Page 77 of Even Robots Die (Even Ever After #3)

Florentine

H e’s going to ruin everything.

I know he didn’t want me to go alone. He’s been pretty adamant about it since I told him about what I wanted to do.

But now the birds think there’s something between Brice and me—it’s true, even if I’m not sure what that something is—and they’re going to find a way to exploit it.

I’m still hoping they don’t really know what to do with me and that I’m here more to hinder the Humans than to really help the birds.

I’m counting on them putting me in their cells without a second thought.

But now, once I’m out, I’ll have to find Brice too and it’s going to make me lose so much more time.

I stop walking when I reach the gates.

“Let my dad go,” I tell him before I cross.

Raphael has the nerve to shrug as if it was nothing and he didn’t really care about holding Dad hostage. It might very well be the case for him.

With a wave of his hand, the guards free Dad and I can see that they gagged him. They don’t remove his cuffs and the gag, but they stop holding him and they push him in the direction of the gates.

Dad doesn’t lose a second and walks so fast it could be considered running. He’s not looking at me, though. His eyes are fixed on the ground as if it’s the only thing keeping him upright.

At the last minute, right before he arrives at the gates, he tips his face up and his eyes cross mine. They’re bloodshot, but what is most remarkable is the relief I can see there.

The relief that I’m once again here to save his ass.

It makes me mad but I can’t show it now. This isn’t the right time, but soon, we will have a word and I’m going to make him own his shit.

For now, all I can do is hold up my hands for the birds to take me away and listen to my dad run away as he lets me take his place.

One of the guards who arrived with Raphael walks up to me and passes handcuffs around my wrists.

The overall behavior of Raphael and his guards and the lack of questions confirm exactly what I thought.

They don’t really know what I can do and they didn’t even bother watching the video feed from my street.

If they had, they would know that the gloves I’m wearing are the same ones I was wearing four days ago when I electrocuted the bird sentinel, and they wouldn’t let me keep them.

I try not to look back, but I can hear that they are a bit rougher with Brice. They trust him even less than they do me.

I hear his knees hit the ground when two of the guards force him to the ground and search him for weapons.

From the corner of my eye, I see when they find the two small knives that were hidden in his boots and also the ones at his armpits. I know he has more than that, but I’m pretty sure the birds will find out soon enough.

Or maybe not, if I’m fast enough.

The guard that put the handcuffs on me grabs me by the arm and I have to remind myself that I’m not supposed to fight back.

I take a deep breath and follow him.

Let the show begin.