Free The Navigator by Pittacus Lore Page B

in general. By chasing after the Garde, we run the risk of chasing after the Mogs too.”
    “You’re worried about Ella,” I say.
    “Obviously.” He gives me a weak smile. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said to me on the ship. About how I’d do anything and tell her anything to keep her safe. I don’t think I realized what you meant until we got here, where everything is new. I just wantto make sure I’m making the right decisions. How do I know? How do normal parents know?”
    I think of Zane. Even though I wasn’t his parent, I was so overprotective of him. And look where that led.
    “I guess you just have to figure it out as you go.”
    He nods, motioning for the bartender to pour him another drink.
    “Be careful,” I say. “I don’t think the drinks here are the same as the ampules back home.”
    Crayton laughs a little at this, but then his face goes serious. He reaches into his pocket and then slides a key to me.
    “What’s this?” I ask.
    “To my room.” He holds up his glass, shaking it back and forth before downing the rest of its contents. “Just in case I’m sleeping so deeply in the morning that I’m not up and ready to be photographed. One of you might have to drag me out of bed.”
    My food arrives, and I tell Crayton good night. He leans over and hugs me unexpectedly. I stand there, one hand pinned to my side and the other holding a Styrofoam container. I wonder if he’s had too many drinks, or if this is just affection brought out by the fact that we came so close to being captured or killed by the Mogs earlier.
    “I’ll keep her safe,” he says quietly. “Everything’sgoing to be okay.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    WHEN WE WAKE UP, CRAYTON AND ELLA ARE gone. There’s a letter on his bed, written on the hotel’s stationery.
             Zophie and Lexa,
                 I’m not great at good-byes, but we have to go. The focus of my life now is to ensure Ella’s safety, and I know I can’t do that if I’m traveling the world in search of Janus and the others. It’s too dangerous. Soon, Ella will be able to speak well, and before I know it, I’ll have to explain everything to her. I don’t know how I’ll even begin to try to describe what our homeland was like, but I know it will be easier to do if we are nestled somewhere safe, somewhere hidden. Maybe I’ll be more open to finding the rest of the Garde later, but for now, I cannot go to theUnited States with you. I know you have to make this journey, just as I have to protect Ella.
                 I’m taking Olivia with us—Ella seems to like having her around, and I can use a spare set of eyes and claws. I’m leaving you the rest of the Chimærae. It pains me to do so, but I cannot travel with a menagerie. They are kind, gentle beasts, and they’ll protect you until their last breath.
                 The Mogs are on Earth looking for us. Chances are they’re following the same leads you are. There are so few of us left. Please, please be careful.
                 And please understand.
                 - Crayton
    Zophie’s eyebrows draw together in confusion as she reads the letter over and over again, but I can only think of my conversation with Crayton the night before. How he gave me his key. He knew then that he was leaving, and he didn’t say a word to me about it. Only hugged me. If I had been thinking more clearly, maybe I would have realized what was going on. Instead, I left him in the bar and returned to my room so I could get my eyes back onto my computer screen.
    I take the letter from Zophie, find a pack of hotel matches on the desk and then set Crayton’s good-byeon fire.
    “What are you doing?” Zophie asks.
    “We leave no trail behind,” I say, walking to the bathroom and tossing the burning note into the toilet.
    “How could he . . . ?” She keeps shaking her head.
    “He’s doing what he thinks is best for her,” I say, all too