Page 92 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Kade sees the distinction a lot more lately.

‘Heard.’

‘Good. And, Kade,’ he adds quietly, ‘I did hear what Rike said outside. Thanks for having my back.’

‘He had it wrong, though,’ Kade explains. ‘He—’

‘Tanner is lurking by the woods waiting for you,’ Riley interrupts. ‘I suggest you go bring him in and suit him up once you’re ready.’

✴

‘So, Seth hires an attack squad that breaks into the Tower above ground, but now he’s just coming along for the ride?’ Luca asks doubtfully while Kade straps him into his vest, tightening it from behind.

‘Keep your voice down,’ Kade warns, casting about to make sure they’re alone in the Suit ‘N Boot room, the last ones to gear up. Luca is Team Captain. ‘Boss made the call. It’s not for me to—’

‘Kade,’ Luca says seriously, turning before Kade can tighten the final strap. ‘People could have died. I get that no one really knows what Seth did aside from me, Rike and the boys, and I also know,’ he adds, his tone gentler, ‘that you pleaded his case because that’s who you are, babe, but bringing him along for an op like this is wildly reckless.’

‘Like I said...’ Kade reiterates, spinning Luca around by the straps and finishing the final part of his gear with a touch more force than necessary. ‘Boss. Made. The call.’

‘Heard.’

He still hasn’t talked to Luca about what Seth said.

No part of Kade thinks that Luca was in league with Seth for the attack, and it’s true he could have got the information from anywhere, but it will still require a conversation further down the road.

‘Does the weirdo want to, like, suit up, or...?’

‘I highly doubt it.’

‘He’s wearing your clothes.’

‘So?’

‘Isn’t that rubbing it in Seth’s face a little?’

‘Are you my psychologist now? Hmm?’ Kade snaps mildly, giving Luca a shove when he’s done. ‘Are we having an intervention?’

‘Motorkade, if anyone could use a little therapy, it’s you, and I’m the only one brave enough to say this shit to your face,’ he says as Kade turns away to let Luca strap him up in turn. ‘Seth is an explosive element in an already precarious situation.’

‘Your concern is noted.’

‘Good. So. Do you remember stuff now?’

Kade stares ahead as he’s strapped into his bulletproof vest, lightweight and impenetrable. ‘No, but I know it’s real. I’ve known for a while now, and then earlier, Riley showed me a photograph.’

‘Of him? Julian?’

‘It was me. Him. I don’t know, but it’s all real. The magic stuff too. Everything. I think I’m definitely a, uh...’ Kade’s throat closes up. ‘One of them. A Para—Brightling. A Brightling.’

‘Fucking hell,’ Luca mutters. ‘No offence, man, but I never thought I’d see the day. You hate Brightlings.’

Kade frowns deeply. ‘I don’t.’

‘OK, well. No love lost, that’s for sure.’

‘What if...?’ Kade says and has to slow his speech because a strange tightness in his rib cage cranks gradually in warning. ‘If you had to hide and not be found, you’d wear a disguise, right? You wouldn’t act the way you did before.’

‘Yeah, so?’