“Come on, Wren. If they don’t kill me, they’ll just put me in a cell next to Xavier.” He slants his head. “Unless they’ve decided to show him mercy?”
“No. Not yet.” I bite my lip. “It’s my fault he’s in that cell.”
Cross runs his fingers along my jaw, his thumb stroking my lip, freeing it from my teeth. “Hey. Stop. It’s not your fault. He chose to help us. Nobody forced him. Ford’s too loyal. And now he’s hellfucked if he steps foot in the Point. He’s got a red threat on his head, too.” Cross sighs. “He can’t come back here. Make sure he knows that.”
Another silence falls. We haven’t reached an understanding, haven’t formulated a plan, and time is slowly ticking by. Counting down to the moment I have to say goodbye to him again.
“I have to go,” I tell him. “If I miss my pickup, I’ll be stuck here.”
Cross tugs me forward and our lips meet in a fleeting kiss before he takes my hand, pressing it directly over his heart. The steady thumping vibrates against my palm.
“You feel that?” he says.
I nod.
“A few bumps and bruises don’t mean shit, Dove. As long as this thing keeps beating, I’m alive. I’m fine. You didn’t have to risk your life to come here—”
I’m about to protest when he finishes that thought.
“But I’m glad you did.”
Chapter 17
I pay Xavier a visit first thing in the morning, prioritizing him over breakfast despite my empty stomach screaming for food. When I saw him last, he finally had a tablet, except he was convinced it was being used as a brainwashing tool because they’d only loaded one book on it, a text calledA Living History: The Modified People.When I asked him if he’d learned anything interesting, he said, “Yeah, that humanity is fucked.”
I give him a quick once-over as I approach the bars. After two weeks down here, his chiseled face is covered in beard growth, and his dark hair has grown out a little. But at least he’s unharmed, faring much better in captivity than Cross, whose entire body had been covered with bruises.
That only illustrates which side I want to be on. Xavier served in the Command, our enemy. The Uprising could’ve killed him if they chose to. Instead, they tucked him into a cell and gave him things to read, while Cross was being chained and beaten by his own brothers.
I don’t ask to be let into the cell today, and I don’t mince words as I say, “You’re wanted for treason in the city. You and I have both been designated kill on sight.”
“Aww, we finally have something in common.”
I sigh. “Look. I’m willing to stick my neck out for you. I’m going to ask for a meeting with the Authority and try to convince them to release you. But you’re going to have to work with us.”
Xavier scowls. “To do what? Kill my own people?”
“They’re not your people anymore—they’ll killyouif they find you. And nobody is coming to rescue you. This is your new life.” I meet his eyes through the bars. “If you want it to be.”
His features tighten. “They’re not going to welcome me into their midst.”
“They might if you prove your loyalty.”
Xavier snorts. “Great, well, then I’m never getting out of here. Because I’ll never be loyal to them. I’m only loyal to two people—” I assume Cross is one of those people, but he surprises me by finishing with, “You and myself.”
I think it over for a second. “What if proving your loyalty just means not killing anyone here? Sticking by me and not causing trouble?”
“I’d consider that.”
I grin at him. “Okay. Sit tight. Let me see what I can do.”
On my way out of the cellblock, I link with Kallister, whose voice sounds eerily like Uncle Jim’s when it fills my head.
“How do I request a meeting with the Authority?”I ask him.
“You just did. Come to the war room after lunch.”
“Just like that?”
