Page 238 of Silver Elite

“Travis has declared war on all known Mods.”

My stomach drops. “What?”

“This attack on our base won’t go unpunished, not if Travis has anything to say about it. Every Mod we know of is being rounded up and sent to labor camps for the time being, slaveandloyalist. He says he’ll decide whether to let them live on a case-by-case basis.”

“But they’ve been loyal to you all these years,” I protest.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re either a prisoner or you’re dead.”

“What about me? Am I a prisoner or am I dead?”

There’s a beat of silence.

“Cross.”

“You’ve been scheduled to die. Tribunal just let out.”

I nod in resignation. “They didn’t even see me.”

“They don’t need to. Lyddie testified about your bloodmark.”

Of course she did.

“Is anyone looking for Jayde?” I ask, though that’s probably the least of my concerns right now.

“Her body was found this morning. What a shame that she killed herself right after Travis announced that even the loyalists would be detained.”

Despite all the turmoil and uncertainties in the air, I have to laugh.

Cross winks at me. “I’m very good at my job.”

“Clearly.”

His expression sobers. “And my job right now is to get you out of here. Have you been in contact with the network?”

I shake my head in frustration. “Nobody’s linking. Let me try again now.”

I open a path to Adrienne, and for the first time since shestaggered into the back of that car, she allows me to link. Relief spirals through me, but when I speak, it’s with the heat of accusation.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Waiting for my ability to open a path to return. Where are you?”

“I’m in the stockade. One of my fellows turned me in. You need to get me out of here.”

“We can’t.”She still sounds tired.“The wards are on lockdown. Airspace is being monitored, so we can’t risk sending an aircraft. We’ll be going dark for a while.”

“What is she saying?” Cross pushes.

“That they’re going dark for a while. Hold on.”

“You’re just going to leave me here?”

“We can’t come to you.”I hear genuine regret.“At least not right now. But when you’re able to, you’re welcome at the Dagger.”

“Where is that?”

“It’s our base. Located beyond the Blacklands.”

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