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“I’m sure you’ll be able to do it, Belle.” I pull her in for a hug. I can’t look at her, not right now. I don’t know how I’m feeling. I don’t remember ever crying, but if I look at her, I might now. I close my eyes and take in her scent of apples. I rub my hand up and down over her arm, and Belle tightens her grip around my waist.
It’s weird. I’ve been told my whole life by Dad and Father that Richeal was expecting me. But I never believed them, not until this minute. Not until one single word gave me the proof. She didn’t have to say it was plural podlets, not in a journal she thought no one would ever be able to read.
Belle kisses the underside of my chin, and I inhale her again. “Right, so Calvin Degree is an ass who we need to find before Nico does.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
I turn to Castor, who watches us with wide eyes. Another few minutes, and I’ll be able to focus again. In, out. In, out. “What else?—”
“In a minute. Just let her hold you.” Castor’s voice cracks.
I don’t know who lets go first, but she sits down on the sofa and reaches for me. “Now let me snuggle between the two of you and try not to think about how long it’s been since they left.”
“They’re good, Belle.”
“I know they are. I had a freshman roommate who always talked about manifesting. I think it’s a crock of... fish guts, but I’m working on it. Here, do it with me. Close your eyes and imagine they’re in the solo heading home with Michio and the Stele governor right now.” She has her hands on her lap and her legs crossed underneath her.
I glance at Castor, and he jumps to sit next to her. It’s funny—I thought I would do anything for her, but I think Castor has us all beat. He’s honestly giving up what he was born to be.
I sink into the couch.
“Put your arms at your sides. Relax, Castor. I’m not going to last like this too long—I want to get back to the translator—but we can all do it for five minutes. Legs under you. Come on.”
“We do meditation before battle, Belle.”
“Oh good, then you can teach me.”
I smile, and I’m anything but relaxed, but she does send a wave of comfort through me. I put my hands at my sides. Something falls from the side of the cushion and hits my leg and rolls across the floor, hitting the drawn blind before it rolls under it.
“What was that?” Belle’s on her feet, her hand under the curtain fishing out the object. She holds it up between her thumb and forefinger. “Isn’t this one of Eros’s discs for the self-cloaking device?” She turns it over, examining it, and then hands it to me.
“I think it is.” I hold it up for Castor to see.
“You don’t think it fell off when they put it on, do you? I mean, they were only in the doorway, and that was in the cushions,” she asks.
“I think it was in the slash of the sofa.” We flip the cushions off and search the base, but there’s nothing else there.
“An extra?” Castor suggests.
“No, Eros was really clear.” She takes the disc from me. “This is brand new tech. Not a lot of people have it. Maybe he had an extra. Or maybe it’s from the people who tossed the place?”
“I think you’re right. So now we know whoever searched this place was also an agent of the security council. Maybe looking to see if they could find evidence about Eros?” Castor says.
“Or the dirt he has on others,” I add.
“Both, why not both?” Belle says and laughs. “Sorry, it’s from a kids’ movie. It’s funny if you’ve watched it.”
“I’d like to watch it sometime.” Castor takes the disc and examines it again.
“She’s already said she wants you in the pod. It’s Nico you want to convince.” I shake my head at him.
“I’m planning on it.” He pulls Belle into his arms.
30
ANNABELLE
I look between Castor and Holter. Castor’s not brownnosing me. Trust me, become a college teaching assistant for just one semester and you learn what true buttering up is. “Oh, Annabelle, I brought you a coffee.” “Oh Annabelle, do you want me to get you a burrito? I’m going that way anyway.” A hand on their hip like I can’t see they’re trying to get away with something.
