“Why would they? The salt mine is too crucial to both sides. The Command bets that the Aberrant aren’t stupid enough to blow up one of the Continent’s remaining salt resources.”
“Call me Aberrant one more time and I’ll slit your throat,” Evlynne warns him.
Gray studies Xavier’s face. “Why didn’t you share these security protocols before?”
“Because I wasn’t exactly consulted on this mission, now, was I?”
I hide a smile in my coffee. Beside me, Tana continues to push eggs around with her fork.
“You just would have fed us false intel,” Evlynne snaps in accusation.
“I guess you’ll never know now, will you, Elaine?”
“Evlynne.”
“I don’t care what your name is,” Xavier says, then crunches on a piece of toast.
I glance at Gray, eyebrow arched as if to say,I told you Xavier could be useful.But he turns his head, reverting to aloof. He’s barely acknowledged me since our confrontation.
“Whatever,” Evlynne spits out. “If the force field was up to protect Redden, thenhe’sresponsible for Neema’s death, which just means I can happily kill the bastard.”
She’ll have to go through me first.
At the table across from ours, I see Teriq’s veins shimmering before his shoulders straighten.
“Shut the hell up,” he booms. “A Company broadcast is coming in.”
I stiffen, too. There haven’t been any new broadcasts since Travis Redden’s declaration of war after the Silver Jubilee.
A hush goes over the mess hall as the holoscreen flickers to life against the back wall. Instantly, I know this won’t be good. Nearly every broadcast takes place in or outside the Capitol.
This one is being aired from South Plaza.
I stare at the execution venue, my heart sinking to the pit of my stomach.
Our new general steps onto the platform, tailed by several others. I recognize Deron Radek, Silver Block’s acting captain, but I don’t see Cross anywhere. Radek is followed by an officer from Copper Block, his navy-blue sleeve bearing four colonel’s stars. Roe climbs up next, with a soldier I don’t know, and another Idoknow: Ivy Eversea. Cross’s ex-girlfriend.
Ivy’s delicate features are pulled tight, devoid of expression as she stands next to Cross’s younger brother. I frown, wondering what this means. To me, Ivy never seemed like a fan of Roe’s.
A crowd begins to form, people gathering in the dusty courtyard to listen to their general speak. But he doesn’t address the civilians. He addresses the camera.
“Late last night,” Travis says without preamble, “a group of Aberrant rebels infiltrated the mining facility in Ice Canyon and launched a devastating attack—during which forty-two silverbloods were unlawfully removed from the premises. Lest any of you forget: All prisoners, whether Aberrant or Prime, were sentenced by the Tribunal to serve at a Company labor camp. Therefore, all prisoners are property of the Company.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I hear someone mutter. Anger swells through the room.
Cross’s absence is glaring to me. Like a neon sign in the Point’s entertainment district. Whereishe? I know he doesn’t run Elite anymore, but he wasn’t stripped of his rank. He should be there.
Concern pricks my stomach. He said Travis blamed him for last night’s extraction. What if his brothers threw him back in a cell? The worry intensifies when I nudge his mind only to be met with silence.
I find myself reaching for Tana’s hand. She surprises me by squeezing it in return.
“As a result of this merciless assault, sixteen Prime lives were lost. Sixteen courageous souls serving in Copper Block to protect the Continent from those who want to destroy it. My father, before his mind was corrupted by the enemy, always maintained that the gravity of the crime determines the severity of the punishment.” Travis pauses for dramatic effect. “Last night, sixteen lives were lost.” Another pause. “This morning, sixteen lives will be taken.”
Horror slams into me. Travis steps back and rejoins his officers, and I make another wild attempt at linking with Cross. This time, he answers.
“What the hell is going on?”I demand.“Are you okay? Are you seeing this broadcast?”
His gruff reply confirms my fears.“I’ve been detained.”
