I’m still feeling the effects of our bent-over jaunt through the sewers, but somehow it doesn’t hurt so much now that I know the end is near. Evidently my companions feel the same way, as our pace is redoubled and we reach a dead end only a minute later.
“I’m ready for a nap,” Trevor says, sprawling out along the curving edge of the tube.
“You do that…while we kill the president,” Roc says.
It’s strange hearing Roc say something like that, especially when he now knows the President is his father.
“Ooh, I don’t want to miss that,” Trevor says. “I guess I can sleep later, maybe when I’m dead.”
“You’re not going to die,” I say, sitting down. “None of us are.” It’s the biggest lie I’ve told in my entire life, and, selfishly, I think I told it to comfort my own fears rather than anyone else’s.
“So what’s the plan?” Tawni asks, hugging her knees next to me.
“Bust in, kill anything that moves, shoot Tristan and Roc’s dad in the head,” Trevor says bluntly.
“Our father,” Tristan corrects.
“Yeah, him, too,” Trevor says.
“I think we might want to try a slightly stealthier approach,” I say. “That is, if we do want to live through this. And I do—I’ve got a sister to look after.” I glance at Tristan, who gives me a slight nod, which I return in thanks for the not-so-subtle reminder he gave me earlier. No matter how bad things get, there’s always someone who needs me as much as I need them.
“She’s right,” he says. “We need to split up.”
“No!” I say right away. “We said we would stick together. Apart we’ll be hanging bats. Dead meat.”
“Hear me out,” Tristan says. “Roc and I know the palace better than anyone, my father included. When we were kids we explored every nook and cranny. We know the best ways in, the fastest routes from point to point, and the safest ways out. If we each lead a team in a different direction with the goal of eventually reaching the same destination—in this case my father’s throne room—it doubles our chance of success.”
“If one group is captured, the other might still make it,” Roc adds. Evidently they’ve already discussed this without us, although I have no idea when. “If we’re caught together, it’s all over.”
I shut my eyes. Argh! I’m mad, but not because of their plan, or that they came up with it without us, but because they’re right. It’s the best, and most logical, way to improve our chances for success.
“Who goes with who?” I say, giving up the argument without a fight.
“We wanted to leave that up to the group,” Tristan says.
“At least you left something up to the group,” I grumble under my breath.
“I want Tawni with me,” Roc says right away.
“Bad idea,” Trevor says. “We can’t let personal feelings get in the way of the mission as a whole.”
“I agree,” I say. “Tristan and I will split up, and so should Tawni and Roc.”
“Wait a minute. I’m not sure that makes the most sense,” Tristan says, frowning. “Strategically it might make the most sense to have you and me together.”
“It doesn’t,” I say, wanting more than anything to relent, to go with him, to seal our fates together with this decision. But I can’t. Trevor’s right, for once.
“Trevor and Adele are right,” Tawni says, glancing at Roc. “I’m sorry, I want to go with you, but…”
Roc chews on his lip, turns to Tristan, who’s doing much the same thing. “Three against two,” I say. “Couples must be separated.” Again. It’s the third time I’ll be separated from Tristan since first seeing him. If history repeats itself, we’ll both face great dangers before we ever see each other again.
“I don’t agree,” Tristan says, “but I’ll go along with the group’s decision.”
“Don’t make me beg,” Roc says to Tawni.
“Roc, I’m sorry.”
“Rrrr, fine. Okay. I’ll go with whoever we decide.”
“Me and Tawni,” I suggest, reverting naturally to the combo that’s gotten me this far.
“No way,” Tristan says. “Tawni’s not a fighter. You need at least two fighters.”
“She’ll fight if she has to,” I argue, which draws a smile from Tawni. “She even practiced with Roc, remember?” I add.
“That’s not helping your argument,” Tristan says. “Roc’s got spirit but he’s not exactly a professional warrior.”
“Hey! I’ve saved your skin more than once already,” Roc complains.
“I’m not contending that. I’m just saying that one training session with you won’t put Tawni on even ground with a palace guard.”
“But she’ll have me,” I say. “No one will touch her on my watch.”
“Unless you get killed,” Tristan says grimly. “You’re tough as hell, Adele, but you’re not invincible.” And that, my friends, is the problem. No matter how much righteous anger and lust for revenge courses through my veins, I can’t guarantee anything. “Just take Trevor with you. Please.”
And there it is. The compromise. If Tristan can’t be there to protect me (as if I need protecting), he wants the next best fighter to be with me. Which leaves him with Roc, who, although determined and loyal to a fault, is no warrior, as Tristan already pointed out. But wait a minute…
“I thought you said you and Roc have to be separated, so each squad has someone to help navigate through the palace,” I say.
“That’s correct,” Tristan confirms. Then that means…
“You’re going with Tawni?”
“That’s what I’m suggesting.”
I shake my head in wonder at the nerve of my boyfriend. If he thinks he can get away with the exact same thing that I just tried to get away with, he’s got another thing coming. “Not a chance. If that’s the way you want to play it, I’m going with Roc. You take Trevor and Tawni.”
“Perfect. Done,” Trevor says, clapping his hands together. “I’m ready.”
“Wait a sec,” Tristan says. “I disag—”
“All in favor,” I say, cutting him off.
“Aye,” Tawni and Trevor say in unison.
Roc shrugs. “Sorry, buddy, that’s three votes already. It’s probably for the best anyway.”
Tristan’s shaking his head, his eyes closed. I can tell his teeth are clamped tightly together beneath his pursed lips. He’s worried about me, which I feel bad about, but I know we’ve made the right decision. He and Tawni will be safe with Trevor, and Roc and I can look after each other. I know I was a bit cold to him, but that I can make up for.
I move in close, hug him around the chest, rest my cheek on his shoulder. “We’ll be fine,” I whisper.
He opens his fathomless blue eyes. Says, “I don’t want to lose you.” I lean into his honest lips, kissing him longer and deeper than I ever have before.
“You won’t,” I murmur when we pull away.
Chapter Twenty
Tristan
That didn’t go the way I planned. I thought I could convince Adele to go with me, or at least to go with Trevor. Instead she’s the only real fighter in her group, while I’ve got Trevor, who’s more than capable.
We’ve worked out the details of our plan—approximately how long it will take for each team to reach the throne room (twenty minutes), what to do if something goes wrong (keep going), whether to wait for the other team upon arrival at the throne room (wait five minutes, and then go in)—and I watch Adele climb the ladder first, her lithe form almost catlike in her sun dweller clothes. Everything about her is an enigma to me. The way she can be so tough and yet so gentle. The beauty she wears like a mask on her determined face. Her humble upbringing seeding a life destined to do such great things.
And now we’re parting without saying goodbye, with only a kiss to keep us going, because that’s the way she wants it. It’s probably better that way. Saying goodbye is like assuming failure, like we won’t see each other again. “Until we meet again!” I say instead. Adele fires a strange look down the ladder and keeps climbing.