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The music starts up again, and I’m trapped in the middle of the dance floor with Castor holding me from running after him.
“This is my fault! If I’d kept myself out of his trial...” I’m shouting, but no one can hear me over the commotion in the room.
Some people are dancing, but most are glaring at the door Nico left through. And then at me. The music starts up again.
“He knew what he was doing. He always does,” Castor whispers into my ear as the dancers twirl around us, and he leads me out of the room.
24
Annabelle
Ican feel my social status sinking as we travel down the elevator away from Ophelia’s apartment—hers at the top of the dome to mine on the ocean floor. Kai explained it all to me. I should care, I suppose. Plus, Soren said there wasn’t anything else. All the other apartments in the Glyden Dome that are empty are under construction and promised to other growing pods. Then their apartments are refurbished in a never-ending loop. Kai seems to care more about it than I do. But since they took Nico away, I don’t care about much. It’s been two days since he was taken away, and I’m not okay.
I’m numb.
I’ve stopped thinking about escaping. I’ve given up on scheming to get Nico out of his sentence. Although I don’t think the Drakos clan has. They’ve been talking in hushed tones around the penthouse, stopping when Kai and I take our strolls about the palatial space.
If Ophelia can’t get Nico out of the sentence, there really is no hope for him. I shouldn’t care. I shouldn’t. But I do. I’ve gone from despising him to loving him.
“Not everything is in the apartment yet. But more things will be arriving every day.” Holter’s blue eyes blink at me. I haven’t seen him in a day. I get the feeling he’s not comfortable staying with me in the pod bed in Ophelia’s apartment. But I know he’s worried about Alder too. Last night, I cried myself to sleep. I’ve lived alone in my dorm room for the past three years as a graduate student. But never have I felt so utterly alone. Castor wasn’t there either.
Ophelia definitely had something to do with it, keeping Castor out of her apartment and out of my bed. I’m drawn to him. But he has plans, and I’m not part of those plans. And I get it. Being tied to a future king isn’t going to let me go home, anyway.
Home. I’m not sure how I feel about it. Where home even exists right now.
“Right. I’m sure we can make do with whatever is here. I’m used to not having much.” I nod at Holter. Not having much doesn’t even come close. A six-year-old scratchy blanket and sheet set from Tarmart and a lumpy university mattress.
His arms are crossed over his chest, and the scowl he’s wearing isn’t one I’m used to. I’m not the only one affected by Nico’s sentence.
“I’m going to live here by myself?” I hadn’t thought to ask it yet. And while it would certainly help me with an escape plan, the thought of being here with no one to talk to...
“No, I’ll be here to help you.” He touches my arm. “I’m sorry.”
“Until you go back out on the sub.” It’s not a question. I understand he is ageminaeand he has to work. He can’t babysit me.
“I’m going to resign from the military.”
“Oh. Why?” The cultural information I studied with Bass taught me that being in the military is a way to make a good income. “Not because of me?”
“Lots of reasons, Belle.” Holter nods. Officially, Holter’s a guest here. He’s not my mate. But without Nico, I’m lost bobbing in this new world. Holter is my anchor, and I’m not letting him go anywhere. There’s no way.
The elevator vibrates when it hits the ocean floor, the Dorian basement.
Holter waves his hand over the biometrics panel, and the door slides open.
I haven’t asked, but someone else must have the other two apartments on the floor. I’ve been educated in the pecking order of living spaces. The closer to the surface, the better. The bigger, the better. But I liked this place the first time I saw it when Soren brought us all down. And I still like it. Now there’s a large cream-colored sectional in the corner, and the construction boxes that were around are gone. My chest tightens and I turn to Holter.
This is real.
Somehow, this partially empty space now makes everything real. Nico’s waiting to be exiled to the chasm. Even though more than one person has told me they don’t have jails.
He’s going to be gone.
And I’ll be here. In this massive apartment.
This massive smelly apartment.
For a little while, I thought everything was going to be okay. Now I’m not sure. I take a step farther into the apartment, and I’m even less certain. Living in the dome, it’s odd how little you pick up on the smell of saltwater. But it’s really strong here.
