Page 247 of Silver Elite

Her shock is palpable.“Well. Look at that. You made it through the Blacklands. I’m impressed, Darlington.”

“Good. Now where is the network assistance I was promised?”

“Do you know your coordinates?”

“No,”I admit.

We had to leave all our tech behind. No source. No comms. We even left our Command weapons in the clearing, swapping them out for the ones in Jim’s supply chest.

“Project your location,”she says.

I focus on my surroundings and push the images through the path into her mind.

“Got it. I know where you are. We can’t land there. You see that hill on your left beyond the river?”

“Yes.”

“Climb it. There’s space up there for the helo to land.”

Excitement tickles my throat. This is actually happening.

“How long will you be?”I ask.

“Not long. We’re not far.”

I cut the link and address Xavier. “We need to climb that hill. Our pickup will meet us at the top.”

His dark eyes narrow. “Do they know I’m with you?”

I falter. “I…just realized I didn’t actually tell her you were coming with me.”

He rakes a hand through his hair, then glances behind us at the mist.

“Seriously?” I grin at him. “You want to go back in there? By yourself? You want to repeat that three-day nightmare hike?”

“I could make it,” he says with a shrug.

“Look, I won’t stop you if that’s what you want to do. I told you from the start that you didn’t have to come with me. You don’t need to be here.”

He curses under his breath. “That’s the problem. I do need to be here. I promised him I wouldn’t leave your side.”

“You promised him to get me to the Uprising. You don’t need to stay, Xavier. I have no idea what we’re going to find at their base.”

“Which is precisely why you need the backup.” His jaw clenches with determination. “He’d never forgive me if I let you walk in there by yourself.”

“You’re a good friend,” I tell him, walking over to touch his arm. “But I am officially releasing you from your promise to Cross.”

“Nobody but Cross releases me from my promise to Cross.” Sighing, he shoulders his pack. “Come on. Let’s go climb a stupid hill.”

I can tell he’s not budging, so I let out a sigh of my own and follow him.

It doesn’t take us long to ascend the slope. At the top, we find a flat expanse with more lush grass, a green carpet that stretches out for hundreds of yards.

“Now what?” No sooner does he speak than the distant thrum of rotor blades pierces the stillness of the valley.

We tip our heads toward the sky and the sleek gray helo powering through the air toward us. My heart beats faster the closer it gets. I can’t tell who’s flying it, but the open side door reveals two shadowy figures sitting inside.

The helo banks on its approach and I catch a glimpse of the copilot. Looks to be a woman with auburn hair. A white shirt. Long ponytail.

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