She nodded, set her shoulders back, and started walking again.
Just as Zayn moved to follow her, movement from the corner of his eyes caught his attention. He saw a flash of black robes disappearing down a side alley. Someone had been watching them. He frowned. Another assassin? Master Ronin? Zayn wasn’t sure. It could have just been someone in a black coat.
Shaking it off, he followed Ria.
A few minutes later, the Guild Headquarters appeared ahead. In front of the harsh, austere stone building, there were no crowds on the streets. Two robed figures stood on either side of the large carved metal doors at the top of the steps.
Ria pushed him into a narrow alleyway across from the building. “We can watch from here.”
He glanced at his timepiece. “Only another five minutes and Lala and the boys should have their fireworks ready.”
Ria’s gaze was on the building. He saw shadows in her eyes.
“This isn’t as easy as you thought.”
She blinked. “Actually, this plan is far easier than anything I could have come up with.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
She sighed, rubbing her palms against her robe. “This has been the only home I’ve ever known. A prison, yes, but still ahome. God, I look at Lala and wonder if I would have been strong enough to survive on my own.”
He gripped her shoulders, massaging the tension he felt there. “You would have. You deserve the chance to make your own life. Make your own decisions.”
“You do too, Zayn.”
“I do exactly as I please?—”
“No, you don’t,” she said quietly.
His gaze drifted back to the Guild. What had taken place there two years before had scarred him. He’d lost everything. His friend, his job, his sanity. Most of all, his confidence in himself. He’d carved an identity on being Zayn Phoenix, fighter pilot. Ace of the Strike Wing. Maybe he’d believed his own hype, thought he’d always win.
Then he’d felt like nothing but a failure.
Now he felt a twinge of shame. He’d had the freedom to make his own choices, while Ria hadn’t, and he’d done nothing but drift and wallow for the last two years.
Today, he vowed that was going to change.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled.
A muffled boom echoed down the street. They both lifted their heads. Bright fireworks streaked into the red-hued sky.
Zayn tugged Ria close for a quick hug. “Showtime.”
Ria watchedthe assassins pour out of the Guild building. Some were in robes, others in tight-fitting fighting suits. All of them carried weapons. Swords, crossbows, stunners.
Three hurried past the mouth of the alley. One was talking. “They’ve said Lastite Lala was spotted near the statue before the explosion.”
“The girl’s hard to mistake for anyone else,” another assassin said. “We’ll get her this time. No one makes a fool of the Guild. Especially twice.”
Beside her, Zayn whispered into his Sync. “Dath, you there?”
There was a beat of silence, and Ria felt her chest tighten.
“Yeah, we’re here.” Dathan sounded a little breathless.
“How’d it go?” Zayn asked. “Everyone okay?”
“Everyone except old Balthazar.” Dathan turned on the visual and his face surrounded by his shock of blue hair appeared. “God, you should have seen that thing blow. Kid’s got a real flair for the dramatic.”
