The Shadow Crosser (The Storm Runner 3)

I woke up on a lumpy green couch with springs poking my spine and white stars dancing in my vision.

Jazz stood over me along with Brooks and Ren.

“He’s alive,” Jazz said. “That’s good. My laser worked like a pro. I should tweak the output a little, though.”

I sat up, feeling a lot of déjà vu and a little disoriented. “You really didn’t have to zap me.”

“You could have been an ancient sea monster or evil magician,” he said casually.

“Do I look like a monster?”

“So you are a magician!”

“I already told you,” Brooks said. “They’re all magicians.”

Oh boy. Round two. The first time I’d met Jazz, Brooks had tried to pass me off as a magician, since no one knew godborns existed. I only hoped we could pull off the lie better this time.

“Maybe I wanted to hear it from him,” Jazz said to Brooks. “Don’t have a cow.”

Ren sat next to me and offered me some of her Pepsi, which I waved away. “No thanks.”

“You okay?” she said. “You went down fast. Good thing Rosie slowed the fall.”

“Where is she?” I glanced around. I was in some kind of living room with high ceilings, probs to accommodate the giant family members I was super glad weren’t here. The windows were framed by green drapes the same color as the lumpy couch.

“You mean the hellhound?” Jazz said. “Out back, chowing on some hamburger meat. I’ve never heard of a hellhound traveling with magicians and a nawal.”

“Like I told you,” Brooks said, “we’re here on a secret mission to take back something the twins stole from the gods.”

“Yeah,” Jazz said, nodding. “I heard you. And I really don’t want to know. As long as I get paid, and as long as you guys leave before my brothers get home tomorrow, I don’t really care.” He pushed a lock of blond hair off his forehead, and I wondered how much Brooks had agreed to give the guy. “But you’ll never get through the twins’ security,” he said, “even if they aren’t going to be home.”

“But I bet you could get through their security,” Ren said.

“Maybe,” Jazz said. “Probably. I’ve been working on this new—”

“Why aren’t they going to be home?” Brooks perked up.

“Another yacht party.” Jazz yawned. “They have them practically every night. I think Prince is supposed to be performing tonight. Barf. They totally should have gotten Guns N’ Roses. Now that would have been gnarly!”

Why did I have the feeling Hondo would love this kid?

A hot flame sparked inside me at the mention of the party, as I remembered what had happened at the last one I attended: Hondo had been poisoned. I hated that we had to wait until tonight to try our rescue—when the clock was ticking and Hondo was suffering and Marco was probably arguing with the time rope that, to be honest, I didn’t trust to stay put.

“Prince?” Adrik walked in with Rosie just then. “As in Purple Rain, and Diamonds and Pearls? That’s sick!”

“It is kinda sickening,” Jazz said, misinterpreting Adrik. “Diamonds and Pearls? Never heard of it.”

“Right,” Adrik said, letting out a light laugh. “It doesn’t come out until—”

Ren pretend-tripped and spilled her soda all over Adrik’s shirt. Rosie settled onto her belly and groaned.

“Not on the rug!” Jazz hollered as he took off into the kitchen, probably for a towel.

As soon as he was gone, I whispered, “I think the twins might have the gods on the yacht.”

Brooks nodded, keeping her voice low. “It makes sense, since water throws off the gods’ ability to track anyone. And they would still have to hide our gods from the 1980s versions.”

And then it hit me. “The 1980s gods!” I nearly yelped. “We can ask them for help!”