Chapter 74
FOR A while I lay on dry, spiky grass, distantly contemplating my aches.
I only thought everything had hurt before. My teeth felt loose, and I tasted blood. My ribs felt like someone had played them like a xylophone, with ball-peen hammers. My legs and arms all lay at weird angles.
And through all that, the sound of Ceren saying “f**k” over and over again.
I needed a nap. After a sauna. After a massage. After an hour in a hot tub, and a nice steak, and a bucket of prescription painkillers.
With a deep groan, I hoisted my eyelids.
The dry, spiky grass dug into my cheek and filled half my vision. A close-up knee filled the other half.
“And how is our young action hero?” someone asked.
“Kevin!” Ceren said. “Are you okay?”
I shifted to untangle my knot of limbs. Gravity cla
