He blocked my punch. “Not that I know of, but they’ll figure it out eventually.”
I reset, fists in front of my face. “Not if you’re careful, right?”
“As the Defiance wins more ground, they’ll consider higher levels of rank.”
A bolt of fear shot through my chest, and I dropped my hands. “What does that mean?”
“I can’t do this forever. I’m surprised we’ve gotten six months.”
The fear spread down my limbs. “No. You can’t… What do you mean?”
He sank to the floor, inviting me to join him. We sat mirroring each other, knees up, elbows draped.
“This is how it was always supposed to happen, Sophia.”
I studied the blue-green, searching for hints of his emotions. “You think they’ll catch you?”
He opened his palms as if to say,What do you think?“I told you from the beginning I didn’t expect to survive this.”
Something inside my chest squeezed tight. Back then, I hadn’t cared if he died doing this. Now that things had shifted between us, I couldn’t slow the attachment growing inside, and the knowledge that someone else I cared for might be ripped away…
Lucas treaded up steps that grew increasingly more narrow and steep, but I refused to acknowledge the possibility he’d slip. His life mattered to me, and I wouldn’t entertain the idea he might lose it.
“Luke—”
“Soph—”
“You act like you’re a lost cause,” I said.
His head cocked curiously. “Think about it, Sophia.Reallythink about it. No matter which side wins, I’ll be executed. I’m either a traitor or a war criminal.”
I huffed. “But…”
There was that stupid quirk of his mouth. “But what? What logic are you going to apply to get me out of it?”
“You’re on our side!” My voice grew testy. “They wouldn’t execute you.”
“I never asked for clemency. I didn’t want any kind of immunity. Uncle Theo hinted heavily that I’d never get a pardon.”
How could the Defiance execute him as a war criminal after everything he’d done to help?
“I won’t let them kill you,” I said, setting my jaw.
He stared, mystified. “Is there any woman on this planet more stubborn than you?”
“If you ever find her, I’d love to meet her.”
His perturbed expression spoke volumes. “I have my hands full with one of you.”
“You aren’t my keeper, Lucas. Though you certainly act like it sometimes.”
He scoffed. “I do not.”
“Cover yourself, Sophia,”I mocked in a deep voice.“Wear a hoodie, Sophia. You’re mine, Sophia.”
Unimpressed, he shook his head. “I don’t sound like that.”
“I’m evil, Sophia. I deserve to die, Sophia.”
