“Look, I don’t know Tegan like you do. I didn’t get enough time with her, but clearly she’s even more badass than she was in August.” Libby chuckled a little. “If she took Paulina’s memories because she couldn’t handle the knowledge of losing you, then there’s no way that Tegan didn’t leave the opening to give those memories back.”

Braison’s eyes widened. “You think?”

Libby rolled her eyes. “You’re the one who’s spent the last six months with her and Tenn and that pink soulmate glyph. You tell me if she’s soft on love.”

“You’re right.” He nodded. “Tegan would’ve left that window open, just in case.”

“You guys have a plan?”

We all jumped and turned to look at Pierce who just frowned at us. I cursed. I’d forgotten he was standing there. I knew Pierce wasn’t on Mother’s side, or Sweyn’s or Azazel’s for that matter. I knew he longed for his old life and humanity. I knew he was a good person down to his soul. So, I knew he wasn’t a threat.

Braison, Libby, and Malik all looked to me expectantly.

I sighed. “Are you good at keeping secrets, Pierce?”

His face fell. He swallowed roughly, then shook his head. “Don’t tell me. I am but I don’t trust her. I don’t want to be the reason . . . the reason . . .”

“I know,” I said softly.

“Just let me know if and when I can be part of it, okay?” He subtly tapped on the inside of his left forearm. “Whatever is needed, got it?”

Braison and Libby smiled and nodded. Malik looked confused, like a puppy who accidentally got loose from his backyard and couldn’t get home.

Then Pierce looked to me. “Everest?”

I nodded my head. “In the meantime, try to stay out of their beds as much as possible, for your own sake.”

“Azazel left. Thankfully.” He gave me a lopsided grin that almost made me chuckle.

Almost.

But it was the sudden shift in energy in the air that stripped the humor from my bones. It was a feeling I’d never unfeel. I’d never forget the way the realm reacted to more of Mother’s poison seeping throughout it. Ahead of us, in the middle of the square, a group of people emerged from the thick fog. There had to be two dozen of them, all young college-aged kids with bright smiles and glassy drunken eyes. They slurred their words and stumbled across the pavement, following one of the sentinels blindly.

One of the guys pumped his fist in the air. “Woohoo! Free drinks, dude!”

“With hot chicks!” another guy shouted, then slapped the ass of the girl walking next to him. “Hey, baby.”

Several guys high-fived.