Page 76 of Land of Shadow

“They’ll kill us. Got it.” Wyatt nods as if it’s just another day.

“What about your sister?” Gretchen doesn’t look me in the eye. “Did she know about all this when she did the demonstration?”

The worst part of her question isn’t that it throws doubt on my sister; it’s that I don’t know the answer. I want to tell her Juno would never agree to any of this, that she only wants what’s best for people. For everyone, really. But I don’t know how true that is anymore. I can’t trust myself or my opinions when it comes to her. Even if shedidknow, in my heart, I still want to save her, to protect her. It’s so fucked up.

“What about the one that’s always keeping tabs on you?” Wyatt changes the subject. “Does he hurt you? All those injuries you’ve had—was it him?” His eyes harden, the first time I’ve ever seen anything but aloofness or concentration on his face. “He hurts you, doesn’t he? You can tell us.”

“No.” I find it odd that it’s the truth. Valen has never hurt me, not physically. But he’s part of the world that’s trying to destroy mine, even if he is some sort of double agent. As always, my thoughts and emotions are in conflict where he’s concerned.

“It’s getting dark.” Gretchen jerks her chin toward the hotel. “Let’s get back inside. We should check on Aang.”

I trudge along the street with them, my stomach in knots at the way all this went down. What if they slip up? What if this is what gets them killed? I don’t know how to handle this much pressure. But there’s nothing for it. They know. I can’t unring the bell. We have to rely on each other to stay alive.

With the weight comes something else, though. Something hopeful. I don’t have to carry the burden alone anymore.

* * *

“I can’t believethey left this here.” Wyatt hangs precariously from the top shelf of the bar. “Ready?” he asks Gretchen.

“Bombs away.” She holds her hands up.

He drops a large bottle of some expensive-looking liquor, and she catches it then holds her hands up for another.

I jump onto the bar and sit, my legs swinging as they finish grabbing bottles and make their way over to me.

“I don’t know if this is a good idea.” I watch as Wyatt lines the bottles up beside me, then leans over the bar and gets some glasses.

“Of course it’s not, but we need something to soften the blow. All that new information.” He raises his voice as if for an invisible audience. “New information about cells! Proteins. All that.”

Evie rolls her eyes and takes a seat at the bar to my left.

“Serve it up.” Gretchen points to the biggest bottle. “I’ll take some to Aang. He might let me in if he knows I’m bringing booze.”

“Here.” Wyatt hands her two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. “Go on up.”

“Good luck,” Evie says sadly as Gretchen wheels toward the elevator.

“Now, for the rest of us—” Wyatt swipes at the top of a bottle full of amber liquid, the lid spinning off and onto the floor. “Let’s get fucking toasted.”

I fidget.

Evie notices. “What?”

“I’m kind of a light weight,” I admit.

“Good, that means there’ll be more for the rest of us.” Wyatt pours a healthy amount in the three glasses and pushes two of them down the bar.

He holds his up. “To science.”

I take my glass and peer at the liquid.

“Science.” Evie raises her glass.

“This is going to burn.” I sigh. “But, I guess, here’s to science.” I raise my glass, and Evie and Wyatt clink theirs with mine.

I take a sip, but Wyatt reaches over and tips the bottom of my glass up. I swallow in a gulp, the alcohol sending a trail of warmth down my throat as I begin to sputter.

“A good start.” Wyatt takes our glasses and pours more.

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