Page 237 of Silver Elite

I have so many questions, none of which can be answered unless Adrienne decides to grace me with her psychic presence. But she’s not linking, either.

As much as I hate bothering Cross when I know he’s dealing with a mountain of shit right now, my impatience spills over.

“Where are you, damn it?”

“Briefings,”is the terse response.“They destroyed the entire northern quadrant of the base, including a hangar full of fighter jets.”

Wow. That’s a huge hit to the Command. Yes, there are other hangars, other airfields, but losing a chunk of the fleet like that…I guess their pilot hit the mark this time.

“Are they giving you any trouble? About me?”

“Not yet. I think they will. Right now, they’re too distracted by my father.”

“How is he?”

“His mind is completely fried. He’s a hollow shell.”

It’s hard to decipher Cross’s tone. His feelings about it.

Hell, I don’t know howIfeel hearing it. The General is—was—a cruel, dangerous man. He killed thousands of people. But there’s something very…pathetic, I suppose, about how he went out. Not by an assassin’s bullet or a strategically planted bomb. He didn’t get the heroic end I assume he’s always dreamed of.

His brain was simply…rewired, as Adrienne called it.

“Travis is taking control. The Tribunal appointed him General.”

I consider that. All right. From what I’ve seen, Travis is a practical man. Logical.

“Can we convince him that I’m on his side?”

“After they just bombed our most valuable installation? I highly doubt it.”

My breath comes out in a shaky gust.

“Try not to panic.”

Yetis the unspoken implication.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, keen?”

“Keen.”

Sighing, I stretch out on the narrow mattress and stare up at the ceiling. My heart clenches as I think about Lyddie. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by her betrayal. I saw her that day in shielding class—the way she recoiled at the mere thought of Amira touching her. Like Lash, her hatred of the Aberrant is so deeply rooted, I was a fool to ever think she could find the tolerance within her. That she could keep my bloodmark a secret.

She probably feels as betrayed by me as I do her.

Yet when I think about her turning me in, fury burns my throat, because I would never, ever do that to her.

You did it to Tana.

My throat closes up. I didn’t, damn it. Not intentionally. I warned Tana and Griff because I wanted them to be careful. To protect themselves. I cut that deal to send them to the labor camps because it was a thousand times better than having to bury their corpses.

Tana hasn’t spoken to me in weeks.

I don’t know how much time passes, but when I finally hear the keypad buzz, I’m a total basket case. My heart jumps when Cross enters. I stumble to my feet, then falter, unsure if I should go to him.

“We’re not being recorded.” He gestures to the jammer clipped to his belt.

Then he holds his arms open, and I throw myself into them. He brushes his lips over my hair, his hands warm against my lower back. When we finally break apart, his expression is grim.

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