Page 152 of The Last Hope

Court steps in, propping a casual arm on Mykal’s shoulder. “Heya, do you know if Riktor still works here? He’s a friend of a friend. Thought I’d say hi.”

And thieve back the pouch that wart thieved.

“Sure, he’s senior staff,” she says. “He cleans out the elegant suites. You’ll find him on the top floors.”

Zimmer nods in thanks, and as we go, we’re about to forget the master key and uniforms. We only need to find Riktor. But Gem and Padgett falter before we leave the locker room.

“It’ll be useful to have a keycard that can access all rooms,” Padgett says beneath her breath.

Gem stares excitedly at the dresser. “We can try to open it,and then we’ll meet you upstairs.” She reties a scarf around her stitched eye socket.

Stork looks to Court and tells him, “We should split up anyway to cover more ground.”

Court agrees.

I worry the Soarcastle sisters will be caught tinkering with the hotel’s electronics. “What if someone sees them?”

Court tells Kinden to stay here, and his older brother takes the task of lookout with arrogant grace. Letting us all know there is no one else better for the job.

We leave them in the locker room, and the five of us that remain find the glass elevator. We rise up to the elegant suites. On the buttons, the two highest floors are marked with anE.

“How are we splitting up?” I ask Court.

He instantly glances at Mykal, who already has his muscled arm over Court’s shoulder. Coupled again, they’re in great beautiful spirits—so much so that my chest swells and swells.

But silence falls because their strengths may be better suited apart. Zimmer knows hotels the best, but he’s admittedly the scrawniest. Mykal can protect him from anyone that tries to slow him down.

“Franny and I will take the floor above you,” Court tells Mykal and Zimmer. “Stork can keep a lookout between the two.”

We can’t pay Riktor off, so I ask, “What do we do when we come upon Riktor?”

“Break his neck.” Mykal grunts.

Court rolls his eyes. “We threaten him.”

Mykal outstretches an arm. “Exactly what I said.”

The elevator dings and slows to a halt.

We’re here.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Court

I don’t believe in any gods, and so to me, leaving the fate of Earth to a coin toss is impossibly ridiculous.

But I believe in Mykal and Franny. I believe in my brother, the Soarcastle sisters, and Zimmer. I even believe in Stork.

And I believe in myself. We can find the baby’s parents. One step at a time, and I focus on the present.

Franny and I knock onVACANTdoors and wait to see if anyone shouts.

My thirtieth door, a boy yells, “I’m cleaning in here!”

The sleeping baby stirs against my chest. I put a stiff hand to the back of her head. She never seems to mind my rigid affection. “Riktor?!” I shout back.

“He’s not with me!”