Relief slides down my spine.
“Thank you.”
“Knox will take your sister home,” he says. “Can you walk or shall I carry you?”
“Shouldn’t you take Mercy home and Knox and I return to the Forge?”
“I’m not leaving you alone when you’re like this.”
“I’m fine.”
I take a step forward and stumble. Ender bends down before I can recover and lifts me in his big arms.
“Put me down!” I shriek.
“Shut up.”
“I’m serious.” I pound his chest. “Now, Vale.”
He carries me downstairs, and I hide under the crook of his neck. I don’t know where his friends are, but the last thing I want is for them to see me being carried to the front door by our leader.
Knox approaches us, smiling at my distress.
“Fancy, seeing you here, recruit,” he drawls.
“Shut up!” I say. “Knox, talk some sense into him. Make him put me down.”
“Take her sister back to my place,” Ender says. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Someone is in trouble,” Knox says cheerily.
“I hate you,” I say glumly.
Knox ruffles my hair before heading up the stairs, eager to see my sister. My cheeks are flushed with rage. I would continue pounding on his chest, but my dress slips lower every time I raise my fist.
Cold air grazes my skin the second we step outside, and I shiver. Ender’s palm slides up my thigh, rubbing away the goosebumps while I seethe in silence. Once my feet are planted on solid ground, the insults I plan to volley his way will be immeasurable. But, for now, I secretly enjoy his touch. His long fingers curl around my flesh possessively.
“Such a sweet, tame cat,” Ender says sarcastically.
I growl, making him chuckle.
A man pauses to gawk at me, but when Ender’s fingers slide to his gun, he picks up his speed.
Ender opens the car door, and he deposits me on the seat. I open my mouth to disparage his character when the door slams in my face. Ender is walking around to the driver’s seat when I leap across the console and lock his door.
I grin at him from behind the window. Disapproval flashes across his eyes.
“Very mature, Warrick. And to think you just turned twenty, this is the behavior I’d expect from a chi?—”
I raise both my middle fingers and press them to the window so he can get a real good look.
Smoke erupts from the vents, and I startle at the sight of a spark. A fire erupts, burning through the plastic. It’s expanding quickly, and my eyes widen. My lungs start to grow heavy, and I frantically unlock Ender’s door so he can do something.
He slides into his seat, not the slightest bit fazed by the fire. I glance at the vent, but the smoke and fire are gone, as if the incident never happened.
“There was…” I begin.
“A fire?” Ender asks calmly.
