Page 12 of The Heart Trials

“You’re bleeding.” The Mercyenforcer looks between us. “Should I get help?”

“I can manage a little nosebleed. Leave us.”

The Mercyenforcer marches off, and Lucent closes the distance between us. His nearness is suffocating. Serafina doesn’t even sleep this close to me. “Get back in the ride and take me to where the supply is. All that gold is yours. You can do whatever you want with it. No one will know.”

The hair on my neck stands. He’s too desperate. “Why do you need so many Heartfillers? You can’t use them all yourself.”

His mouth tightens.

He’s definitely used more than one. And recently.

“Answer or no deal,” I push.

He sighs sharply. “I promised them to someone. It’s important I keep my word.” He wipes the blood on his nose with his sleeve, which only smears it across his face. There is honesty in his eyes. And something else. Something wounded.

“I can’t understand why you would want to use Heartfillers,” I say.

“No, I guess you wouldn’t, would you? Do we still have a deal?”

“If you answer one last question,” I say. “How did you know my name?”

His jaw juts out, and his gaze moves past me. He appears more lucid than he has since I met him. When his stare returns to mine, he narrows his eyes as if answering this question could cost him. “The best fish in Ethyria bite off the east shore, miles out from the harbor, in—”

“Dockers Row.” He knows where I live.

“My cousin likes deep-sea fishing. While we were there last, he heard of you. You are legendary to the Saltblood.”

I try to swallow but can’t. “The prince? The prince knows I smuggle Heartfillers?”

“I’ve answered your question,” he says. “Now if you will take me to my things.”

“I don’t understand,” I say. “The Benevolent’s son knows I’m a criminal? And yet—”

“He hasn’t given you up to his father. What use is power if you can’t pull any strings?” He rubs his chest near his heart. My gut says there’s nothing lighthearted about whatever Lucent and the prince are up to. I want no part in treason. Endless questions race through my mind as I glare at the crest on his tunic. A symbol that gives him a life no amount of gold could buy. But my curiosity won’t put medicine in Serafina’s hands. It won’t put us on a ship.

“Let’s get this over with,” I say.

We pass the alley where my supply is hidden before stopping and stepping out.

“Unload the gold there,” I tell him.

“You’ll never make it through the sewers with this much gold.” He pulls a map with directions out of his coat pocket. “These are the checkpoints that are short-staffed today. Take my transport. Go to each of them, and tell them you’re disposing of contaminated fish oil at the dump. No one will stop you.”

I blink.

“If you’re caught, I’m caught. I’ve made every preparation to ensure you can get out of here safely. But you have to get to your district by dusk. Mercyenforcers will be back at all their posts by then.”

I take the paper, at a loss for words as I race down the alley to retrieve my sack of fillers from the storm drain. When I return, I join Lucent inside the car for privacy and open the sack, revealing the gleaming glassy rods. He rummages through the bag I brought him, holding a euphoria Heartfiller. Clearly his favorite. Sunlight catches on its faceted surface, reflecting pale yellow light all over the inside of the ride. “These were made recently?” he asks.

“Issued this month. They’re potent. You have my word.”

He shows me the controls for the ride. Forward is back. Back is forward. Turning knobs moves the ride in the opposite direction you’d think. But I get the gist quickly enough.

“Any other questions?” he asks.

“No.”

“Well, that’s it, then. Thanks.”