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“Yeah, of course,” Cole says, frowning at me. “You didn’t eat?”

“I did,” I say, shrugging as we walk together out of the tent, my shift ending anyway. The night is pitch black now, and the camp is mostly abandoned except for the nurses I see heading towards us, ready to take the night shift while my group exits. “I could use a snack, though.”

Cole nods, leading me to the mess tent where wrapped sandwiches are waiting on a table inside the door. I smile, taking one, grateful for a cooking staff that understands that we don’t really stick to regular mealtimes when things get crazy.

“So, any updates?” I ask, unwrapping my sandwich and heading to the empty fire pit with Cole, waving to Gracie and Shay as they head off to their shift. They wave back before I turn my attention to the Prince.

He sighs as he sits, and I take my place next to him. “Nothing useful,” he murmurs. “Dad didn’t have any strong theories on why there were no children or humans present. His thinking was along your lines, suggesting that these are people who Slaken wants at his side. He won’t give up valuable populations without more of a fight.”

“Damn,” I whisper, shaking my head.

Cole nods, agreeing with my baffled sentiment, my feeling of helplessness.

I take a bite of my sandwich, chewing carefully and picking my next words. “Hey, Cole?” I say, wrapping my sandwich back up and dusting my hands off, trying hard for casual and not quite reaching it.

He looks over at me with a frown, sensing that something is up.

“Um,” I say, tucking my hands inside my hoodie and leaning closer. “What if we…went to the caves?”

“What?”

I grimace, speaking fast so I get all my words out at once. “I was justthinkingthat ifIwas one of Slaken’s captives and was feeling discontent like my dad said, that I wouldhide–“

“Nadia –“

“No, seriously!” I say, nodding eagerly. “I would be hiding from Slaken, but then I’d also be scared of the Moon Valley military people, right? Especially if I’d been brought up tofearthem. So, I wouldn’t come out while they were searching for me. What if we –“

“Absolutelynot, Nadia,” Cole says, his mouth drawing to a thin line.

Chapter 51 – Prejudice

Nadia

“But it makes sense!” I say, sitting straight, my wide eyespleadingfor him to listen. “There could be kids in the caves! And even if your military swept the caves looking for them, the kids wouldn’t talk to them! They’d beafraidof them! But they might talk to me – I’m harmless!”

“You’re alsovulnerable,” Cole growls. “It’s out of the question, Nadia!”

I sigh, slumping and glaring at him. “I think that they’re there, Cole. I justfeelthat it’s right – and I think it’s worth checking!”

“The caves have beenchecked! There’s no one left behind!”

“No one hides like a little girl,” I murmur, looking off into the night, thinking about all the little boys who might be up on the cliffs right now, completely undetectable to everyone but Rose, apparently. The boys, at least, are safe. “Those girls need help.”

“It’s a good thought,” Cole murmurs, moving closer to me. I scoot away, unhappy with him for shooting my idea down. “Nadia, it’s just…not practical. And I really don’t think they’re there – it’s not worth your time to head into the mountains like that. You have work to do here –thisis your job. Not recon.”

I sigh, glancing over at the mostly empty nursing tent, thinking that he’s wrong. There’s not much for me to do here anymore until we get new patients.

And I just…I don’t know.

Something in my gut is telling me that I’m right.

“Come on, let’s go to bed,” Cole murmurs, standing and holding out a hand for me. “We’ll talk about it again in the morning.”

I take his hand and let him help me up, thinking that that might be too long. If there are little girls out there, they might not make it through the night. Not unless I do something about it.

My mouth sets in a grim line as I walk with Cole to the nursing tent, a plan forming in my mind.

Cole