Page 12 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

No, wait, that’s Lachlan who likes wet sun.

Lachlan told him that when they ate French toast together.

He’d told him a lot.

Riley told him more.

God, it’s so much.

‘I’ll try. Where’s the boss?’

‘Out.’

‘He didn’t wake me?’

‘No, like, outside in the grounds.’

‘Oh. Why?’

Luca sighs. ‘I’ll give you three guesses.’

✴

He sees them before they see him.

It stirs strange feelings, watching them talk without him.

Kade hangs back by the walls at the base of the Tower, watching Riley Harker and Lachlan Tanner have a quiet, tense discussion.

The rain stopped a few minutes ago, but they’re both soaked anyway, as though they’ve been standing out here for a while. Lachlan’s wearing a black tee, cargo pants and the boots he always seems to favour.

In the shade, Kade lurks. He can’t read lips from this far away, so he tries to listen, closing his eyes to let the voices reach him without visual prejudice.

‘…fucking ironic if you ask me.’

‘I definitely didn’t ask you, Little Harker.’

‘Don’t call me that.’

‘I’ll call you whatever the fuck I like.’

‘He’s not leaving here. It’s too dangerous.’

‘Because you say so? He’s my priority, he always will be, and I know I can unlock more memories inside him. Taking him out will help do that.’

‘No.’

‘Funny, ’cause I wasn’t asking.’

‘You really are blind, aren’t you? The Resets are attacking more than they ever have before. The last few months, they’ve gone crazy trying to get inside through the tunnels, and we don’t know why.’

‘Who the fuck are they?’

‘They’re—’

‘Oh, wait, I just remembered I don’t care.’

‘You’re not taking him.’