“Oh, save it,” I groan. My racing thoughts and more pointed words are abruptly cut off by a low, rumbling sound that my anxious self nearly mistakes for a weapon.
In Ednit’s coat pocket, something rapidly vibrates—far more likely a portable comms tablet than any kind of explosive device. I can’t imagine immortal Ednit sacrificing his limitless life to anyone, no matter how loyal he is to my mother’s schemes.
“Answer it,” I order.
“And be calm about it,” Jelza adds, waving the rifle for good measure.
With comical, drawn-out slowness, Ednit slides the comms tablet into his palm and taps the receiver. “My lady?”
It could only be my mother. I swallow against a wave of sick.
Her voice, indeed, crackles from the communicator. “We have a problem, Ednit. Alarms in central observation are shrieking a code foran adverse weather event, but the officer stationed insisted it didn’t look like any storm they’d ever seen, so I checked the cameras myself. It’s a wall of blue-white motion on the horizon, all right. But not clouds. Sets of beating wings.”
A muscle feathers in Ednit’s forehead. There’s real fear in his trembling tone, try as he might to disguise it, and not just from me and Jelza standing armed above him. “So the nightfolk boy’s threat was not empty. How many are there?”
“Too many to possibly prevent the populace knowing,” Chloe snarls. “And one far ahead of the pack. Either a fresh threat or a warning.”
I nudge Ednit with the side of my pistol. “Ask what the lone nightfolk looks like,” I whisper.
Ednit gulps. “And what does the separated soldier look like?”
“As best our scopes can tell, bigger and stronger than the rest of them,” Chloe says. “At least eight feet tall. Broad wingspan, favoring one side. In all likelihood, they’re to breach our front line alone so the army can follow.”
I can hardly catch my breath.
Adria.That’s Adria.
I whack Ednit with my pistol again, probably hard enough to bruise but not even close to hard enough for me to feel bad about it.
“Tell Chloe she’s here to negotiate,” I whisper. “Send a delegation. If you open fire, this will be a thousand times worse.”
Ednit covers his mic with a cupped hand and counters, “And how do I know I can trust you?”
“I don’t want this settlement to die in a nightfolk assault any more than you do. Trust me, Ednit. For once in my damn life.”
Jelza adds, “Or maybe she’ll actually use that pistol.”
Ednit uncovers his mic. “I have intel that leads me to believe it’s a rogue negotiator, not a front line. I can meet you outside the settlement to receive them. Do not open fire.”
“This had better be damn good intel.”
Jelza slaps the side of her rifle as if to say,This thing can fit so much intimidation in it.
“It’s the b-best,” Ednit stutters.
“Then I’ll see you shortly,” Chloe agrees. “Make it quick.” And with that, the comms tablet’s screen clicks off.
Ednit stares at the floor with undue interest. “I suppose you’re going to ask me to take you there,” he drawls.
“Good instincts. Myself, and Aspect, too.” Holstering my heatshot pistol, I turn back to Jelza. “Do you have somewhere you can drop Dawn? Somewhere safe?”
Jelza nods. “I have a sitter. It’s short notice, but if I tell her it’s urgent, she should be able to get here.”
“All right, so that’s covered.” I cross my arms. “You were specifically chosen for the Evolution Project. My mother considered you an accomplishment. How high does your government access go?”
Jelza visibly squirms. “Higher than I’ve ever desired to exercise it.”
I glance between Aspect and Jelza, a plan rapidly brewing.
