Chapter 13: Seeking
Step one: reconnaissance. Fluffy huddles in the crook of my arm and shivers as we shove through the growing wall of ghosts and into the waking world. Since Cadence acts as an anchor on this side of reality, I can’t avoid seeing her—or pausing to watch her sleep for a few moments.
She’s all knotted up under the covers, knees drawn to her chest, arms curled in close. She moans, tucking her chin, but doesn’t wake.
Maryam strides into the room, blinks at the huddled form under the blankets, and turns to leave. Then she turns back, tiptoeing to the side of the bed. She leans down and brushes Cadence’s hair back.
“Just a little longer,” she whispers. “Just hang in there a little longer. It’ll all be over soon.”
The last time I saw those long, elegant fingers, they were f
