He stared at the screen until the words blurred, until his legs weakened and he sank to the floor.
Nadine’s words sang like a curse in his ears.It burns, doesn’t it? Knowing you can’t get to her? Knowing that even if you did, you might be too late?
He couldn’t be here anymore. He had to get to her. Fuck the repercussions.
Christian jumped to his feet, tapping his comm with fury. “Call Hawk Gallowood.”
A beat later, Hawk’s voice crackled through. “You good?”
“No. I need you to take over watch on Nadine.”
“You got an hour and a half left.”
“Can’t wait that long.” Christian couldn’t keep the urgency from his voice. “She said some things. About Gemma.”
“Who, Nadine?”
“She knows too much. About me and Gemma, about Gemma’s transformation. I thought she was just trying to screw with my head, but”—he ran a hand through his hair—“I can’t reach her, Hawk. She’s not answering any of my calls.”
The squeak of a bed. Hawk had gotten to his feet.
“What are you gonna do?” he asked.
“Find her. Get her out of there.”
“You think she’s still at the temple?”
Christian’s stomach twisted. “No. If something happened, they’d take her somewhere more secure.”
“Zion,” Hawk said grimly.
“Exactly.”
“I’ll cover Nadine,” Hawk said without hesitation. “Go.”
Christian didn’t bother saying thanks. He was already moving, boots echoing up the stairs to the second floor. He’d grab his gear and move as fast as he could across Reva. Zion was only eleven kilometers from Perileos. He was going to break Gemma out, consequences be damned.
He nearly collided with Lysa as she rounded the corner. She stumbled back, eyes wide. “Are you okay? What happened?” she asked.
He didn’t answer—couldn’tanswer. The only sound in his head was Gemma’s voice whispering “I love you” through the comm.
And the silence that followed when she stopped responding.
His hands trembled at his sides, fists clenched so tight that his fingernails bit half-moons into his palms.
He didn’t care. Let them bleed. He needed to move.
A hand caught his arm, strong and familiar. Imara dragged him to his room. “Get inside. Now.”
Christian gritted his teeth but did as she asked. He’d been heading there anyway.
Once he, Imara, and Lysa were inside his room, Imara spoke. “You really are dumber than you look sometimes.”
He huffed and moved for his gear.
Imara stepped in the way.
“Move.” He glared at her, funneling all his rage into his stare.
