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It bumps the side of the wall, and Grey pushes us off so that the skiff turns down the next stretch.
‘We’re approaching the shield,’ he murmurs.
‘How will we know if it’s down?’ Kallum asks.
I try to ignore that my hand is still in his, that I’m so close to him that his body is keeping mine warm. I’m practically sitting in his lap.
‘It was meant to dissolve at eighth chime tonight. The Gate’s meant to open at the same time.’
Kallum’s eyes narrow in the low light as they find Dane’s. ‘But how do we know if it has?’
‘If it’s down, we pass through.’ Dane levels Kal with a hard look. ‘If it’s not …’ he looks away and shrugs. ‘Well, either way, we won’t have to live in this fucking city any longer.’
Kallum makes a noise of disgust but doesn’t move.
‘Almost upon it,’ Grey says.
‘How can you tell?’
‘I saw the plans,’ he answers and grimaces, his body tensing as we get to the spot where the invisible barrier is supposed to be.
A moment later, he looks back at us in triumph. ‘We’re out!’ He draws a hand over his face. ‘Fucking finally.’
Kallum is grinning, and even Dane looks lighter.
‘We just need to get past the outer wall,’ he says. ‘We’ll stay in the boat until we get to the edge of the forest.’
‘How long?’ Grey asks.
‘We should make the forest by midnight.’
That’s hours on the water.
I must squeeze Kal’s hand in my distress because he looks down at me, though his face remains impassive.
His shuttered expression reminds me that we aren’t friends, but when I try to let go of his hand, he grips mine tighter and won’t let me go.
We pass under a final bridge with a broken iron grate that the boat is just able to slip through, and the moon peeks out of the clouds, giving us unencumbered views of the rolling hills around the city that none of us have seen without the walls in the way for seven long years.
‘We’re really out,’ I whisper.
Grey’s look is sharp and suspicious when he sees Kallum’s cloak half over me, and I regret drawing his attention, resolving to stay quiet for the rest of the night. If all goes to plan once we’re away from this realm, he will never hear my voice again.
Once Grey forgets about me again and he and Dane are scanning the riverbanks for dangers, Kallum’s thumb begins to rub the inside of my wrist gently.
When I look up at him, his other hand delves into his cloak, and he brings out one of the pain powder sachets he carries. He tears it open with his teeth and raises a brow at me, his eyes landing on my mouth.
I hate to do what he wants without a fight, but the pain is already coming back, and if I want the best chance of getting away, I need to stay topped up.
I open my mouth and, with a glance at the others to make sure they don’t notice, he tips it into my mouth, echoing the last time, and gives me a smirk that lets me know he’s remembering it, too.
I wonder why the kick to his groin hasn’t deterred him at all. I’ve used it before on others who got too close, and it worked well.
I swallow the powder as best I can with no water.
‘Good girl,’ he mouths with a dark grin, his knowing gaze landing on my mouth as my lips part with a small gasp.
My eyes widen, and my cheeks heat. His thumb resumes its assault on my wrist, and I’m left reeling. What does he want from me?
