I swallow. “Because fear causes nightmares?”
He nods. “Also, if Icelus are smart, they’ll change the plan as soon as they learn Hans has disappeared.”
“Meaning Mom won’t be safe even at the new hospital?” My stomach tightens with the freakout I thought I’d avoided.
“No one’s safe.” Valerian’s jaw flexes. “Not unless we do something.”
To my shame, I fleetingly contemplate getting Mom through one of the gates—and staying off world with her. But such a journey would be risky in her condition. Not to mention, I wouldn’t really let millions die. However… “What about an evacuation to the Otherlands?” I suggest.
“The hub is in the blast radius,” Valerian says. “Also, there’s no practical way to get millions through a handful of gates quickly enough.”
I blow out a frustrated breath.
“It’s not the worst idea, though,” he says. “You can go to Earth. Sit this out.”
“No,” I say with a determination I don’t feel. “I’m going to stay, and we’ll prevent this thing.”
He studies me intently. “You have an idea?”
“Sort of. I didn’t get a chance to tell you something. The guy in the puck mask—I’ve seen him before.”
I proceed to tell him about the search for Itzel’s grandfather and how it also featured the pucker.
“So we know he met Hans in a morgue, and that he hired Filthy Bastards to kidnap Cadmael,” Valerian says thoughtfully. “It’s a start.”
“Right. And when I last spoke with my friends, Felix was going to see if he could link a purchase of a puck mask to the man.”
Valerian looks intrigued. “And did he?”
“I don’t know, but there’s a way to find out. Give me a minute.”
Since Valerian now knows about Pom, I openly touch the furry creature on my wrist and fall into the dream world.
“You’re back,” Pom says. “How did that werewolf dreamwalking go?”
Usually, I wouldn’t worry him, but I can’t help rattling out the situation as I seek Felix. As my symbiont who can no longer be removed from me, Pom is exposed to all the same risks as I am.
“I’m sorry about that,” I tell him.
“Don’t be.” Turning a brave teal hue, Pom raises his chin. “I’m glad to be your symbiont.”
Smiling faintly, I fluff his fur and jump into Felix’s dream.
Felix is buying Maya an ice cream cone.
I make her disappear, and he looks around in confusion.
“This is a dream,” I say.
Pom lands on his shoulder. “Hi, Felix.”
Felix looks at Pom, then at me. “I’m never going to get used to this, am I?”
“I’m here to get some important information,” I say. “Did you figure out who the guy in the puck mask was?”
Felix regretfully shakes his head. “Too many stores. Too many purchases.”
“And no other leads?”
“Afraid not.” His unibrow pulls together. “Why do you look so worried all of a sudden?”
I push back my hair, which I haven’t bothered making fiery. “Where are you? In the waking world, I mean.”
He looks confused for a second, and no wonder. In a dream, it’s difficult to recall where you went to sleep. Scrunching his face, he says, “A hotel near Itzel’s place on Gomorrah, I think.” Looking more certain, he adds, “Kit and Ariel are in the rooms next to me.”
“Good. Meet me at Itzel’s, and I’ll explain everything.”
With that, I wake him and terminate the dream.
I come out of the trance to a sense of movement.
What the puck?
I open my eyes.
Holding me in a fireman’s carry, Valerian is entering an elevator.
“Hey!” I push on his chest. “What’s the deal?”
“Emergency meeting of the Senate.” Turning, he presses the button for the rooftop with his elbow.
“I can walk from here,” I say and instantly regret it—it feels nice to be held by him.
He sets me on my feet as the elevator stops at the destination, and we dash to the car.
“Can we stop by Itzel’s place on the way to the Senate?” I say as we jump in.
“What’s the address?”
I tell him and explain that I want to pick up my friends.
“Fine,” he says. “But have them wait on the roof.”
I call up Itzel, who answers in a sleep-grumpy tone. I can hear the others in the background as well. I quickly tell them to meet me on the roof and hang up.
Valerian must have some illegal turbo mode on the car because it breaks every speed limit on the planet, getting us to Itzel’s roof in record time. Itzel, Ariel, Felix (in his robot suit), and Kit are already there, waiting.
Somehow, they all manage to pile in, suit included, and Valerian tells the car to head for the Senate building while I explain the imminent threat to my friends.
They take it surprisingly well, looking only slightly wild-eyed at the idea that a blast might wipe us out at any moment.
“I don’t understand,” Felix says. “How is Itzel’s grandfather connected to this terrorist act?”
Itzel’s eyes look squinty. “What was the blast radius again?”