Page 101 of The Last True Hero
"Mia." Jake looked up at her, the torchlight searing his eyes a weird blue. "We don't have time."
"I amnotleaving without him," she snapped at him. "Warg or not, he helped us when he didn't have to, Jake. I won't repay that with treachery, so you can either leave me behind or help me rescue him."
"You've got a death wish," Zarina said.
"I knowyouwouldn't understand the concept of loyalty," Mia shot back, "but this is what good people do when they give their word. McClain is coming with me, or I'm staying with him. That's my choice, and none of you will change it. I’ll help you guys get the others out of the pens,” she said, loading two shells into the shotgun. “Then I’m going back for McClain.”
“Mia—”
“No, Jake.” She looked up. “You were right. We had to get Sage out first, and all of the other women. But I’ve had time to think through the shock of finding out what he is. McClain didn’t have to come on this rescue mission. He chose to. And I don’t know why—I think Ineedto know why—but that doesn’t sound like a man who meant to hurt any of us.”Me, was what she really meant. Mia swallowed. “Whatever the future holds, I owe him this. If I don’t get him out, then I won’t ever be able to look myself in the eyes again.”
“I can’t leave you here,” he began to argue, gesturing toward Sage. “What about your sister? She needs you."
Sage caught Jake's hand and squeezed it. "If he came here to help save me, then I'm not going anywhere without him either."
Jake swore under his breath.
"Thank you," Mia whispered.
Sage smiled a little sadly. "You'd do nothing less for me."
"Which do you want more?" Zarina asked. "The other slaves? Or McClain? Because you're not going to have time to do both."
Mia and Sage exchanged a look. She was so grateful she had her sister back—Sage was the only other person who could understand what she was thinking without her even saying it.
"We separate," Sage said firmly. "We'll head for the armory—Mia, how are you going on ammunition?”
"Low."
"If you do this, then you need all the help you can get," Sage warned. "Give us another five minutes, then hit the armory with us. That will give you everything you need to free him."
"Done. And then I'll go get McClain." Mia exchanged a grim smile with Zarina. Trust or not, Zarina was the best person to get her what she wanted—access to the warg cages. "You want out? Then you're with me. That's the deal."
"I didn't agree to that."
"No," Sage said, backing Mia up. "But you're not a very popular person with a lot of the people we're about to free, so I don't think you have much of a choice. Earn your redemption. If you can't bring Mia and McClain back, then we're not taking you with us."
Zarina's jaw dropped.
