Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 184

Chapter 184: Grace: Bad Luck

Someone cranks the volume on the TV, drowning out the rain beating down on the RV’s thin roof.

Andrew had worked some technological magic earlier, casting from his phone to Lyre’s television. Now the children are hypnotized by a movie about people living in a world made entirely of blocks. It’s strangely soothing to watch, even if I don’t fully understand the appeal.

All four kids have crammed themselves onto the daybed, a tangle of limbs and blankets. Poor Ron is smothered, with Sara and Jer on either side of him and Bun in his lap, but they all look content.

It’s sweet.

Across from them, I’m wedged between the arm of the couch and Caine’s solid warmth. He’s not touching me, but there’s barely an inch of space between us at any given point.

Andrew should be the only one without a living being taking up space beside him, but both Sadie and the cat have elected to use him as a bed.

It’s all very... cozy.

And cramped.

Incredibly cramped.

This camper was not made for a giant family, a tagalong, and two large animals.

My phone vibrates against my thigh, and I stifle a groan. Probably another message from Wrath or Madness, begging me to explain how I got into their chat. I’ve been ignoring them for quite some time, but they haven’t given up.

I pull out the device, already planning on discarding the notifications, but freeze when I see Lyre’s name on my screen.

Finally, a response.

[LYRE: Just ignore any messages on Divinity Connect. It might be hard to reach us for a few days. Just wait until I contact you again.]

Or not.

Not only is her text rather unhelpful—I’m already ignoring the messages and still don’t know if I should be worried about these people—the latter half of it makes my chest feel heavy.

[GRACE: Are you okay? What’s happening?]

No response. The message shows delivered but not read... again.

She was just texting me two seconds ago!

I frown at the screen, trying to decide if I should be worried. I mean... it’s Lyre.

Bun squawks at the TV, and the kids suddenly shout, "Chicken jockey!", with all of them erupting into laughter. Bun giggles, though she seems to be more amused by their reaction than to understand whatever joke just occurred on-screen.

I don’t get it, either.

"Is something wrong?"

his sharp gaze catching my screen. I exit the messages so fast I nearly drop my phone,

to give me a heart attack before

eyes look unconvinced, and I backpedal. "I mean—Lyre just messaged.

his face to miss it. A slight

"Did she say why?"

shake my head.

crypticity (is that a

from the couch, phone already in hand, and walks down the narrow

a genius to

tower at impossible speed while Sara mumbles something about ingredients. Jer hisses

quiet, it’s a

secret

settled by this moment of calm, but Lyre’s message nags at me.

make her unreachable? Between the strange sounds during the last call and this, I have a bad

did say the App doesn’t give them missions they can’t handle,

a tiny bit closer than before. His arm

to lean

the whole going-into-a-coma problem, and

pitched low. "But it’s not

should reassure me. If anyone knows Jack-Eye’s habits, it’s him. And if anyone can handle themselves

long breath

Connect. I silence it without looking, suddenly very

observes, his eyes on

slip it into my pocket. "Just

* * *

Caine and Andrew conspire to drive farther than Lyre’s daily recommendation. We argue

taking precautions—but another’s on its way by the next evening, as if chasing us down. If we only go the recommended miles,

we’re exhausted but right at the

familiar sight: a storm, ready to hit by midnight. There’s even a state

no throwing up—thanks to the motion

Spy and ended with them using their hands as puppets and pretending to be the narrators of various

was probably the semi-truck, a well-meaning, hard-working man, and the white sedan

me wonder what things Owen

But more importantly...

thunderstorm warnings after ten p.m. "Didn’t we come this

off the car without another comment, and

frown. "Were you

his head. "Caine

Huh.

"I have to pee so bad, my

focus, the details of the storm pushed aside as

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