Page 108 of The Alien in the Archive

“Cute,” Lyn mutters. “Seriously…do you know how you sound right now?”

“Lyn, stop,” Riley cuts in. “You’re not being fair. Page didn’t ask for this, and neither did Thorne. And like, I met the guy?—”

“Youmet him?” Lyn’s voice reaches a fever pitch. “What the fuck, Riley?”

“Page is my sister,” Riley says. “Of course I knew. She’s been trying to figure this out on her own, and Thorne helped her. He’s not a danger, he’s just a weird guy with a cute pet?—”

“That’sinsane,” Lyn spits, flinging her hand out like she wants to slap Riley in the face. “You’re both insane. You don’t understand what we’re dealing with here because you didn’t get hit by the Convergence the way me and Orin did?—”

“Our parents died in the Pemberton Disaster!” Riley shouts, squaring up to her. Orin is getting closer to the two of them, his eyes flashing, teeth lengthening—turning, I think. This is bad. If he transforms into a wolf… “You think that doesn’t count?”

“Guys, please,” I say, getting closer to them. “I get it, Lyn, I do. But Thorne isn’t like the people who did that. He’s tryingto preserve what’s left and tell the truth his own people erased. He’s not out here trying to hurt anyone.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to believe the girl who’s dick drunk on a war criminal,” Lyn snaps.

“He isnota war criminal!” I shout, slicing my hand through the air for emphasis.

And I guess my emotions get the better of me, because the coffee table goes flying across the room, slamming against the kitchen counter with a horrific crack.

I’ve never done anything like it…and holy shit, it’s scary. But I realize in that second that I would do anything to protect Thorne.

For a long moment, no one moves. It’s like no one evenbreathes.

“I’m getting out of here,” Lyn finally says. “This is insane. All of it. And if you think I’m going to sit around and watch you make excuses for a Borean, you’re wrong. Someone has to stop this.”

She turns and stalks toward the door, swinging the door open and slamming it shut. I start to go after her, but Orin catches my arm. I snap my head toward him, ready for a fight, but he’s partially changed—eyes bright red, sharp teeth bared.

“Don’t,” he says.

I go still.

Orin lets me go, but he keeps glaring as he goes to the door, following Lyn.

Then it’s just me, Riley, and Thalara.

I look at Thalara, biting my lip. “Are you…” I start. “Are you going to leave too?”

Thalara shakes her head. “No, but…I do think we need to talk.”

“I’ll tell you everything,” I promise. “But first, I have to go. Lyn is going to tell…and that means Thorne is in danger.”

42

THORNE

Isee Page’s self-destruction happening in real time, and I hate that I can’t do anything about it.

As soon as I got back from Davina’s office, I felt Page’s tension ratchet up—saw the books hovering in her house through her eyes. Then I saw her friends come in, watched the fight with Lyn and Orin…felt her fear and anxiety when they left.

She’s walking to the library from the village, through the city. Her pack is slung over her shoulder, and she’s practically sprinting as she moves to catch a train. Any stranger must think she’s insane, because she’s muttering to herself, to me.

“You need to go to our reading nookright now,” she’s saying, her voice rushed and quiet. “Security could be there any minute. I’ll meet you there.”

“You should stay away,” I tell her, pacing the length of my alcove. “If security is coming, you being here will only make it worse. Let them think I’m just another lost artifact. I’ll handle it.”

“No!” Her voice is firm, and I catch sight of a few peoplein the marketplace looking up with a suspicious glance. “You’re not handling this alone. This is my fault.”

“It’s not your fault,” I reply. “None of this is your fault.”

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