Page 116 of Land of Shadow

“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.” Gage’s voice fades. “If she’s harmed, I’ll find you. I’ll kill you.”

“You are nothing. No one. A buzzing fly that I’ll swat soon enough,” Valen taunts. “Never come here again. If you do, your life is forfeit.”

The ocean waves pull me back to blue skies and warm, sugary sand.

“The sun looks good on you, my Blood.” Valen lies next to me, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. Reaching out, he plucks at the bikini tie at my neck. “I want to see it shine on every bare inch.”

* * *

“We knowhe isn’t coming back.” Evie swipes some jam across a piece of toast. She’s sitting on my bed, her face wan in the morning light. “Valen told us he isn’t. I think he didn’t want us asking you.” She puts the toast on the plate. “And I’m not—I’m not asking you.” Her eyes meet mine. “I just want you to know that we know. You don’t have to… You don’t have to talk about it.”

“He’s gone,” I whisper, afraid to say it too loud. Too loud is like stirring up silt on the bottom of a river, muddying everything.

“Right.” She swipes at her cheek. “You need to eat. Gene is downstairs making us little food packs for the trip.”

I look at her questioningly.

“Major Barker told us yesterday after … Well, after you came back, and I went looking for sedatives.” She hands me a cup of coffee. “Turns out I didn’t need them.”

Valen’s blood had put me to sleep. All he had to do was use his intention on me, and I was gone. I sip my coffee, still unsure of what to say. Scared of my own voice. Fearful of stirring up the silt, the memories of blood and horror.

“Anyway,” Evie continues nervously. “We had to let them go ahead and pack up the lab, including the new blood samples. We didn’t have a chance to look at them any further. But, once we get to Atlanta, we’ll be able to get up and running within a day. At least, that’s what Major Barker says. And we can pick up right where we left off.” She offers me the toast. “You should eat. We’re leaving as soon as possible.”

My eyebrows rise.

“Earlier than we expected, yeah. I think Major Barker got spooked when he heard about you coming back with bloo—” She abruptly cuts herself off. “When you came back in a state.” She clears her throat. “Take a bite.”

I obey. It’s easier that way.

“So he told us to go ahead and get ready. Wyatt oversaw his record collection last night, making sure none of them were so much as coughed on. We, um, well, Gretchen and I went to Aang’s room and got a few things.” She looks away. “Mementos. Little things.” She swipes at her face again.

I don’t cry. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’ve run dry. Maybe I’m just not ready.

“Another bite.” She proffers the toast.

I chew slowly, the dry toast and tart jam coating my tongue.

“So, that’s it, really. They’re still loading up the last few things downstairs. And, of course, we need to let them up here so they can pack up the things you want to take. I guess I could get a head start.” She looks around. “You didn’t get rid of your boxes from before. Lucky. I can start in the bathroom. You don’t have to get up. I’ll ask what you want to take. Just give me a yes or a no.”

I put my coffee on the nightstand and take her hand.

She meets my gaze, her eyes bloodshot and puffy. “What?”

I squeeze her hand and shake my head slowly.

Evie’s the most intuitive of all of us. She seems to read me easily, her eyes welling with tears. “No.”

“I have to stay.”

“No!” She pulls her hand from mine and stands. “What are you talking about? You know what will happen if you stay here! You can’t. I don’t care about whatever stupid martyr reason you think you have for staying. You’re coming.” She stomps to my empty moving boxes and grabs one, then yanks open my dresser drawers. “Panties, yep. Going to need those.” She grabs a handful and stuffs them in the box, then pulls open the next drawer. “Socks. Yep. I know it’s hot in Atlanta, but you’ll still need socks. Okay, moving on?—”

“Evie.” I stand and go to her, then wrap my arms around her from the back. “It’s okay.”

She stills, her breathing becoming labored as a sob breaks free. “Don’t. Please don’t stay.” She covers her face with her hands. “You’ll die. I can’t—I don’t think I can take losing you too.”

“I have to.” I press my cheek to her back. “My time is up.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” She spins in my hold, and I let her go. “We can figure it out. We have the key.”

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