“I understand.” I stood, head hung low.
“I could stand outside the door with a shotgun if that would make you feel better,” Drea offered.
I grinned but shook my head. It was a sweet suggestion, but totally awkward. Would she stay outside with her ear pressed to the door waiting to bust into the room with a tranquilizer gun if she heard any beasty-type noises? Hard pass.
I leaned down and brushed my lips against Gage’s. “I’ll see you later.” In what capacity I didn’t know.
Walking to the observation window, I peered down at Dash’s surgery for the first time. His hoodie had been ripped off and he lay on his stomach while the healers pushed golden arcs of healing energy into his back. His burnt wings stretched out as well as a healer worked on each one.
“He’s going to be fine. I promise,” Skye said, and I nodded.
Turning away, I cast Drea and Gage one last look and then stepped out into the hallway. I yelped as my mother’s worried face swam into view. I nearly collided with her.
“I heard someone from your team was hurt but I didn’t know which one of you,” she said.
My heart pounded in my chest at her sudden appearance. I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself. She looked so healthy, with silky vibrant blonde hair and color in her cheeks. She’d also gained a good amount of weight, so it no longer looked like a strong gust of wind might break her in half.
“Oh, I’m fine. Dash was hurt, but he’ll be okay,” I told her.
She put her hand to her chest. “Thank goodness.”
Seeing my mom here, and the bracelet on her arm indicating she was a Shade, gave me an idea.
“Hey, Mom, I gotta run, but I found my half-sister and I wonder if you could help me.”
I’d kept my mom up to speed on everything. I didn’t always have time to go see her and Gran, but I called every day and they put me on speaker phone.
“Harley? You got her,” my mom said, looking behind me as if expecting to see her standing there.
“Yes, but she didn’t come willingly. She’s actually in a cell in the basement of the armory.” I winced because my mom made a horrified look. “It was a bad situation and she said she would help Apollyon if he paid her.”
“Oh boy,” my mom said.
“But you’re a Shade,” I said to my mom. “Maybe you could persuade her to help us? To do the right thing. She hasn’t had the best life.” I left it at that.
“I can talk to her and see what I can do,” she said with a small smile, and I leaned forward and hugged her.
“Sure, let’s just keep Aurum waiting forever,” Skye growled behind me. I’d honestly forgotten she was still there, which was unusual with Skye because she was typically talking so much it was impossible to ignore her.
I rolled my eyes and pulled away from my mom. “Thank you.”
After that, Skye and I left for the sanctuary, but my mind was spinning with a hundred different things.Gage is afraid to be alone with me. My sister hates me. Dash’s family were psycho abusive douchebags. I still need to find Tartarus and figure out how to free all of the souls in the Netherworld. It was too much. I felt like I was drowning.
Skye stopped as we stepped into the room and faced me.
I waited for one of her snarky comments, but instead her lips pulled into a frown. “Are you okay, Tatum?”
My bottom lip quivered at her sincere question. I had to swallow hard to keep from crying. “I’ll be okay. Just a lot going on lately.”
She nodded. “Guess you didn’t really expect your sister to be an evil money loving Shade, huh?”
I snort-laughed. There was the truth bombing Skye I loved.
I shook my head. “I did not.”
Skye tapped her chin. “Well, we need to get her to trust you because I’ve seen snippets of your final battle with Apollyon and she has to be there. On your side.”
I shrugged. “She hates me, so I don’t see how we can do that.”
