I lift my glass. “To life,” I say. Then, softer, “And to Sally.”
We clink glasses, and Wren’s eyes fill with tears. She blinks, trying to hold them back.
“We have to take a sip now,” I tell her gently. “Or the toast won’t count.”
She nods and brings the glass to her lips. I watch her throat work as she swallows, then I take my own sip.
“Eat, Wren,” I say. “While it’s still hot.”
She’s still trying not to cry, and I want to kick myself.
Then she nods and plasters on a smile, taking another sip of wine before she picks up her fork. “I’m so hungry.”
I set down my glass and grab my fork, taking a big bite of the rice and beans with a piece of the Spam. I hum appreciatively, making it sound like it’s the best thing I’ve eaten in years.
“Try it,” I urge her, since she’s still just holding her fork.
She takes a bite, chews, then nods. “It’s delicious. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.”
“That’s because you’re so hungry.”
“Probably,” she says around her food.
We eat in silence for a few moments. I’m about to take another bite when I notice she’s staring at me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“What are your hopes for the future?” She sets down her fork. “I told you mine. You have to tell me yours. I mean, you don’t have to, but,” she smiles, “it would be nice if you did.”
So fucking sweet.
I shrug. “I genuinely don’t know anymore.” It’s the best I have for her.
“Because of what happened today?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I didn’t know before that either. Not really.”
“But you had plans before? You thought you had a clear idea?”
I nod slowly. “I wanted to become a frontline fighter. To take a human rider and defend the island. That’s been my dream since I was a little boy.”
“Not anymore?”
I shake my head.
“Not since your rider left?”
I nod. “There’s more to it, but—”
“You don’t want to talk about it?” Wren says.
“No.” I wish I could tell her more. I wish I could explain that I no longer want to defend Draig against Mistveil because Mistveil isn’t our enemy. That everything I believed was a lie. But I can’t. Not yet. Not until I know I can trust her. Even then… I want her to be safe, and that means the less she knows, the better.
“Right now,” I say instead, “I want to expose what happened today. Bring justice to those who were murdered in cold blood. For Sally. For the anti-vaxxers. For all of them.”
Wren gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. “What about Ethan?” Her eyes fill with tears again. “I can’t believe I forgot all about him. Do you think they…that they…?”
“They might not have found him,” I tell her, even though I’m sure they did. Even though I’m certain he’s dead too.
