Aurora rolls her eyes, bobbing her head like she’s heard this argument before. “Yeah, yeah, semantics.”
“And what Bash is doing… I mean, I don’t even fully understand it yet. It’s incredible and slightly terrifying at the same time.”
Cade settles into the armchair beside the fire. The flames throw a golden glow acrosshis face.
“So you’ve been staying here the whole time with Cade?” I ask, glancing between the two of them.
“I was at a safe house for a while with Cade and a few others, not far from where you found me. Then I came here. Got to see the Depths. Met some of the other Avids. And Cade thought it’d be more comfortable for me to stay here than in one of those pop-up Syndicate houses. You know, the ones with walls that feel like they’re watching you.” She shivers dramatically, though the fire is blazing.
I nod slowly, trying to calculate the timeline. How long has she been so close without me knowing? Has it really only been several weeks at most? Malachi didn’t mention any of this—not that I’m shocked. This all circles back to him not wanting to lose me to Cade. He kept me away from her, like he kept Cade away from me.
I sigh, barely catching what Aurora’s saying.
“And once Cade figured out we were in the same foster home, he wanted a full download of our time together. I had to fill him in on all things Kat.” She grins and throws a teasing look at Cade, who clears his throat like he’s been caught snooping through my diary.
“You didn’t let Bash run any tests on you, did you? Put you through his machine and try to extract Avid essence or whatever he does?” I ask, watching her closely.
Aurora shakes her head, curls bouncing. “No, but… I think I’m going to. He said it doesn’t usually hurt, and honestly, I’m curious. I want to see more of what he’s doing in that lab of his.”
I chew on the inside of my cheek. “I’ve thought about it too,” I admit, “but I’m not sure yet. Don’t do anything without me, okay? If you go in there, I want to be with you.”
Her grin grows. “Of course. I just got you back. We’re going to be besties again in no time.”
I laugh, and it surprises me how easy it is to enjoy myselfaround her. I haven’t had a real friend in what feels like forever. Not one who knew me before all of… this. And now I’m sitting here with the only two people who ever truly did. It doesn’t feel like real life, more like a memory I’m not ready to forget.
“Alright, you two can finish catching up later,” Cade says, leaning forward in his chair. “We’ve got more serious things to talk about before your boyfriend shows up and kicks down my door.”
I scowl. “Don’t call him that.”
“What?” Cade smirks. “Boyfriend too casual? Should I say your future husband? Your lover?”
I roll my eyes, but the heat crawling up my neck betrays me. “Labeling feels… unnecessary,” I mutter.
Cade chuckles and leans back in his seat. “Sure, Kat. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
I turn toward him. “Alright then. The floor is yours.”
His smile fades. His posture shifts slightly, enough for me to sense a change in the air. Whatever he’s about to say, it’s important, but he doesn’t come right out with it.
“Fuck, what is it? I feel like you’re about to tell me my dog died—oh, wait, that already happened,” I say, hiding behind my sarcasm as something anxious starts to bubble up inside.
Cade pushes off the chair and disappears down the hallway. Aurora gives me a curious look but stays quiet, pulling her knees up to her chest like she’s bracing herself for something.
A moment later, Cade returns with a thin weathered folder clutched in one hand. The edges are frayed, and the label across the front is so faded I can barely make out the lettering.
VIRIDIAN
He hesitates before handing it over, fingers clenching like he’s still deciding whether to go through with it.
“I found this in one of Marco’s old facilities almost a year ago now,” he says, eyes fixed on mine. “Onethat hadn’t been cleared out yet. Hidden in a false panel behind a rusted vent. Most of the tech had already been stripped, but this was buried deep. Someone didn’t want it found.”
I take the folder from him slowly, our fingers brushing for a second. The paper is cold.
“Were you working for Marco when you found this? Are you the one who’s been playing both sides? Feeding Marco information about the Syndicate?” I ask.
He runs a hand through his hair, letting black strands fall back across his forehead.
“I’m not a rat, Kat, if that’s what you’re asking. And when it comes to sides, the only side I’m on is my own.”
