It was just past midnight and Dylan was already driving Jo crazy. Yesterday, he had footage of Ao Guang stepping on the plane. Now he wouldn't even let her get in the house and take her uniform off. He was pestering her with some footage of a random dragon flying over a football field.
"That's the Red Dragon," Dylan squealed. "I know it is."
"Put that away," Jo roared. "I don't want to see it."
Dylan went to the door, but Jo yelled, "It's the middle of the night." She added, "Besides, Evie's probably not home yet. She went to that Banned Music thing with your brother."
"It got canceled," Dylan said, heading to his room.
"What are you talking about?" Jo said, grabbing him and dragging him back.
Dylan held up his phone, showed her the scrambled account for Demon Doc. Jo snatched the phone away, read the clipped bits of gossip. Then Jo got out her own phone, started tapping on different screens until Brantley's face came up and the ringer sounded.
And sounded.
And went to voicemail.
She texted him, "Contact me right now, young man. Don't make me drive down there."
Jo peeped out the window. The night was black, only a sliver of moon like a scythe in the sky. Lights were on at Evie's house. She should have come over to their place.
"I'll be right back," she called out, then she found the key and let herself in.
Evie was sitting in the middle of the spare room, stacking up pictures and books.
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh," Evie said, her head popping up. "Oh, the concert got canceled."
"Where's Brantley?"
Evie tipped one of her shoulders up.
"Have you been home long?"
"Not long," Evie said.
Brantley was probably driving. He'd text her later.
Jo knelt next to Evie. "Brantley likes you a lot."
Evie lifted her head and sunshine radiated from her lips. "Jo, you're great. Brantley and Dylan, all of you are wonderful, but Brantley and I will never work."
"I just want to be sure you know that my family is your family. You will always belong with the Reitmans."
"I know that, Jo. Thank you."
"Want any help?"
"I'm fine," Evie said, holding a picture of King Ao Guang and Prince Nianzang at the prince's five hundred and seventy-fifth birthday party.
YOU ARE READING
The Lamb and the Gray Battle
FantasyEvie has spent the last 575 years on the North American continent, now called America, the Pure and Clean. She smiles, volunteers and makes cakes and pastries for her neighbors, hiding away her demon blood. She wants nothing to do with her estranged...
