My back and neck are killing me as we silently heave Ward in Arryn’s wake, following her as she drags the breakout along the outside edge of the ferry and moves toward the stern, only stopping once she’s satisfied that no one else is insane enough to be outside in the swiftly dropping temperature.

Cami and I lower Ward unceremoniously onto a wooden bench, with Arryn doing the same for the breakout, if perhaps a little more gently.

“We just committed a crime,” Cami says, her green eyes wide.

I hadn’t thought about that. Even now, I can’t bring myself to worry too much. Instead, I roll my shoulders and massage my knotted flesh, grimacing at the strained muscles and ignoring the dull pounding in my head.

“It’s a little hard to buy a ferry ticket when no one can see you,” Arryn replies. She gestures to her blurred outline and adds, “Don’t worry—it’s not like we’re going to get caught.”

“That’s not the point!” Cami says. “We’re officially felons!”

“Calm down, Cam,” I tell her, worried that if she raises her voice any louder, we might draw unwanted attention. “We can leave some cash behind if it’ll make you feel better.”

I don’t have any money on me, but I’m assuming Arryn will be able to cover us, like she did on the ferry over from Quarantine Beach. But when I glance her way, she’s looking at me with an incredulous expression, as if asking if that’s really necessary. I offer her an apologetic shrug in return. She only rolls her eyes and pulls out her phone, frowning slightly as she peers at the screen and starts tapping away at it.

“Kael checking in?” I guess.

“We have been gone awhile,” she replies, not looking up from what she’s doing.

And he’s protective of me. That’s what she doesn’t add, and I’m grateful. He has no reason to be so … clingy. But after everything he’s lost—after everyone he’s lost—I know I should cut him some slack.

“At least we’re on the home stretch now,” Arryn says, sending off her message and putting her phone away. She leaves the breakout’s side to lean against the railing just as the ferry pulls out from the pier and starts to pick up speed through the water.

Since no one has joined us out here, we’re free to talk normally. That means we’re free to whinge, too, something I can’t resist doing when I say, “We’re going to be icicles by the time we reach the zoo. You might want to send another message to Kael and make sure he has heaters ready to defrost us.”

Arryn only grins and shakes her head as if amused, but Cami pulls her coat tighter and acknowledges, “It is a bit chilly.”