thing about loss—no matter how often one experiences it, it never gets any easier.
And yet, this is nothing like losing my
abuela
. While my grandmother has left the physical world, Dace is still firmly entrenched right here within it. As long as he remains among the
living, I won’t relinquish the dream of a future together.
Where there’s life, there’s hope. And despite what he says, I’m determined to get through this.
It’s just like I told him, Seekers have always worked from the heart—and I see no reason to change that.
I take a moment to compose myself, run a hand through my hair, and dry my tears with the back of my hand. Then I head inside and face my friends, and hoping to hide the pain of what I’ve
just gone through, I keep it nonchalant when I say, “While I’m still up for pizza, I think the movies might have to wait.”
Collectively, they stare at me, until Axel is the first to speak. “Daire, is Dace okay?”
I nod. Feign a brighter look than I thought I was capable of.
“And you? You okay too?” Xotichl leans forward, studies me intently.
I take a moment to look at each of them, ensuring I have their full attention. “I am. I’m better than okay. And you know why?”
Lita groans loudly, paces before the giant rock jutting boldly from the middle of the wall. “Daire—you don’t have to pretend to be strong on our account.” She shoots me a
knowing look. “We know perfectly well what just happened out there. After saying goodbye to us, Dace proceeded to say goodbye to you and break your heart. You gotta be dying inside and
it’s okay to show it. We’re your friends, you don’t ever have to hide your feelings from us.”
I shake my head and dismiss the thought with an impatient wave of my hand. There’s no point in indulging my heartbreak. Not when I have every intention of getting Dace back.
“Don’t blame Dace,” I say. “He did what he thought was right. He’s only trying to protect us.”
“Protect us from himself ?” Auden cuts in, clearly struggling to grow used to the idea of Dace being dangerous. “Because deep down inside he’s not what he appears to
be?”
I avert my gaze, reach for the fresh glass of iced tea they poured for me. Hoping they don’t notice the way my hand trembles as I bring the glass to my lips.
“Daire, what’s going on here?” Lita settles against the rock with her arms folded defiantly across her chest. “You’re taking this way too calmly. Is there something
you’re not telling us? Because in my admittedly limited experience, prophecies are rarely wrong, and this particular prophecy is about as bad as they come.”
I place my glass on the table, indulging a moment’s delay before I say, “You’re right, prophecies are rarely wrong.” Lita nods, seemingly satisfied to see we’re in
agreement. “But that doesn’t mean they’re infallible.” Her eyes narrow, her lips tighten. “Destiny really can be shaped by free will, and that’s exactly what I
intend to do.”
“Meaning?” Xotichl shoots me a concerned look.
“Meaning that Dace’s absence is temporary.” An uncomfortable hush falls over the room as my gaze moves among them. Lita is the first to react.
She jabs a thumb toward the Codex, not one bit convinced. “Did you not read what I read? You’re doomed. And because of that, the rest of us are doomed too. Yeah, I tried to put on a
happy face earlier, tried to pretend it wasn’t true, but facts are facts, Daire. And the fact is that Dace is destined to destroy us all, starting with you. As much as I’ve grown to
like him, now that I know what I know, I’m really not up for sharing a pizza with him. And if you insist on bringing him around, then . . .”
She shifts uncomfortably, unwilling to finish the thought, though it’s not like she needs to. The silence that follows when no one jumps in to defend Dace, tells me they’re all in
agreement.
While Dace may have succeeded in scaring
And yet, this is nothing like losing my
abuela
. While my grandmother has left the physical world, Dace is still firmly entrenched right here within it. As long as he remains among the
living, I won’t relinquish the dream of a future together.
Where there’s life, there’s hope. And despite what he says, I’m determined to get through this.
It’s just like I told him, Seekers have always worked from the heart—and I see no reason to change that.
I take a moment to compose myself, run a hand through my hair, and dry my tears with the back of my hand. Then I head inside and face my friends, and hoping to hide the pain of what I’ve
just gone through, I keep it nonchalant when I say, “While I’m still up for pizza, I think the movies might have to wait.”
Collectively, they stare at me, until Axel is the first to speak. “Daire, is Dace okay?”
I nod. Feign a brighter look than I thought I was capable of.
“And you? You okay too?” Xotichl leans forward, studies me intently.
I take a moment to look at each of them, ensuring I have their full attention. “I am. I’m better than okay. And you know why?”
Lita groans loudly, paces before the giant rock jutting boldly from the middle of the wall. “Daire—you don’t have to pretend to be strong on our account.” She shoots me a
knowing look. “We know perfectly well what just happened out there. After saying goodbye to us, Dace proceeded to say goodbye to you and break your heart. You gotta be dying inside and
it’s okay to show it. We’re your friends, you don’t ever have to hide your feelings from us.”
I shake my head and dismiss the thought with an impatient wave of my hand. There’s no point in indulging my heartbreak. Not when I have every intention of getting Dace back.
“Don’t blame Dace,” I say. “He did what he thought was right. He’s only trying to protect us.”
“Protect us from himself ?” Auden cuts in, clearly struggling to grow used to the idea of Dace being dangerous. “Because deep down inside he’s not what he appears to
be?”
I avert my gaze, reach for the fresh glass of iced tea they poured for me. Hoping they don’t notice the way my hand trembles as I bring the glass to my lips.
“Daire, what’s going on here?” Lita settles against the rock with her arms folded defiantly across her chest. “You’re taking this way too calmly. Is there something
you’re not telling us? Because in my admittedly limited experience, prophecies are rarely wrong, and this particular prophecy is about as bad as they come.”
I place my glass on the table, indulging a moment’s delay before I say, “You’re right, prophecies are rarely wrong.” Lita nods, seemingly satisfied to see we’re in
agreement. “But that doesn’t mean they’re infallible.” Her eyes narrow, her lips tighten. “Destiny really can be shaped by free will, and that’s exactly what I
intend to do.”
“Meaning?” Xotichl shoots me a concerned look.
“Meaning that Dace’s absence is temporary.” An uncomfortable hush falls over the room as my gaze moves among them. Lita is the first to react.
She jabs a thumb toward the Codex, not one bit convinced. “Did you not read what I read? You’re doomed. And because of that, the rest of us are doomed too. Yeah, I tried to put on a
happy face earlier, tried to pretend it wasn’t true, but facts are facts, Daire. And the fact is that Dace is destined to destroy us all, starting with you. As much as I’ve grown to
like him, now that I know what I know, I’m really not up for sharing a pizza with him. And if you insist on bringing him around, then . . .”
She shifts uncomfortably, unwilling to finish the thought, though it’s not like she needs to. The silence that follows when no one jumps in to defend Dace, tells me they’re all in
agreement.
While Dace may have succeeded in scaring
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