Page 187 of Storm Caller

“You wanted to help,” Ada says. “And you’ve already done so much, but this is what we’ve all been working toward. I want you to tell everyone what you saw in the Tiera Frais. I want you to tell them about what you saw tonight. I want you to tell them everything.”

Rook takes my hand and squeezes it. I look up at him, and he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to.

He simply watches me because he already knows my answer.

“Yes,” I say. “Of course I’ll do it.”

Ada’s smile is bright. “You’re a very brave young woman. I hope your parents are proud of you.”

I feel my father’s gaze on my back.

Is he proud of me? He thought I was weak. A burden.

Only useful to him as Knox’s wife. And now?

I realize it doesn’t matter anymore.

A former version of me wanted to make him proud, but I no longer need his approval.

“Maybe they are,” I say. “But I think it matters a lot more that I’m proud of myself.”

Ada leans in and offers me another warm smile. “Well, then I hope you’re very proud.”

I nod, my throat tight with emotion as Rook squeezes my hand again. Then he pulls me toward him, wrapping an arm around me. “For whatever it’s worth, I’m proud of you, too,” he whispers.

It’s worth everything.

Ada and Edward consult for a few seconds, and she picks up a camera sitting in the corner. The same kind that the city’s news teams use, with a big lens and a tripod. She sets it up in the middle of the room, pointing it toward a blank wall, then instructs everyone to clear out of the way. I step in front of it, peering into the lens, and imagine I can see an entire universe reflected in its dark eye.

“You’re okay with me telling everyone about the Tiera Frais?” I ask Rook. “You want them to know it all?”

He nods. “It’s time they learned everything. If they still want to support New Manhattan and The Shield, then that’s up to them, but these people deserve to finally know the truth.”

I nod and inhale a deep breath.

“Ready?” Ada asks Edward.

“Almost,” he says, typing on his computer. “Everyone, turn down the volume on your phones. This is going up live.”

“Don’t be nervous,” Ada tells me. “You’ll do great.”

“You have about five minutes of juice,” Edward adds. “Before this generator runs out and my rig shuts down.”

He taps a few more things and pulls out the data drive before handing it back to Justin. “Keep it safe,” Edward says. “Put this information to better use than we did.”

Justin tucks it into a pocket. “I promise that we will.”

Then, everyone turns to look at me.

“Ready,” Edward says. “I’ll count you in.”

“Just speak from the heart,” Rook says, laying a hand on his chest.

I nod and lift my chin.

Straighten my shoulders.

Take a deep breath.