“Not everyone who saw us before will be watching TV at the same time. And what if the memory wipe doesn’t work completely even though Andreas is a shadowblood? If the humans realize that we’ve tried to mess with their heads, they’ll have a good reason to be afraid of us.”
And then what? Will they declare war on us with their tanks and guns?
As if drawn by that thought, Colonel Hueber struts past us, unaware that we’re watching from the shadows. He waves to a nearby cluster of his soldiers. “All clear on the east side?”
They salute him. “Yes, sir!”
“No more meddling from those crazy monsters?”
“Things have been very quiet, sir.”
“Good riddance. Stay on your guard and keep your weapons ready.”
I ball in tighter on myself. “Heknowswe’ve been doing our best to work with him.”
“Not if he doesn’t want to know it.” Rollick’s presence brushes closer to mine. “I’ll call together a meeting. We can hash it out together. I wanted you to know that there are options.”
As he veers off through the shadows, I notice another figure in military uniform standing by one of the temporary cabins. Major Yin is watching the colonel, his mouth slanted at a tight angle.
I’m so used to picking up on the emotions of everyone around me that I’m not surprised to taste his uneasiness, tart as pomegranate. Then a jolt ripples through my essence.
Ican’tpick up anything from Hueber or the other nearby soldiers. Unlike them, Yin isn’t wearing a badge to ward me off.
He’s not as scared of us as they are. Is it his boss making him uncomfortable, not the shadowkind who might be lurking around?
Mirage sidles over to me. “Come on, Rainbow. Let’s get away from these grouches.”
“I don’t think they’re all grouchy.” I push myself forward. “I’m going to talk to Major Yin.”
Raze and Hail both let out sounds of consternation, but they tag behind me as I slink over. I don’t want to make a big production out of this conversation.
After a few minutes, the major heads into the cabin. I slip after him and note that he’s alone in the compact space.
Perfect. Well, other than the fact that I’m going to look like a breaking-and-entering stalker.
I pop into physical form with an appeal already on my lips. “Hi! I’m sorry to barge in. I didn’t think your boss would be happy if he saw me coming over.”
Yin startles and takes a step back toward the wall as if he needs it to steady himself. He doesn’t reach for the gun on his belt, though, which I think is a win.
His voice comes out carefully if a bit rough. “You’re the shadowkind who caught the attention of all the news stations. Periwinkle? What do you want now?”
The question isn’t exactly friendly, but I’m warmed by the fact that he remembers my name—and that he called me a shadowkind rather than a monster.
I back up to give him more personal space and clasp my hands in front of me. “I just… Things have gotten kind of tense in the camp for us shadowkind. You must have noticed. I wanted to find out… Doyouwant us to go away? Or for the hunters to get rid of us?”
If he has negative intentions, he could lie—but I’d be able to tell from the shifting of his emotional state.
Instead, the major hesitates, uncertainty and something with the cherry-tang of hope winding together inside him.
“I think you’ve been doing more than any of us have managed to mitigate the effects of the catastrophe,” he says in a guarded tone. “What exactlyisit you’ve been doing that’s diminishing the dark areas over the city?”
Oh. Er.
“I’m not totally sure how it works,” I admit. “When I focus on warm and friendly feelings, it seems like the rift’s energies sort of… calm down, at least a little. I want to figure out how to cover more area faster so we can get all those people back home.”
A flicker of a memory passes through my head—how I managed to reach farther with my glow earlier today with my men helping.
What would happen if I had more beings focusing on those encouraging emotions with me? Would the collaboration even work with anyone other than my mates?
