Everlife. Gena Showalter

dangerous and—”

      “So I can wear the right I heart my dog T-shirt.”

      He snorts. “I sneaked a smell of your butt when you weren’t looking, so we’re past rude, I’m thinking. I’m a mutt. A mix of everything, but mostly pit bull, shitzu and...poodle.” He grumbles the last, as if it’s a shameful secret.

      I press my lips together. Do not laugh. “Poodles are the worst of the worst, huh?”

      He snaps his teeth at me, and I can’t stop my laugh this time.

      “I’m foaming at the mouth with envy right now,” Archer says, and I swear he’s almost pouting. “I want a guardian animal.”

      “You have one,” Biscuit says. “She’s waiting for you at our destination, guarding the Myriadian.”

      He rubs his hands together with glee. “What is she? A bear? Lion? Cheetah?”

      “No, she’s worse. Her name is Beast.”

      My dog—mine!—says no more, but no other words are needed. Archer is vibrating with eagerness.

      As we whiz past a pile of rubble, my amusement fades, and sadness swells inside of me. All this debris... How many citizens did we lose? At least I can stop wondering about Nico. He may hate me, for whatever reason, but at least I know he isn’t trapped.

      I also ache for the realm itself. The Tower of Might used to be a treasure trove of skyscrapers and arenas. A blend of futuristic and ancient Rome.

      General Levi Nanne trained me in this city. He taught me how to enter and remain inside a Shell, which is a lot more difficult than it looks. He forced me to run for hours at a time, building my stamina. Mostly, he showed me that it’s okay to ask for help. Knowing your limits doesn’t make you weak—it makes you wise. And here...here is where Killian saved my life.

      Myriad armies surrounded the realm, their shadows obscuring our outer Light. Victor—Archer’s younger brother—lured me here in order to kill me. If Killian hadn’t fought his own men outside the realm, allowing a beam of Light to shine through, strengthening me, Victor would have succeeded.

      Poor Archer. He must know about his baby bro, and oh, it must hurt.

      “Archer—” I begin.

      “Tell me about Killian,” he demands. “About the bond.”

      I’d say I can’t catch a break, but I’m currently on the back of a zebra, escaping an enraged mob. “I thought you knew everything already. And what’s your new beef with him? I asked before, but you never got a chance to answer.”

      “I learned some things while I was in the Rest. Things he did to hurt others.”