Page 78 of The Last Hope

With everyone’s intentions bare and all they’ve risked to find us, my sky-high guards have begun to lower. Hopefully not for the worst.

But there is one secret the three of us can’t share with our friends or Stork.

The link.

We still keep that hidden to protect each other. And I know I should move away from Mykal, put more distance between us like we talked about. For the sake of hiding the link. But I feel more rigid and unbending today, and his shoulder against mine is a comfort that I can’t so easily disregard.

“… if they paid for their tickets, they could’ve avoided punishment,” Kinden says, my mind dipping back into their talk.

Franny’s brows scrunch together. “You know how many bills an iceling matchcosts?”

“Of course.” Kinden sips wine from the bottle. “The back rows are less than fifty bills.”

Padgett weaves into the conversation. “So says a boy who’s likely always had a hundred in his pocket.”

“Save your breath, Padgett, and just say I’m grossly rich.” With a profounder eye on Padgett, he passes her the bottle. “Tarter than Saltarian wine. What do you think?”

She plucks her pipe out to taste.

“Mom and Dad are flirting again,” Zimmer says with a wry grin.

Padgett shoots him a look as she puts the bottle to her lips, and Kinden rolls his eyes.

Gem explains quickly, “Zimmer thinks he’s funny.”

“Over a month on theSagastarcraft with you three,” Zimmer replies. “If I didn’t make jokes, we’d all go mad.”Over a month.They’ve had a long time together, but I can’t imagine it was as mundane as the days Franny, Mykal, and I spent in theRomulusbrig. A month there felt like a year.

My eyes veer to Stork. I no longer expect him to cut off trivial discussions.

Lounging at the head of the pool, he sits on the edge, his legs dunked beneath the water. He smiles into swigs of liquor.

These are the very first Saltarians he’s met that he didn’t need to fight.I know this.But we have such little time. I’m in the same position as him. Surrounded by humans on theLucretzia,the very first humans I’ve ever met. But I’ve forgone flippant chats and curious banter for the betterment of the mission.

And this ishismission.

His priority.

He’s the captain of a squadron, and he’s not foolish, as far as I’ve been able to tell. I want to know what he’s playing at. Whether he’s gathering information on everyone or if it’s something else.

Mykal squeezes my tense shoulder.

“Fifty bills,” Gem ponders. “That would’ve bought me the materials to build a new radio transmitter.”

I wait for Franny or Zimmer to say how that money would’ve fed them for months. Franny has mentioned how Purple Coach wages were low. Countries purposefully paid drivers less and made them survive off of tips.

Neither speaks, possibly not wanting to hurt Gem’s feelings, but they exchange a knowing look and Franny drifts toward Zimmer.

Water rushes against her waist as she moves, and Mykal flinches at the strange sensation.

No one can tell we’re linked.

It’s what I repeat.

A second arm is around my shoulders—that’s not me.I look back at the pool. Franny floats on her back next to Zimmer, his arm curved around her shoulders.

I tense, cautious for other reasons than secrecy and our fate.

Mykal sucks on his cig, a disgruntled noise in his throat.