Ibin’s green eyes fixed on Ava with an intensity that made her want to take a step back. “There'salwaysa choice, Ava.”
Well, wasn’t that just the most unhelpful fortune cookie wisdom she’d heard today.
“Great,” she muttered. “I’ll file that away with all the other useless platitudes that haven’t done shit with me so far. Right next to ‘noble things your parents teach you that will actually kill you’ and ‘all of organized religion.’”
Nos made a sound like grinding gears—she realized after a second that he was laughing.
“I fail to see what’s so funny,” Ava snapped.
“Your survival instinct.” He stood, towering over both of them. “Pathetic. Endearing, but pathetic.”
“That’s rich coming from the guy who looks like he survived a supernatural woodchipper.” The words were out before shecould stop them. Ibin went very still.Shit. Maybe antagonizing the scary patchwork fae man wasn’t her brightest idea.
But Nos just made that grinding noise again.
“Better a patchwork man than a fool with sudden delusions of significance.” His smile was cruelty itself. “You think you're saving your world? Yourrace?You’re a pawn, little human. Nothing more.”
“Great talk. Love it.” She hugged Book closer to her chest. “But I’m still going. You don’t want me here. And I don’t think I want to be here.”
Ibin stepped forward. “At least let us go with you.”
“What?” Nos and Ava said in unison, which was justweird.
“You heard me.” Ibin crossed her arms. “Whatever you’re planning to do, I’m not letting you go out there alone.”
“I’m not planning—” Ava started, then stopped. Whatwasshe planning? Help Serrik? Kill him? Get impossibly magical and somehow save both humans and fae? Drop more magical apples and trains on people? “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she admitted. “Or where I’m going.”
“Precisely why you need us.” Ibin beamed, as if that settled everything. “You don’t know where this mirror is. AndI do.”
Shit.Shit.
“She’s made her choice,” Nos growled. “Let her go.”
“And when have Ieverlistened to you?” Ibin shot back.
Ava got the impression this was an argument they’d been having for roughly the past century and change. “Look,” she said, holding up a hand. “I’m not asking for help. I’m not asking for company. I’m just trying to…”
Survive. The word hung unspoken.
Ibin’s expression softened. “I know, love. But the Web isn’t kind to lone travelers. Especially ones with targets painted on their backs. Here’s the deal. I’ll take you to the door—if you letme convince you we deserve to live along the way. For real, this time.”
Ava looked down at Book. It sat there, infuriatingly mute and unhelpful. If it had any opinions on her supernatural escort service, it wasn’t sharing.
“Fine. It’s not like I can stop you tagging along anyway, and I do need help finding the door,” she relented. “But if either of you try anything?—”
“We’ll behave.” Ibin crossed a finger over her heart.
Nos scoffed. “Speak for yourself.”
Ava ignored him. “Alright. Let’s do this. Not like my day can get any weirder.”
Famous last words.
The Web wasn’t just strange—it wasaggressivelystrange. Like it was personally offended by the concept of reality and determined to prove a point.
They’d been walking for what felt like hours but was probably only twenty minutes. Time worked funny here. Everything worked funny here.
“So,” Ava said, breaking the silence, “does anyone actually know where we’re going? Or are we just wandering until something tries to eat us?”
