Chapter 28 Nova
Nova
Everyone is still staring.
I pull the blanket tighter. The crow adjusts on my shoulder like it’s settling in for the long haul. Trey finally shifts back — it takes longer than Rane’s, more like Locke’s, his body fighting the return — and someone hands him clothes without being asked. He’s shaking but upright.
Rane shifts back too. The white stag folds into a man and he staggers once before catching himself. Locke’s already beside me, still shirtless, still not caring.
I’m standing in the middle of the main street in a blanket with a bird on my shoulder surrounded by my cluster and I have never been more aware that so many people are looking at me.
Vaelor comes up behind me. Doesn’t say anything. Just stands close enough that his body blocks the staring from one direction. Shielding me without making it obvious.
“Let’s get you inside,” he says quietly.
I nod because I don’t trust my voice and I’m about two seconds from the kind of shaking that has nothing to do with cold.
The crowd parts.
Minerva walks through.
She’s in a robe. Her silver hair is down — first time I’ve seen it that way — and she looks like someone who was woken up and didn’t rush.
She takes in the scene. The street. The shifted forms still milling at the tree line.
Trey, still shaking. Me, wrapped in a blanket. Pretty sure I’m glowing a little bit.
She looks at me. Looks at the guys. Her expression doesn’t change.
“Good,” she says.
That’s it. One word.
“Security meeting in the morning. All those who want to join are welcome to come.” She pauses. Her eyes find mine.
“It’s starting.”
She turns and walks back through the crowd. Unhurried. Like she’s been expecting this her whole life and now that it’s here she’s got a schedule to keep.
The crowd watches her go. Then they look at me.
This can be over now.
I look at Vaelor. He’s watching his grandmother walk away and there’s something on his face that I think might be pride and terror in equal measure.
The tension starts to break. People murmur. Someone moves. The frozen moment cracks and the Hollow starts breathing again.
Cal walks up. That easy grin on his face, steadier than he probably sure be.
“Nice job,” he says. Gives me a nod. Simple. Then he turns to Trey. “You too, big man. Welcome to the club.”
Trey manages something that might be a smile. I notice his cheeks turning pink.
Jonah appears next. He clasps Locke’s shoulder, nods at me, and says “I’ll get a patrol rotation set up for the rest of the night” before heading toward the tree line. Already working.
Mara comes out of the community hall with a tray. Because of course she does. Hot drinks. She hands one to me without a word and I take it because my hands need something to hold.
People start drifting back to their houses. Slowly. Still looking over their shoulders. Still processing. I know it’s a lot. I’m a lot.
Then a kid breaks free from his mother’s hand and runs straight at me.
He’s maybe six. Messy hair. Big eyes. He skids to a stop in front of me and he’s practically vibrating.
“That was SO COOL,” he says. “I hope I turn into a phoenix when I shift!”
His mother grabs his arm. “Liam, come on, leave her alone—”
“It’s okay,” I say. My voice cracks. I crouch down so I’m eye level with him, making sure the blanket covers me. “You think so?”
“You were on FIRE. And you were FLYING. And the bears were like—” He makes a sound effect that I think is supposed to be bears running away. “And you were like WHOOSH.”
I laugh. It comes out wet and shaky and I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand before he notices.
“That’s exactly what it felt like,” I say.
His mother pulls him back with an apologetic look. But she’s smiling. Just barely.
I stand up. The blanket is slipping. The crow is still on my shoulder. My guys are around me and the Hollow is quiet again. The forest is dark and Minerva said “it’s starting” like those two words explain everything.
Maybe they do.
Vaelor’s hand finds my back. Warm. Steady.
“Let’s go inside,” he says.
I let him lead me home.