Page 163 of Storm Caller

“Poet?” comes a female voice I recognize immediately.

“Navy,” I breathe. “Thank Skies you’re here.”

“They still have him?”

“Yes. I don’t know how much longer we have. They might kill him . . . or . . .”

“Don’t worry,” she says. “We’ll find him. Where should we meet you?”

“Can you get into the city? The border is surrounded.”

“We’ll find you.”

I rattle off a location, and she disconnects the line. I spend a few more minutes watching the Veil’s approach, then turn around and head through the city to the factory district.

I reach the intersection where I told Navy to meet me, worried they won’t make it past New Manhattan’s line of defense. A few minutes later, I hear the first shots and sounds of fighting in the distance. Stunners and guns. Yelling. Screaming.

The clash of people on opposing sides who should have been working together all along.

Why did it have to come to this?

I’m pacing back and forth when I notice someone drawing near.

Four people.

Someone starts running, and I sigh in relief when I spot Navy.

“Poet!” she cries, throwing her arms around me as we hug tightly. Then I turn to Justin and hug him, too.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I say. “Skies, I’ve been so worried.”

Standing behind them are two other figures I know all too well.

Fisher and Calliope are both decked out in the Veil’s uniform and armed to the teeth. They all look pretty intimidating with their leather armor and the dark paint streaked across their eyes. I suspect that was intentional.

“Hi?” I ask. These are the last two people I expected to find on Rook’s rescue team.

“We thought you could use some help,” Calliope says, shouldering her rifle.

I frown. “Really? But . . . I thought you hated Rook.”

Fisher shrugs and offers me a crooked smile. “There’s such a fine line between hate and love, isn’t there?”

“I guess?”

“Fish and Cal are two of the Veil’s best fighters,” Justin assures me. “When they heard where we were going, they insisted on coming.”

I eye them both, still not entirely trusting it. I haven’t forgotten how they arrested us for no reason.

“Family is family,” Fisher says, clearly picking up on my misgivings. “We might have our issues, but the people of the Veil never forget.”

He pins me with a steady gaze, and I suppose I have no choice but to accept. I doubt I can refuse them anyway. “Well, we can probably use all the help we can get. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Besides, who would I argue with if he’s dead?” Fisher asks with a wink. “Apparently, I’ve missed the fucker while he’s been gone.”

I laugh. It seems impossible, but it eases some of the pressure crushing my chest. I would never have thought I could count on Fisher for that.

“Then follow me.”