Priya scoffed, rolling her entire head before pointing at Nova to her left. “Her family? She’s the entire reason all of this happened! She pushed Talon to his limit! She seduced him and tore him from his path while he was already vulnerable! It’s her fault Dove is fucking dead!”
Balling my fists, I took a step towards Priya, but Cal moved into my path. He faced Pri, his arms raised as he said, “You know that isn’t true. Nova was always at a disadvantage. We all watched as Talon chased her, and we can’t blame her for what he did when he got her.”
From my periphery, I caught sight of Zura wrapping her arms around Nova, the two of them sitting on the dry grass against Cal and Quinn’s cottage, Desi by their side.
“And why did he feel the need to slaughter their families? Huh?” Priya approached us, my teeth grinding with every one of her strides my way. I stepped into Cal, his arm catching me and forcing me to still. “Oh, probably for her! Of course it all comes back to her! If Az would have just let Dove and I kill her that first night in the barracks, then none of this would have happened!”
“You don’t know anything! Nova just saved your fucking life and you want to sit there and blame her for Talon’s actions? For the choices he made all on his own? Fuck you, Priya!” I was shouting, my chest shoving into Cal’s shoulder as I pointed at Priya.
“Fuckyou,Az! Maybe if you thought with your head instead of your cock, you’d see what all of us do! She’s a poison!”
“Oh shut up, Pri!” Cal said.
I spoke over him, rage coating my words. “I swear to the stars, Priya, I will—”
“Enough!” Nova shouted, standing. We all went silent, our eyes flicking towards Nova as she slowly walked our way. Priya looked like she might pounce, her jaw flexing and eyes glaring. Quinn took up the space behind her, as if readying for a fight.Zura and Desi did the same for Nova, tracking her from behind. “Do you want to know the truth? Talondiddo it for me. He said he needed to slaughter my family—the only people I loved—so that I could stop being held back andreach my potential.He killed his own sister and father so that I wouldn’t be alone in my grief. Or so he said. Regardless, it makes no difference. You want to blame me? Fine! I don’t care. But do itsilently,because I don’t have time to deal with your petty, pointless arguing. We are about to be in a war, and if you have any sense at all, then you’ll join the rebellion and fight alongside your best friend so that we can all live in a better world. So that everything doesn’t burn to ash around us! Now shut the fuck up and get to work!”
With that, Nova turned around, swept up a hammer, and walked around Caleb and Quinn’s cottage, effectively ending the conversation. Priya stared open-mouthed as Desi and Zura followed Nova, the three of them disappearing around the cottage.
“Well, damn. She told you,” Caleb said, chuckling.
Priya seemed to defrost, her face slackening as she looked our way. I could see it in her eyes, the exhaustion. The pain. Sighing, I patted Cal on the shoulder and walked towards Pri, grabbing her arms.
“I know it hurts. Trust me, I know. But blaming Nova won’t absolve any of us, and it definitely won’t somehow make sense of what Talon did. All we can do now is push forward.” Priya deflated, nodding softly before letting her forehead hit my chest. I patted her head, my anger simmering. “Pri?”
“What?”
“Don’t you ever talk about Nova like that again.” With that, I passed her to Quinn, pivoting to follow Nova. None of my friends said anything, though I heard the soft sound of Priya’s cries as rubble crunched beneath my boots. As I rounded the corner, I heard the women’s voices, the conversation hushed.
“I’m scared for my family,” Zura said, her voice cracking.
“I know. I’m sorry I put you in this position,” Nova said, tone soft. I pressed my back to the wall, listening intently. “Do you want me to take you home before anyone realizes you’re gone?”
A few moments passed before Zura responded, though her words were firm when they came. “I believe in a world where my mom and dad could’ve been happy. I want to fight for that world.”
With that, I sagged, letting my back slowly slide down the wood until I hit the ground softly. We’d all fight for that world, and I feared most of us would never see it.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Nova
“The best part about alchemy is that there are rules. Steps. Guidelines. I wish life was like that.”
-From the journal of Nova Tershetta, 9273 AS
Commander Maitoza waslivid.I had never seen her so angry. Or angry at all, really. But when she saw the cores at our sides, she looked downright lethal. Nervous now, I stepped forward, waving at her. She stalked our way on thudding, angry steps, her hair flowing behind her as she marched.
“Tell me you didn’t go behind my back and bring more core family members intomyrebellion.” Was there something beyond livid? Irate maybe?
“Well, you see—”
“No! I don’t see! You hadno right!”
“Don’t speak to her like that,” Azazel cut in, stepping around me to point in the commander’s face.
She smacked his hand, pressing her chest into his. “I will speak to insubordinates in the way they’ve earned, Azazel! And Desi!”
Desi yelped at my side, her eyes falling to the ground.
