Page 204 of Sweet Nightmare

Nothing about this family is normal.

Nothing.

And somehow, I’ve missed every last bit of their collective insanity more than I care to admit. I sit quietly, listening to them bicker and laugh, a strange ache settling somewhere beneath my ribs.

They’re crazy, yes.

But they’re my crazy.

The conversation finally lulls, and I make the mistake of thinking we might enjoy a few peaceful seconds.

Then Allegra grins.

Oh, no.

I know that grin. It’s the same one Mom wears right before she decides my personal life is her God-given responsibility to investigate.

Ugh.

Here we go.

Allegra leans closer to the screen, squinting at me like I’m a suspicious package she’s trying to identify.

“Doesn’t Artemis look different?”

Every face on the call turns toward me.

I blink slowly, unimpressed and wholly uninterested in entertaining whatever nonsense is about to follow.

Mom tilts her head, her smile turning soft and far too knowing.

“You do look different, baby.”

“I have the same face I’ve always had,” I mumble.

“Mm-mm.” Allegra shakes her head, studying me with the seriousness of a detective who’s just found her first clue. “No. There’s something… softer about you now.”

Verali sits bolt upright.

“Oh. My. God.”

Poe gasps so dramatically I’m half-convinced she’s about to need medical attention.

“YAY!”

Willow’s eyes widen, her mouth falling open as the pieces apparently begin falling into place in that overactive brain of hers.

I stare at all of them.

“You’re all being ridiculous.”

“Are we?” Allegra asks sweetly.

That sweetness is a bad sign. A very bad sign.

She folds her hands beneath her chin, her grin widening until she looks like the cat who swallowed the canary—and is already planning what to do with the feathers.

“Then answer one question.”