Chapter 71

Addy’s POV

I peeled myself out of bed the next morning feeling like a lumpy burrito, but duty called. I squeezed into the oversized, scratchy work clothes we’d scavenged for me—looking every bit like a kid playing dress-up in Dad’s ancient flannels—and wrestled into my combat boots. Rocky, my newly adopted furball of doom and delight, sat obediently by my side, his cold wet nose nudging my hand until I curled my fingers into his thick sable fur. Not that he’d mind if I skipped the whole workday thing, but I needed to get paid—and maybe find Damien before the moon took up another fight subscription.

Out in the driveway, William Thorn—Damien’s dad and all-around Good Guy End of the Universe—leaned against his truck, sipping something that smelled dangerously like coffee. He looked up, gave me that same tired-but-warm grin I’d seen in the photos of Damien on Mom’s plaque in the store, and held out his hand.

“I’m William Thorn—William, to friends and family. Whi