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Leo laughed. “It’s not poison.”

“Can never be too sure,” I bit back, draining the cup. The unexpected burn of alcohol making me cough.

“The liquor is for sleep. The herbal mixture for healing.”

I cleared my throat, the burning ceasing. “Why can’t I go back to my Earth now?”

He took the cup and left my side. “There’s a system of portals that connect all of the Earths, but only during a full moon.” Taking the pitcher, he poured more liquor into the cup, bringing the rim to his lips where mine had just touched.

I shivered as I watched him swallow.

“We have laws,” he continued. “My assignment was to assist Six and be back to One by daybreak. I took a big risk bringing you here, so I need you to lay low.” He dropped his voice to barely a whisper. “Travel between Earths is forbidden. Along with the knowledge of them.”

Assuming this was real, and I wasn’t in a coma somewhere dreaming, that meant I couldn’t travel back home for nearly a month if the portals only opened every full moon.

If I was going to survive a month away from home, on another planet, I needed to know what the hell was going on.

“What were those things that attacked my city?”

“We call them Decodons, or Deks for short. They’ve been an issue for years here on One. Last night was their first attack on another Earth using the portals. We think they’re coming from an undiscovered planet.”

Shaking my head in disbelief, I fought against the droop in my eyelids, heavy with alcohol.

“I can explain more after you rest. I have two guards outside your door, should you need anything. They’ll bring you whatever provisions you require, and show you to the bathing chambers if you’d like.” Leo opened the door, just a crack. “I’ll come back as soon as I can. I have some things to see to.”

I nodded, hearing but not really listening. “Why?”

He stopped, tilting his head slightly at my question. “Why what?”

“Why bring me here at such a risk? Why help me?”

He took a moment to think about his answer, and when he responded, he sounded almost distressed. “I’ve never left a soldier behind, and The Nine’s rules weren’t enough to make me start now.” He looked out into the hallway, noting the guards, then shook his head. “I can tell you more, later.”

His body shifted back toward the room, away from the threshold, as if he considered telling me more now.

But then one of the guards sneezed outside the room, making Leo step over the threshold to leave.

“My name is Bryn,” I whispered quickly, wanting him to know my name before he left. “And I look forward to hearing more . . . later.”

He nodded his head once. “Rest, Bryn. I’ll be back soon.”

Rest.

How was I supposed to rest when my mind spun with half-finished thoughts that chased each other, fighting to make sense of the situation I was in?

How could I shut off my brain from thinking of home and the mess that would be waiting for me when I returned?

I brought my head down against my pillow, determined that sleep would never find me with everything that was going on.

Yet somehow, sleep consumed me easily—an endless darkness of comfort and cool shadows welcoming me into their void. Hazel hues of soft light singing to me while they floated through the shadows.

For the first time in weeks, I slept deeply, and dreamed of nothing.

CHAPTER NINE

BRYN

When I woke up again, it was light outside. Morning. Which meant I’d slept an entire day and through the night.