Page 65 of Uprooted

Elowen

The walls in Maak’s room shudder from the sonic boom Priya warned me about.

I steady the bowl of cold noodles on the table.

The world may be coming to an end, but Maak would never forgive me if I messed up his room.

I hold my breath and wait. I’m under strict orders to not come out until after a second blast.

My head has been full of worst-case scenarios all day.

She promised she would get here as soon as possible.

Plan A is a simple one—really only two things need to go right.

But a lot can still go wrong. Priya’s got to show up on time and her new weapon needs to do what she thinks it’s capable of.

Emphasis on “thinks . ” It’s never been used before.

I take a few calming breaths and channel the confidence Aro so easily radiates. Everything is going to be fine. My plan will work, and we will figure out exactly who’s responsible.

I slide the dresser away from the door once the room stops shaking for the second time. The furniture wouldn’t have kept the Atorum out, but it gave me a false sense of security, and I’ll take what I can get.

The halls are deathly quiet. Outside, the aftermath of the attack steals the breath from my lungs.

I make my way through rubble, dodging medbots as they zoom in every direction checking the soldiers and administering aid.

I duck as one speeds over me nearly taking my head off.

It would be pretty ironic if I got taken out by a freaking medbot at this point.

I search for Aro among those upright and helping the injured.

His confidence has rubbed off on me because in my mind it’s not even a possibility he could be one of the fallen.

I see him in the distance, his back to me.

There is no mistaking my mate, even from here.

I break into a run, jumping over dead bugs with an athletic ability I didn’t know I had.

Priya sees me first and points a long slender finger in my direction. He spins around and stands frozen in place. I don’t slow down when I get close. Instead I launch myself into the air and knock him to the ground. I grab both sides of his head and search his face for any sign of injury.

“You saved us,” he says quietly, staring up at me in awe.

“I saved us.” I smile down at him.

“You were supposed to evacuate,” he says numbly.

“I’m more of an ask-forgiveness-not-permission type.” I quote him from that first time he made me spicy noodles.

“Do you hate me?” he asks hesitantly.

“I know what you were trying to do. You can’t scare me off. I’m here, with you, where I belong.” I lean down and kiss him with everything I have left in me. He crushes me against him.

“How did you do it?” he pulls away, breathless from our kiss.

“I know people,” I say and smile up at Priya. “You made it just in time,” I tell her.