Page 413 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Lachlan thinks they’re waiting for the storm.

Kade agrees, although it troubles him.

Rain touches down just after ten, dragging thunder and lightning along for the ride as it thickens, drenching the world around them.

Twice, Kade checks on Roman.

He’s right where they left him, silent and still.

The PMCs still don’t advance.

They just surround.

Something feels wrong.

At ten twenty, Kade makes the executive decision to activate Pocket Mode for all Tower Crew, despite not a single bullet being fired by the surrounding forces. He triple-checks the HVAC, the intake and the thermal scans, but the rain is doing exactly what he knew it would.

Riley stays in the Watch with Cole and Finn.

Kade keeps replaying what he remembers of Lachlan’s ritual over and over in his head. It’s not the Bind that bothers him, nor the instructions.

It’s the part Lachlan didn’t care to read.

The poetry.

He can’t help feeling there’s some cleverness hidden in it.

He’s nervous. Anxious.

Doing whatever he can to stay busy.

The lack of an attack is driving him crazy.

At ten forty-five, Cole tells Kade to come up to the Watch alone.

His guts give a miserable twist.

‘Please, please, please,’ he whispers, walking quickly through the doors.

Finn isn’t there, only Cole.

‘Is it Lee?’

‘Nothing yet, which means she’s inside,’ Cole says.

‘Where’s Finn?’

‘Downstairs helping Rike reroute communications around the flooded lower grid. We lost half the hardlines when the tunnels collapsed.’ Cole gives Kade a thin smile. ‘Riley wants to see you.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing’s wrong. He’s on the roof.’

‘What? Why? He could be shot. They could pick him off easily!’

Cole remains entirely calm. ‘The parapet blocks every ground-level sightline, Lachlan cleared the elevated positions, and the rain and wind shear have grounded their drones and made a clean long-range shot impossible. It’s safe.’

‘Why is he up there?’