Suddenly, Aiden cleared his throat and backedaway.
Her breath released with a rush and no words came out as she tried to thank him.She could only smile as she wiped her fingers across her mouth while her heart calmed and the ground steadied beneath herfeet.
A bee, its fat, puffy body yellow with pollen, flew drunkenly betweenthem.
Elodie forced a swallow down her dry throat.Too many silent seconds had passed.What should she say?She tugged at her collar.What had just happened?
Aiden tossed the cob into a bin markedCompostand brushed his hands off on his pants.He opened his mouth to speak but closed it just as quickly.His smile was strained as he tugged at one of the curls of his short mohawk.
Elodie cleared her throat.“The corn was great.”She dug the toe of her shoe into the dirt.Everything was so...awkward.She turned back to the rows of flowers and crops, trying to buy herself enough time to formulate a sentence “So, Eos keeps all of this so they can...”She picked at the hem of her shirt.“Do things with it, then.”
She winced, glad that her back was to him.Could she really not come up with anything more articulate?
Aiden passed her on his way back through the flowers.“The hope is that one day they’ll be gifted to the earth.But that would mean that the Key would have to stop lighting it onfire.”
Elodie sucked in a breath.“You think Eos is going to venture out into Zone Seven?”She jogged to catch up with him.“Citizens aren’t allowed out there for a reason.It’s filled with monsters.That’swhy they keep burning itdown.”
He whirled to face her.Pink and blue and orange petals reflected in his eyes.“Have you ever seen any of these monsters?”
“In pictures and feeds.”Her shoulders hiked.“Just like everybody else.”She bit down on her lip as she thought about everything Rhett told her about ZoneSeven.
“Some of us have seen them for real.Been face to face.”His throat bobbed with a tight swallow before he turned and headed back to the front of the warehouse.
“You’ve seen one?When?How?What was it like?”The questions flew out of her.
Aiden stopped sharply as the black velvet curtains flew open and twocoverall-cladwomen stepped into the greenhouse.
Elodie peered out from behind Aiden at the woman wearing gloves and carrying a bag labeledFertilizer.Her slick black hair, long legs, and pointed chin were unmistakably Fujimoto.
“Thea?”Elodie left Aiden’s shadow.“I can’t believe—” She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.“Does Astrid know...?”
Thered-headedwoman buried the tip of her shovel into the dirt floor, blocking their exit, before she stepped in front of Elodie’s best friend’s sister.
Thea leaned out from behind the intimidating woman and waggled her eyebrows.“Did we interrupt youtwo?”
“Aiden,” the woman with the shovel began, “this isn’t a date destination where you can get handsy without getting caught by the Key.”Her voice was steady, stern, familiar.
Handsy?Elodie bristled and shuffled away from Aiden.
“Nothing of the kind, Sparkman,” Aiden said, raising his open hands.
Sparkman cocked her head.“Don’t tell me your girlfriend believes that line about no touching today for a healthy tomorrow.”She shook her head and faced Elodie.“If you’re eating up everything the Key is serving, there are a lot of surprises about to come yourway.”
Elodie’s jaw slackened and a dry squeak slipped past her lips.She should have questions, millions of them, but she couldn’t think of one.“They’re lying...”She wet her lips.Sweet corn still stained hermouth.
Sparkman’s golden red temples ticked as she clenched and unclenched her jaw.“Have been for a longtime.”
Aiden held up his hands.“Look, Sparkman, she’s just a new recruit,” he said, tossing a glance at Elodie and motioning for her to follow.“And we were just leaving.”
The woman’s broad chin jutted forward as she leaned on the shovel, and her eyes bored into Aiden.“New recruits aren’t permittedhere.”
Goosebumps rose along Elodie’s arms.She’d heard that voice.Butwhere?
Aiden settled back onto his heels.“Well, you’ll have to take it up with Echo.I’m sure she’ll be glad to know that Westfall’s Lieutenant Commander is giving new recruits a hardtime.”
Sparkman’s reddish-blond braid slid from her shoulder as she stiffened.Her eyes narrowed slightly and she gripped the wooden handle of the shovel.
Elodie chewed the inside of her cheek.She’d heard that name before too.“Who’sEcho?”
