Chapter 69

“I guess you can’t have everything,” I said with a shrug.

Her smirk widened. “No, you can’t.”

A faint orange glow from the receding sun remained visible while the blue sky had grown darker in the time I had been at the camp. Twilight would soon start to form deep shadows.

I put my hands in my jacket pockets. “No use in getting upset.”

“That’s a great attitude.” The woman continued gazing into my eyes.

My stomach rumbled again, only it was louder this time.

She laughed. “You must be starving.”

“At the moment, yes, I am. But I’m sure other people have it much worse,” I said.

“I could whip you up a meal real fast.”

“I’m sorry, but my mother told me to never accept food from strangers.”

She crossed her arms. “I won’t poison you. I have a son your age, and would never harm a teenager.”

The grumbling coming from my stomach exceeded its previous pitch. “Come on, follow me,” she insisted. “My apartment is right around the corner, so we won’t even have to use magic.”