Page 76 of Resolve
“It was a remarkable feat, Raegan. I can easily say I’m honored tobe part of your team and helping you finally accomplish your goal.”
Damn it, I will not get emotional.
I swallow the sudden knot in my throat, and Portia giggles and wraps her arms around one of mine, knocking into me in the process and helping me get out of my head. “He says the sweetest things, doesn’t he?” She turns to him. “How are things downstairs?” she prompts, her tone casual even as her eyes slide to mine and shimmer with mischief.
I’m relieved that the attention has been pulled away from me. It’s tempting to retreat inward to get my shit together, but I’m too curious to see what Portia’s up to that I stay focused on their conversation.
“Ah, well. This is my reprieve while the Guild Master is preoccupied questioning a prisoner. My assistance was not needed for that task.”
That piques my attention. “Prisoner?”
Portia releases me and collapses into the cushions behind her. “Someone from GE. Dee? Bee?”
“Bea?” I repeat, realizing who she must mean. The portal girl. “Where is she?”
Elias sighs. “As we are not as...accustomedto having prisoners, we’ve locked her in the storage room for office supplies in the basement.”
“I should go see if they need any help.” Especially if Aiden is as tired as Jackson claimed and he’s now alone with Bea.Dane should be with him, but still...
They both wave me off, promising to catch up more on next steps once all of our crew are rested and awake, and I head to Hype’s basement.
The hallway at the foot of the stairs is a hallucinogenic experience. The lighting is a soft purple over white walls and a reflective tile. But it’s the bright neon lights steaking along the walls like thick waves that makes me feel like I’m traveling through time or something. It’s disorienting.
A raised voice draws me to a cracked door a few feet down the neon tunnel to the left.
“And when he comes for me, he’ll kill all of you!” a female voice shrieks.
“I destroyed your tracker before we left your space. He’s not coming,” Reid replies evenly.
“He’ll find me! Heneedsme!”
“He doesn’t need anyone but himself. You’re delusional if you think otherwise.”
I draw the door open enough to see the room. Bea’s pacing at the back wall while Reid stands in the middle of the room facing her. Aiden leans against one of the shelving units of office supplies, his eyes closed. Dane looks pissed beside him, but he relaxes when he sees me.
“You’re awake.” He sounds relieved as he approaches.
Aiden opens his eyes, and Reid looks over his shoulder.
“We’re done for now,” Aiden says, pushing off the shelves and striding toward us and the door. Reid follows without a word, and I make room for everyone to exit. Once the door’s locked, I throw my arms around Dane. Even though he’d reunited with us in the arena,I’m still fucking relieved he’s okay.
“How did you escape?” I ask, slowly withdrawing.
He kisses my cheek. “Alice followed us. And me, when we fell through the portal.” Dane jerks his chin at Reid. “He and Tinsley showed up, too. We destroyed the island and got everyone to Cibrina. Then we went to rescue you.”
“And Bea?”
Reid glances at the door. “I was able to tether to one of her portals and use it to get into her space.”
“Her space?”
He nods. “It’s a pocket in space-time where she manages most of her portals for GE.”
“We found a cuff on the island and put it on her before locking her up here,” Dane adds.
Aiden’s eyes are closed again when I check on him. I place my palm to the side of his face, then gasp.
“Aiden, you’re burning up.”
