll need it.”

“Thanks,” Emily said again. Talking about money was just as uncomfortable as ever. “Bye.”

She watched Melaton drive off while Teddy leaned into Emily’s side, and then it was off to the public washrooms to get changed. As soon as they were out and heading back, Emily noticed how Teddy was flagging, and she couldn’t ignore the gnawing guilt in her stomach anymore.

“Teddy, want a piggyback ride?”

“A wha?”

Emily knelt down, put her backpack on Teddy, then got the girl to hop onto her back.

At first, Teddy giggled and cheered Emily on, but soon her burst of energy ran out and she nestled into the crook of Emily’s neck and went right back to sleep.

Emily had an odd moment of quiet where she could contemplate her day. It was . . . strange, but satisfying, too. She could get used to the idea that she was someone who did things.

They arrived at the dorm with only some trouble, mostly from Emily’s back straining at the weight. Teddy was definitely on the heavier side.

Getting her phone out to open the door was tricky, but she managed, and soon enough they rode up the elevator and walked to their room.

Emily set Teddy down, the werebear yawning hugely as she stood next to Emily.

Emily opened the door and stepped in, then she froze.

Two things jumped to her at once.

First, where and when had Athena gotten herself a leather biker’s jacket?

And second, and more disturbing, why was Alea Iacta lying on the floor in the fetal position?

CHAPTER FIFTY

Riding Owl Night

Athena didn’t think she’d like the motorcycles at first. They were big, and really noisy, and they stank a lot. But the nice biker guys gave her a cool leather jacket and a less-cool helmet that was a bit too big for her, and then they sat her down behind this big, mean-looking woman who had a huge “hog.”