Suze’s lips twitched as a fond expression settled on her face. She reached up, tucking a strand of Tate’s hair behind her ear. “I wanted to see you.”
Tate’s forehead furrowed. “You betrayed me. Youallbetrayed me.”
“Yes.” Suze stuck her hands in her pocket and raised her eyebrows at Tate’s silence. “Not going to ask why?”
Tate’s frown was pronounced. “I know why. We were out of control.”
It was coming back to her. The death all around. Everywhere she and Ilith went. Until it felt like they were wading hip-high in blood and viscera.
Suze hummed, looking thoughtful. “Not as much as you think.”
Tate sent her a questioning look.
Suze lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug. “People fear what they don’t understand and back then you were incomprehensible. It made us unwise.”
Tate processed that statement. “I should hate you and the rest for what you stole from me. Yet somehow I don’t.”
“That’s because a part of you knows it was necessary.”
Tate’s gaze grew distant as she slowly nodded. “Yes, my mind was breaking.” Her eyes sharpened. “That doesn’t mean I forgive you.”
“Of course not. You wouldn’t be you if you did.” Suze’s grin was impish as she slung an arm around Tate’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. When you finally make it to this side you can discipline us as much as you want.”
“Why am I here?”
And how?
Tate concentrated, trying to feel her bond with Ilith. Her heart gave a small jolt as she found the thin rope of it extending into a blank space. The dragon on the other end veiled from her perception.
Still, it was enough to know Ilith was alive and safe—even if they were unable to communicate.
“I told you this place would be here when you needed it,” Jax said as he took his place on Tate’s other side. He turned to her with a warm smile. “However, I didn’t think you’d visit so soon.”
“The Apportens Mortis. You made me the key, didn’t you?”
Jax hummed in approval. “Very good.”
“That’s why every relic responds to me.”
“There’s a little more to it than that,” Jax corrected.
Tate frowned before understanding cleared the clouds from her expression. “You sly dog. You gave me authorization to make changes to the base coding of the relics. How did you manage that?”
It should have been impossible. No two relics were alike, and each required a certain amount of synchronicity to be used. To make changes to their structure or purpose was several steps beyond that. Only a very few individuals in that time period could design relics. Even less could force adaptations once they were already in existence.
That ability was what enabled her relic to bond with her despite her connection to Ilith. It was why all relics responded to her when she touched them.
Jax’s lips curled in a wicked smile. “Let’s just call me a genius and leave it at that.”
“That’s—” Tate trailed off.
“Consider it a gift to make up for our crimes,” Suze said.
“Why does Nathan think the Apportens Mortis is the key to making the ship move?”
“Because it is,” Jax said simply.
Tate gave him a bug-eyed stare. “What were you thinking?”
