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I stumble back a step like she hit me.
The answer in the back of my head is immediate.Of course she does. But then just as quickly:she would have let Reid die.
“This is why you fought so hard for us to send you there with this plan,” I say, my voice coming out hollow.
“I fought so hard for this because, like it or not, I am in this with you too, Valerie. I’m not a kid, and he’s my dad too. This affects my mom, my sister, my home, my life. And I’m not just going to stand by and wait until you fix everything or die trying.”
Who knows what Calla’s been telling her the past few weeks. What ideas she’s been filling her head with. She obviously wouldn’t tell me the truth if I asked.
“You don’t have anything to worry about,” she insists. “God, Valerie, I know other people have given you reasons not to trust them, but I never have. You don’t get to make me feel guilty for not blindly going along with whatever you say. I. Lost. Her. Too.” Her voice cracks, and tears fill her eyes. I swallow hard, my own eyes getting misty. “You got to see her and make up your own mind about her. Can’t you give me the chance to do the same? Or do you really think I’m so dumb that I can’t put my personal feelings aside for what needs to be done?”
“Of course I don’t think you’re dumb,” I whisper.
She throws her hands up. “Then what’s it going to be, Valerie? Can you trust me or not?”
* * *
I chewon my pinky nail as the phone rings. I don’t need further justification. Not really. But still, I find myself sitting on the edge of Adrienne’s bed, doing the math in my head for the time difference.
Just when I think the call will go to voice mail, Avery’s voice crackles through the speaker. “Hey, Val. Is everything okay?”
I cringe at the hitch of concern in her voice. It’s not that we aren’t on good terms, but we haven’t really stayed in touch since her transfer to Botner. I can’t blame it on the chaotic circumstances the past few months either—we’ve just never been the call-and-catch-up kind of friends.
But for this to be the first thing for me to reach out about feels shitty.
“Yeah, everything’s okay, but do you have a minute? I need to talk to you about something.”
There’s a rustling noise on the other side of the line for a moment, then her voice comes through clearer. “What’s up?”
“I need to know exactly what happened between you and Nathan.”
Silence falls between us.
Maybe I should’ve built up to it more, softened the blow, but frankly, I don’t have the time for subtlety.
Finally, she sighs. “Why? What did he do now?”
I explain the situation, starting with what Monroe and Kirby told me, then getting into the book from the shadow realm. I don’t even have a chance to explain how this connects back to Nathan before she hums.
“So are you calling for my permission? Or are you wanting me to convince you that he deserves it?”
I open and close my mouth a few times, but nothing comes out. Neither. Both. I don’t miss that she evades my first question, but I’m not going to push her on it.
“If youaregoing through with it,” she continues, “can I ask a favor?”
“Of course.”
There’s another long pause, but when she speaks again, her voice is the strongest it’s been since she picked up the phone. “Wait for me to get there. Because there’s no way in hell you’re doing this without me.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
We waituntil the estate officials are in another meeting, this time coordinating how many people they’re willing to spare to send as backup for the possible ambush against Westcott. To avoid overcrowding the room, only a dozen of the highest ranked Marionettes are inside with other teams stationed at the door and the surrounding halls. The distraction will make getting Nathan out of his cell less complicated, but not easy.
At least none of us are expected in the meeting.
Let me know if you have any trouble, Reid says through the bond.
I can practicallyfeelhow much it’s paining him to be in that room and not help tonight. He and Anya both.
