Page 58 of The Divide that Binds Us

To avoid another angry call from Master Azul, I send a quick text that traffic is bad but I’m trying to make it back as soon as possible.Her response?“MAKE HASTE.”

The fare is hefty, but using my Elite card is useful since all my earnings live and breathe on that flimsy piece of plastic.

I exit the taxi with stinging eyes, mustering all the willpower I have to powerwalk toward the open cave, not even caring that I almost lose my footing on the slant path.

“Fae?”I shout in the gleaming crystalized space.“Fae, are you here?”

I wait a second, maybe longer in case she’s somewhere waking up and needs a moment.

“Fae!”

Just the hollow sound of wind passing through a dripping cave.

Like my inspection, I search the whole cave twice, burning through more time that Master Azul is likely waiting to discipline me.Rebecca calls me three times, and Azul calls seven.I accept my fate, but if I can do one last thing to help with this dragon killing nonsense, then it’s finding Fae.

That dragon was trying to tell me to come here, right?

Thoughts about the eggs start rotating through me.The dragon knows me somehow.It recognized me and Fae’s face.

She has to be here.Maybe she’s not.

I remember the Guard’s eagerness in providing Fae’s description after my first Topaz visit.I was leading them to her all along.Is Queen Sophie looking for her too?Or are her Guards working with Mildred?

Who do I trust?

“Fae!It’s me!Alice Reid!”

But there’s silence on the other end.She’s not here.She wouldn’t be here.

It’s just me.I’m all alone and in hot water.

Azul is waiting inthe middle of the lobby with crossed arms beside the security agents.She wears her Elite coat over a loose white blouse, and black dress pants.Her blond hair is pulled back into a high ponytail.Next to her is Rebecca, mimicking the same stance.Their glares have been waiting for me for who knows how long, but I know this is it.

I walk toward them, head held high but vibrating with anger.My eyes sting again from the tears that have been itching to break free.I’m tired.

Before I reach them, I manage to unclip my badge and remove my Elite jacket, holding them out Azul and Rebecca.They look at each other before turning back to me.

I swallow hard, but one tear escapes down my cheek.“I’ll go pack my things.”

“Ugh, so dramatic.”Rebecca rolls her eyes.

“Shut up!”I snap, dropping my badge and jacket.More tears escape.

Rebecca narrows those annoyingly large eyes at me.“Excuse m—”

“Just shut up!”Now that I’m no longer employed.I can finally unravel on this wench.“I’ve allowed you to look at me with disgust, call me names behind my back, and outright hate me for my Special Agent title because you have an inflated inferior complex!”

Master Azul steps forward.“Alice Reid, get ahold of your emotions, immediately.”

My chest heaves.I’m only vaguely aware of passing and peeking members watching, but I’ve burned through the last reserves of my sanity.

I step back and look down at my feet, trying to ground myself and not spin out of control.

“Neither of you know what it’s like celebrating your fourteenth birthday with your dad and losing him in the instance the candles are blown out.Neither of you know what it’s like to see a man you thought you trusted with your whole life betray you in the blink of an eye.”

My head is faint, looking down no longer helps, so I regain courage to face Azul and Rebecca’s stoic expressions.

“I’ve missed my dad for five years, and all you want from me is to be the damn dog who’s ready to bark.”

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