(eng) Lish McBride - Firebug 01 by Firebug

Author:Firebug [Firebug]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

9

NEW FRIENDS

THE TRAIN RIDE was uneventful. We tried to get Ezra to wear a cap or pull his hood up, anything to tone down his pretty. People remember Ezra. It made being on the lam difficult. He finally caved and raised his hood. Since it would do less damage to his hair than a hat, it was the lesser of the two evils in his mind.

We left the train and managed to get a taxi to take us to the bus stop. The bus was old and smelled a bit like feet and desperation—and, yes, desperation has a smell. It’s not pleasant. I took a seat next to Lock, Ezra choosing to take up an entire bench in front of us. Lock breathed on the window and fogged it up, using his index finger to draw little hearts and arrows in the moisture.

“You’re such a girl.”

“I can’t help it—I was raised by a bevy of women.” He added tiny broken hearts around the arrowed ones. “There, is that better?”

“Yes.” I snuggled into his side. “Do you think we’re being stupid?”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. “Most people run out of a burning building. It’s common sense. But firefighters run back in, because they’re brave. And most people would run from the Coterie—that’s common sense too.”

“We’re running back toward it. So are you saying we’re brave?”

He sighed. “No, I think we’re stupid, but I can’t think of anything better.” He gave me a squeeze. “You should rest while you can.” Before I could protest, he said, “You need it more than I do, and one of us should keep watch. Ezra is already napping, so sleep.”

I could tell Lock wasn’t going to let me win on this one. Some battles just weren’t worth fighting. I shut my eyes. The smell of desperation was even stronger with my eyes closed. I wondered idly if that was because it was coming from me.

* * *

WE COULDN’T just take the bus directly to Duncan’s. We got within thirty miles, which was the best we could do. I’d napped for a lot of the ride, but the rest of the time was spent in a state of frustration and fear. Even though every inch brought me closer to Cade, it also brought me closer to the worry that he wouldn’t be there. I had to keep my hands in my pockets in case I sparked. What I wanted to do was run home and pretend none of this had happened. I desperately needed the sight of the bookshop, or the sound of Sylvie psychoanalyzing the newest arrival of bodice rippers (though she always read them anyway), or even to be on the receiving end of Horatio’s disdain.

I wanted to slip back into my life and forget Ryan and the Coterie. I pressed my forehead against the rough weave of the seatback in front of me. Lock nudged my arm, indicating that it was time to get off. The second he stepped off the bus, he started walking—quite resolutely—in the wrong direction.

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