“Not again, guys.That first shot was just beginner’s luck.”
Asteria swoops down low, bullets ricocheting off her belly and striking some of the humans.
“Wait,” Liz says.
But Asteria has already zapped the line of soldiers, and they all shudder and fall to the ground.
“I said that we shouldn’t?—”
Calm down, Asteria says.I told my strike blessed to stun, and that’s what I’m doing too.
Liz is practically beaming, but Hyperion’s ticked.This is no fun at all.Definitely not as good as Christmas.
An hour later, we’ve identified six hundred and forty-three brights, incapacitated over three hundred soldiers, some of them repeatedly, and portaled the brights home.After the last portal closes, he finally stops grumbling.
It was probably faster than attacking randomly,my brother grudgingly admits.Especially since they came with us, giddy and pleasant.That’s better than drooling or kicking and screaming.
Liz is always right.That’s what I’m learning.
I can’t help being a little proud of her—she ismine, after all.That thought makes me shiver with satisfaction.It greatly exceeds any frustration I felt about Hyperion saying I behave strangely with Liz.What does he know about strange?He’s saying things that make no sense and talking about Christmas.He’s changed so much himself, he wouldn’t even recognize himself anymore.
After we’re all back without a single injured blessed, Liz says, “Tomorrow, let’s try and save my mom and the blessed they’ve been torturing.”She yawns.“But not until after I’ve slept.”
Save—who?Hyperion looks confused, so I fill him in.The glint in his eye is...predictable.Maybethiswill be our Christmas.
“Your brain is so twisted,” Liz says.“We’re going tosavedragons and my mother.Not to start another war—and starting a war is bad.Christmas is about love and peace and spending time with family.”
That’s why I said this would beourChristmas, he says.Yours sounds terrible.
“What makes killing people wonderful for you?Do you just like burning things?”Liz asks.
I can’t tell who she’s asking.
Yes, Hyperion and I say at the same time.
She rolls her eyes and flies away.
I nearly trip over Hyperion when I race to fly after her.
You don’t have to sleep,Hyperion says.And now that you can eat, you don’t need to worry about running out of energy.We could fly somewhere.Or, if you’re angry, you could attack me again.
No thanks.I can’t help my smug smile.You need to bond a human,I say.Then you won’t be so needy.
Hyperion’s insulting me when I fly off after Liz, but I don’t care.Not much, anyway.
By the time I catch Liz, she’s flying through the hole in the side of the Hotel Selfoss.Who blasted this hole?I’ve been meaning to ask.
You did,she says on a private thread.
I like that you’re speaking to me this way.I can’t help my smile.You must be pleased to finally be bonded again?
Liz points.
Gordon’s coiled up in the corner, like he has been for the past few nights, but when I look closer, I notice why she’s pointing.Sammy’s lying on top of the pile.Gordon’s not asleep.He’s staring at Sammy, smiling idiotically.
Like an idiot.
Which is probably how I’ve looked.Ugh.
