Page 197 of Star Bringer
Kali shrugs. “I don’t care. I’m not scared of the Rebellion.”
“You should be.” Still, I respect her for not hiding. At some point, we have to live our lives, and fuck everyone else.
“Not to mention Rain and Merrick,” Max says. “The Rebellion is hardly fond of the Sisterhood. Or the Corporation, for that matter. Which includes Gage.”
“She won’t touch them if I ask her not to.” I hope. You never can tell who’s going to show up—my mother or the Butcher of Narreth. But now doesn’t exactly seem like the time to bring that up. “I’ll tell her that you all saved my life. That will mean something to her.”
“Do you have a way to contact her?” Ian asks.
“I do.” We’ve always had a private line of communication for emergencies. Considering both her children are missing, I’m sure she hasn’t changed that.
Ian looks around the room. “What does everyone think? Do we risk it?”
“Do we have a choice?” Max answers. “Beckett’s right. We’re not exactly swimming in options.”
“You really think we can trust these people?” Merrick asks. He turns to me. “You know her better than anyone—will she honor an agreement?”
“Yes. It’s getting the agreement that might be hard. But once she’s committed, she won’t betray you. She has her own code of honor that she won’t break.”
“Look,” Ian says to Merrick, “there’s no reason for you and Rain to come with us. We can drop you off somewhere close to one of the Sisterhood’s headquarters, and you can go home.”
I hold my breath as Merrick and Rain exchange a glance. I don’t want her to go. I’m not ready yet. I know I said I have to go, but not yet. Please.
She gives a small shake of her head—I think she feels the same way—and I expect him to argue. But he doesn’t. It’s one more thing in a long line that makes me believe something else is going on with that man. I just don’t know what.
“We’ll stay,” he finally says.
“Good.” Ian turns to Gage. “What about you?”
“I say go for it. But maybe don’t give herallthe jewels.”
Big shock, Gage.I’ve never seen anyone more obsessed with money in my life.
Ian must feel the same way, because he snorts but doesn’t comment. Finally, he looks at Kali. “How about you, Princess? You think we should join forces with the rebels?”
She shrugs. “I trust Beckett. If she says that it will work, then I believe her.”
That actually is a shocker—one that makes me feel a little strange. Sure, she said she trusted me before she left the last time, but that was one-on-one. Now, in front of everyone… I want to say something soppy likeI won’t let you downor—
I cut off the thought as a stab of pain pierces my skull. This needs to be sooner rather than later. “So, are we doing this?” I ask.
“Hell, why not,” Ian says, throwing up his hands. “It can’t be worse than any of the other decisions we’ve made lately. Go ahead. Call Mommy.”
I get up. I should feel happier about this. It will get me what I need.
I glance at Rain, and she gives me a smile.
If not what I want.
Chapter 85
Kali
I can’t sleep. I’ve been back on board theStarlightfor three days, and I haven’t been able to sleep at all. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is Arik collapsing right in front of me—alive one moment and dead the next. And Lara’s face as she falls off the parapet, her mouth wide open as she screams.
They died for me. Because of me. If I’d stayed put and just did what I was told, they would be alive. And millions of other people would be dead.
If this is what it means to be a princess, I’m ready to give the job back. Right now, I’d rather be anything but.
