Instantly, my mind replayed what I witnessed in the Land of the Lore. Something was so very not right about that. “I can’t shake that . . . what happened with Devon. What I saw.”

“Me either,” she said softly.

I opened my mouth to speak when those symbols appeared above her head like they had during my initiation. My eyes widened. I stared at it, burning it to memory so I could try to figure out the meaning.

“You see ‘em again, eh?”

I nodded. “I have no idea what they mean or what to do.”

“Maybe I should do my unlocking spell on you.”

“I don’t know what that means but I’m in.”

She snorted. “You’re one of a kind, ma’am. Zero fucks given. Just grabbin’ the world by the balls and hangin’ on.”

I grinned. “Yeah, I have no idea what made me like this.”

Her smile vanished and her blue eyes darkened but then she shook herself. “The why might not be important. That old soul of yours just has opinions.”

Old soul? What does THAT mean? I started to ask, then decided I didn’t want to know what that meant. I had enough worry on my plate. “I guess. All right, well, Cooper and Deacon are gonna put me to sleep and go playing in my dreams in hopes I can lure Everest . . . so if anyone needs me, that’s where I’ll be.”

She grabbed my arm. “Be careful. You may not fear his darkness but the shadow of his mother clings to him. You don’t wanna be caught in her sight. Pretend you’re Frodo with the one ring and you can’t let Sauron know you’re there.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. A cold chill slid down my spine. “Right. Got it. I’ll be careful.”

Savannah nodded, then walked over to kneel beside Chutney. I hurried out of the room before I saw whatever she was about to do. I found Myrtle standing in the doorway of the next room. She wasn’t looking at me though, she was watching Kessler and Mona fuss over Tennessee and Jackson who sat in chairs in the middle of the room. Bettina was in the bed on the far side of the room while Tegan was in the one closest to the door. The two soulmates looked equally wrecked, though poor Tenn had to worry for his soulmate and sister. Not that it was a competition of grief. Kessler and Mona were giving both boys oranges, and I watched in amusement as they both focused all of their attention on peeling them.

Myrtle must have finally registered my presence because she turned and smiled at me with bright-silver eyes. That diadem on her forehead glistened under the lights. She reached out and took my hand. “Come, my darling, you have needs.”