Page 85 of Undying

“Look,” I say, honestly not sure as I begin it how my sentence is going to end. “These last six months—”

But I get no further. Mia interrupts me. “Dex,” she gasps, looking over my shoulder.

Beside her, Jules goes still. I can’t think what it could possibly be, and I twist around to—

All thought dies. The constant static, the babble in my head, is abruptly silenced for the first time in half a year.

Because Atlanta stands in the doorway, clad in the blue-and-white uniform of theUnitymission. The same uniform as me.

I gulp for air, like I’m a ten-year-old on my first assisted mission, glued to the spot until Neal firmly plants a hand between my shoulder blades, and pushes. Then I rise from my chair, legs unsteady, and half stumble the first few steps toward her.

Her lips curve into her usual, achingly familiar smirk, one brow lifting, as if to say,Really, you forgot how to walk?And for that, I remember how torun, dodging bodies and swerving around tables, shifting at the speed of light to fling myself into her open arms, our bodies smacking together.

“What are you doing here?” It’s a stupid question—she’s wearing the uniform. But I won’t believe it, Ican’tbelieve it, until she says it.

“I’m going home,” she says quietly, arms still wrapped around me, head resting on my shoulder, cheek pressed to mine.

“But youarehome,” I murmur. “We’ve spent our whole lives getting here, back to Earth.”

“No,” she says, finally easing back, dropping her hands to take hold of mine. “I finally figured out what you knew all along.” She’s looking over my shoulder, and when I glance back, there’s Neal—he must have run to keep up with me—shooting her one of hisgentle, welcoming smiles. Jules and Mia have nearly reached us. “I don’t understand,” I admit.

“Youare my home,” she says quietly. “I thought it was here, this planet, the place we came from, but I was wrong. You’re my home, Dex, you always have been.” She pauses, flicking her gaze to Neal, and wrinkling her nose. “Though I pledge, if you think I’m sharing a room with you two, you’re heading for ten kinds of hassle.”

I don’t have any kind of comeback, and Neal’s just laughing at her. “We already decorated,” he informs her. “You’re safe.”

“You made the crew list?” That’s Jules, and he doesn’t seem completely surprised. Nor, now I turn my head to look at the pair of them, does Mia.

“Yeh, approved about ten minutes ago,” Atlanta says. “Plenty of time to spare. It helps that my partner was already a crew member.”

The chime sounds again, and Neal turns away to pull Jules in for a hug, as I lean down to gather up Mia for the same. Neal’s parents close in now, and the Addison family, born and chosen, are one big tangle of limbs, clinging together for just a moment more.

“We’ll send you a vid first chance we get,” I promise, as we all step back.

“Keep an eye on the place for us,” Neal adds, tugging his uniform straight. “I may have dreamed about this my whole life, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to come back someday.”

And then it’s time to go.

It’s so sunny outside that as we head for the wide doors that lead out to the stage and the speeches, I can’t make out a thing that’s waiting for us.

But that’s all right. With Neal on one side of me and Atlanta on the other, I’m ready.

Together, we walk toward the light.