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It had been decades since I’d stepped foot inside this room.

Decades since I’d visited this place with her.

I let her pass me and shut the door, thankful for a moment alone with her.

Her face crumbled and I reached for her, her sob cutting through my core.

“He’s fooled us,” she whispered. “Adrian . . . he’s not who you think he is.”

I stared at her dirt-smudged face, confused. “What do you mean?”

“I saw him, before Delirium. He’d made a portal outside, in the wide open. And I saw . . .”

“Go on . . .” I coaxed, my anxiety rising.

“I saw a world beyond. I saw Earth Ten. It was dark and barren. Only purple hues and hardened rock. And the odor . . . it’s where the Deks have been coming from, I’m sure of it. Adrian’s the one who’s been letting them in, Leo.”

“That’s impossible. Adrian doesn’t have access to power like that.”

“I know what it sounds like. But I know what I saw. It’s him. He’s the one who’s been letting the Decodons pass through.”

“Where is he now?” The anger I heard in my voice surprised me. This was Adrian we were talking about. My friend who was loyal to a fault.

“I don’t know.” She stepped out of my arms. “There’s more . . .” She stopped herself.

There was more she wanted to say, but I couldn’t stand to see the look of anguish on her face.

“It’s okay,” I soothed, wishing to take her worry and pain away. “You can tell me more . . . later. We need to get back. I can’t postpone the meeting without starting a war.”

She looked at the washroom. “I just need a few minutes, to clean myself up.”

I nodded, giving her privacy. My mind reeling.

I sat in the chair in front of the fireplace, feeling sick. I’d known Adrian my entire life. If he had the power to do as Bryn said, I would’ve felt it.

I scrubbed at my jaw, looking back at the bed.

It was unmade. Unusual for two soldiers, unless they had left here in a hurry.

I tried to ignore the thought of them sharing this space together. Something I hadn’t considered when I’d left Bryn in Adrian’s care.

There was no room for jealousy here.

I trusted them.

But even as I reassured myself, I felt this had something to do with the words Bryn hadn’t been able to say.

“Heavens,” I whispered, bringing my head to my hands.

When she appeared from the washroom, I avoided her gaze, my eyes darting back to the bed. “We need to get going,” I said, standing.

“Leo . . .”

“Later, Bryn,” I said softly. I couldn’t have this conversation right now.

I walked to the door and waited for her to join me.

When she got to my side, she grabbed my hand. “Together, right?” she whispered. “Like we said the night we saw Sarah. We would have our revenge and take down our enemies, together.”