Page 240 of Silver Elite

“I think the Uprising corrupted your mother’s mind.”

“What?”

“I don’t believe she’s a Mod. But I have no evidence of anything I’m saying right now. We can demand answers from Adrienne when we get to their base.”

He goes silent for a moment, his jaw tightening.“So much for not harming civilians.”

I understand his anger. I can’t stomach the idea that they’re destroying civilian minds in their war against the Company. The only saving grace, after what I gleaned from Adrienne, is there aren’t too many corrupters on the Continent.

“I think it’s a rare ability. The fact that nearly all the Primes in society still have their minds intact tells me it’s not something they can readily do.”

I take his hand, lacing our fingers.

“Thank you,”I tell him.

“For what?”

“Not letting them kill me. Coming with me. Being my best friend since I was six years old.”

Our eyes lock.

“I love you.”His voice is gruff in my head.

“I love you, too.”

—

Halfway there, we ditch the truck. Silver Elite has vehicles stashed in nearly every ward, and we roll two motorcycles out of a cellar in WardC. They’re bullet bikes, too. They’ll cut the rest of our travel time in half. Cross checks the solar batteries, then straddles the bikewhile I get behind him. Xavier takes the other one, and we speed off in the direction of Ward K.

When we finally reach the edge of the Blacklands, both guys are on guard. Their gazes drift toward the ominous black mist rising from the earth and hovering far above the top canopy of the trees, blending into the already black sky.

“It’s really not that bad,” I assure them.

They both stare at me in disbelief. I can’t help but grin.

“I lasted in there for three years, and you two babies are scared to walk inside for three hours?”

To be fair, it’ll be a longer trek than that, but I don’t share that tidbit. They’re rattled enough as it is. From what I recall Jim telling me, it’s at least a seven-hour walk from here to the clearing. And then who knows how long it’ll take to traverse from the clearing to the Blacklands’ end.

Brow creased, Xavier crouches on the ground to run a quick inventory of his heavy pack, checking the supplies.

I frown at him. “Are you coming with us?”

“Us?” His gaze shifts to Cross. “You haven’t told her?”

All the breath leaves my body.

As my heart flies to my throat, I spin around to Cross.

“No.”

“I have to.” His voice is rough. Defeated.

I stalk toward him and grab the front of his shirt in my fist. “You are not staying behind. You said you were coming with me.”

“Coming with youhere.Making sure you made it in one piece. But I can’t go with you to the Uprising.”

“Cross, please. No.”

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