Promise of Shadows by Ireland Justina

Promise of Shadows by Ireland Justina

Author:Ireland, Justina [Ireland, Justina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2014-03-11T00:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

AFTER TALLON’S REVELATION THE CONVERSATION dies. I’m still not convinced that I’m the Nyx, but the more people believe I am the more it seems to be the truth. It’s hard to think so many people could be wrong.

The turmoil I feel makes my stomach hurt and my head pound. I just want to lie down, close my eyes, and pretend the world doesn’t exist.

We get in the car and head back to Nanda’s house. We’re farther away than I thought we would be, which means I was walking longer than I thought. It’s late enough that Nanda is putting lunch on the table when we walk in: fried chicken with greens and mashed potatoes.

She gives me a grin as I enter the kitchen. Her eyes shine with pride, but it doesn’t make me happy. It just makes me feel anxious. “I heard what you did. The whole neighborhood’s talking about it. I figured you’d be hungry.”

I nod, sitting down and digging in. I’m hungrier than I’ve been in a long time. I’m halfway through my first plate of food before I realize that Cass isn’t at the table. “Hey, where’s Cass?”

“She already ate. She said she had something to look into and said she’d talk to you when she gets back.” Nanda gives me a meaningful look, like this is why I shouldn’t trust her. But I don’t know that she’s doing anything wrong. What if she’s just trying to track down what happened to Whisper?

But what if she isn’t? a little voice says. A little niggle of doubt begins to creep in. Everyone around me has secrets, and I’m not sure I know all of Cass’s.

Guilt clenches my middle. No. I won’t fall into Nanda’s trap. Cass is my friend. She’s out there trying to find out what happened to Whisper. That’s where I should be. Helping Cass, not stuffing my face.

But I don’t get up, because Nanda’s refilling my plate. So I feed my guilt along with the gnawing, hollow ache in my middle. I’ve eaten two more pieces of chicken and another helping of both greens and mashed potatoes before I finally feel full.

I sit back and sigh. Tallon looks at my empty plate, chicken bones piled high. “The erebos takes a lot out of you. You’re going to have to eat like that every time you use it.”

The knowing tone in his voice irritates me. “What are you, the food police?”

Hurt flashes across his expression, and I immediately regret my sharp words. But before I can say anything, he pushes back from the table and leaves.

Nanda begins cleaning up the kitchen, and I jump to my feet to help her. Blue finishes his food and gives Nanda a peck on the cheek. “I’ll help Zephyr clean up here. You go sit down. You deserve a break.”

Nanda beams at Blue, and her fondness fills the kitchen with the scent of bubble gum. She nods at me. “We’ll talk later,” she says ominously before walking out.

Blue loads the dishwasher while I rinse off the dishes.



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