Page 50 of When Eden Falls

Yuska nodded and glanced towards the open doorway where Zamya had appeared. She was holding my radio in one hand, pulling the headset from her ear with the other.

“It’s Rooke,” she said. “He really needs to speak with you.”

I sighed heavily, flicking my eyes to Yuska. She tapped my arm with her cold hands, giving me a boost of confidence. I hadn’t spoken to Rooke since that horrible evening, days ago.

Watching Yuska leave, I sat forward, then frowned at Zamya, who was holding the two pieces of the radio in front of my face. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”

“Not today.”

I grabbed it and hooked the earpiece onto my ear. Noticing Zamya’s immediate disappearance, I inwardly grimaced. How bad was this going to be?

I took a deep breath. “Rooke, it’s me. What do you want?”

“I want to know how you are…andhelloto you too.”

The corner of my lips twitched upwards. Nux, I wanted to stay mad at him, but how could I when he made me smile with a simple tone of voice. “I’m fine, and hello.”

“Heard you’ve become recently incarcerated.”

“So what if I have?”

“Wondered if that was the reason we had a moody matron at dinner a few evenings ago?”

“Do you want me to hang up, Rooke?”

“No, no, I want to work out what’s going on with you.”

For Nux Sake. “I nearly died. And I could’ve done without theI told you sospeech from Havav. The way he spoke to me made me question if he’d instigated the whole situation just so he could demoralise me. Nux, he is so…insufferable…”

“And he knows exactly how to get under your skin.”

“As do you.”

There was a short pause. “I know. I should’ve stood up for you but…I’m trying to remain on Havav’s good side. He’s appointed his shipbuilders to make a floating raft big enough to transport Parvos back to the safety of the fortress caves. That way, we’ll be able to fix the ship with no detrimental interruption from the Igknamai.”

“That’s good,” I mumbled. “I suppose Havav has his uses.”

“He isn’t all that bad.”

“Hmm.”

“I promise you; we’ll fix the ship. Wewillget home.”

I squeezed my eyes together, praying that was a promise he could keep.

“Oz is awake.”

“Is he? That’s a relief. How is he?”

“Weak but improving day by day. I’ll work on Havav, see if he’ll allow you and the girls access to the ward.”

“Please. It’ll be good to see him.”

“I’ve also had a lot of contact with Troy over the past couple of days.”

“Is he okay?”

“Yes. He’s being kept busy. He’s found an active satellite.”