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She focused on him and for a moment her face seemed young again.
“Do you think he’ll come back for us?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
It wasn’t a lie. Adam had to do everything he could to make certain the Red Wolf did not come to be, but he still might fail. Something heavy sat in his chest as they walked away.
Vic squeezed his hand and whispered, “You were smart not to give her false hope.”
“I know, I just didn’t realize what it would do to these people.”
“Would you do it again?”
Something hard and red slid into Adam’s heart, and he did not hesitate to answer.
“Yes. It was the right call. He was too far gone.”
“Then you’ve got to find a way to put it behind you.”
Adam looked back as the trees thickened and the number of tents thinned.
“I stole their hope, Vic.”
“He promised them wishes. You took away false hope, and you saved their lives.”
They circled toward the tower. At this distance its light shone a faint gold, another contrast to the cold white of the elven stronghold.
“You saw how she looked to that shack?” Vic asked.
“Yeah. I want to check it out but don’t want to start a riot.”
“I could create a diversion or something.”
“I have a better idea.” Adam took his hand. “This might feel weird.”
He released the spell, taking them back toward their bodies, but only for a moment. Pulling Vic close to him, he willed them back toward the graveyard, closer to the building and hopefully out of the Lost Ones’ sight.
Vic made an oof sound when they reappeared in the spirit realm.
“Did you just teleport us?” Vic asked.
“Kind of. I mean, I couldn’t do it in body, but it’s not that different from what I usually do, willing myself from one place to another.”
“Have you ever done that before?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I just thought of it?”
“Clever.” Vic kissed his cheek.
Adam flushed and pulled him toward the shack, hoping to reach it before they were noticed.
He entered first, slipping inside the makeshift building. It was made of scrap wood but mostly cardboard, nowhere you wanted a fire. A few electric camping lanterns were spaced here and there, providing the only light.
The smell was like burned rubber and briny, not completely unlike the odor of the lobster tank at the dim sum place on Mississippi they went to some Sunday mornings.
