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“Apparently, your old king … Cyrus Bee-something?” she asks, biting her lip. “He was the only reason Goldenrod stayed around so long. He had ideas about alphas that the other pigeons thought were crazy … like creating a super alpha.” She pauses, her eyes flicking to Rill.“But most of the pigeons think alphas are more trouble than you’re worth. Now that the Cyrus alpha is gone, they want you all dead.”
There’s a heavy pause before I say gruffly, “Well, I suppose that isn’t much of a surprise. It’s what you warned us about, Rill.”
Rill nods, not rubbing it in my face like he usually would. “Tell ’em the last bit, Rosie.”
“They think Goldenrod will be easy,” Rosie says brightly, obviously enjoying the attention. “They were hoping you’ll all kill each other before they have to get their hands dirty. ‘Get ’em hungry and wild,’ they said. ‘Once those animals catch the scent of blood, they have no self-control.’”
She giggles nervously while my mind goes back to my interaction with Run and Jade at Cypress House, and with the alpha on the beach. It seemed so normal, so rational in that moment, to lose myself in the thought of killing them.
No self-control.
“What if we don’t kill each other?” Hetty asks hollowly from my side as if she’s reading my mind. She’s been silent the entire time, but now I see her grasping her skirts tightly. I lay my hand down on hers and squeeze.
“Like I said,” Rosie retorts, a bite to her voice. “They want us all dead, so they’ll attack. It would be easy for them. They’re very smart.” She pauses, laughing lightly. “I heard one of them say that he’d give Goldenrod a special delivery when the time was right. You know, because you’re always getting food and stuff delivered?”
My heart sinks like a stone, my blood freezing in my veins.
Special delivery.
My mind reels, remembering my conversion with Marcus in Arabica. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was only yesterday. What did he say?
Special delivery. Dawn. The day after tomorrow. Meet them at the fence. Show them around.
I’d completely blocked it out in my search for Hetty, and then finding her and mating with her. I was supposed to go to his house last night, wasn’t I? Talk about Cypress House and his conversation by the fence.
“It’s tomorrow,” I say, my voice catching in my throat. “The special delivery is coming tomorrow.”
All eyes are on me then … except for Jason’s. He keeps staring straight ahead, his expression blank.
“Why do you think that?” Stella asks, her voice rushed and excited. “When Rosie first told us this, we agreed it would be in November. That’s when the delivery usually comes.”
“Something Marcus Catmint told me yesterday,” I say, running my hands over my short hair. “He talked to one of them at the fence, and he said there’d be a special delivery tomorrow.”
“I think I would have heard if this was the case,” Rill says. “I have a lot of channels to communicate with alphas outside Mercy City.”
Stella rushes toward me, panicking. “We have a plan to get everyone out by November. But tomorrow? Are you sure, Noah?”
Rill says something else, and Stella, too, their voices becoming more alarmed, but I block them out. Instead, I release Hetty and move toward Jason’s mutilated profile. He’s staring out at the choppy waters and gray skies, his hands resting gently on his lap. I don’t stop until I’m standing on top of him.
“When I saw Travis was guarding the fence, and I asked him to bring me his leader, I thought it would be you,” he murmurs under his breath. “Imagine my surprise when he brought me Marcus Catmint. You’re not a very powerful administrator, huh?”
“You were the one who spoke with Marcus at the fence,” I state plainly.
“Rosie wasn’t the only one who heard things,” he mutters, shrugging. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but I had a moment of weakness.” He flicks his gaze to me. “I was planning on telling him more, but … I decided it didn’t matter whether I was vague or not. Everyone’s going to die anyway.”
Frustration bubbles inside me. “That’s not true. Why would you say that?”
He just shrugs again, completely complacent. Before I can think better of it, I grab him forcefully by the shoulders, shaking him.
“What’s wrong with you?” I roar. Everyone else freezes, watching us in shock. “Do you want everyone you’ve ever known to die? Your home to burn?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want.” His voice is dry, his eyes blank. “You don’t understand, Noah. You’ve never been to Mercy City.” Eyes darkening, his body tenses. “Even if we win this battle, we’ll never win the war. Every single one of us will be dead soon. What does it matter if it’s tomorrow or the next day?”
“You’re pathetic,” I growl, pushing him away, disgusted. I stare out at the water, the mountains in the distance, and the low clouds. “If I can help it, not one alpha or omega will die tomorrow.”
39
The Only Fight That Matters
