“Petra thinks I should have killed him then and there,” I say with a light laugh. We are in the car on the way to Shaded Grove territory. Now that I’ve finished telling everyone what happened with Marlon this morning, I’m being overrun with their thoughts, questions, and opinions.
I look around at the group with fondness.
I’m lucky, I say to Petra.
We are. But so are they. Don’t sell yourself short.
“I’m with Petra!” says Elijah.
“Wow,” Rosa says in a deep, impressed tone, “for once, I’m not. Incredible. Does this mean I’m old now? Mature? Making responsible decisions? Thinking about consequences?” She clutches her heart, pretending to be in pain.
“You’re certainly older than me!” I joke.
“By like fifty days, calm down or I’ll have to put you down for a nap,” she smirks.
“So,” Hea
