Page 94 of The Divide that Binds Us

Mildred relaxes back into her chair and crosses her thick calves.“Do not fret; relief is within us for your safety.You did your best!Are you still going to Wave Riding Season?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Perfect.”Her taut skin stretches over her high cheekbones, narrowing her eyes from her odd smile.“I won’t be able to go, but everyone will be in place.Isn’t that right, Roon?”

Logan’s eyes dart around until he turns to Roon speed walking toward them, elegantly brushing a strand of his thinned hair from his forehead.Thaddeus chuckles gruffly under his breath.

“Yes, ma’am.All parties are in place,” Roon chirps.

“And Topaz Island?”Mildred asks.

“Superb.Since we have confirmation of the eggs, I will send someone to retrieve them from Sophie at once,” Roon replies, writing notes in his blue spiral notebook he carries everywhere.His two loose ringlets get in his face again, so he wildly whips his head and blinks hard.“Also, what should we do about the Elite we captured?He hurt poor Thad over here.”

“I’m fine!Practically carved from stone,” Thaddeus grumbles.

“Not with that foul gash on your arm,” Roon mutters with a petty eyeroll.

“Enough.”Mildred waves dismissively.“He’ll be a gift to Ultima, eventually.”

“Why not have him join us?”Logan asks with a half shrug.“If we talk to him, maybe he’ll understand.”

His curiosity is genuine, matching the innocence in his voice.It’s possible to keep the member for herself, but Mildred isn’t particularly interested in having another Spirit User amongst her community.They’re problematic to deal with.Like Fae.

Roon rolls his beady eyes again.“I dunno if telling some rando to join our group to kill people to distract them from us ALSO killing dragons so we can juice up 60,000 plus treelings to create a bridge to Naven would fly with someone like him,” he says in a single breath.

Logan frowns.

When Roon puts it like that, it sounds incredibly absurd, yet it’s their reality.Mildred serves her community every day, even if she has to make tough decisions for them so they can live the life they deserve.

“I’m ill with the thought of our safety.He just wouldn’t be the right fit for us,” Mildred replies honestly.“I don’t want to risk anyone getting hurt again.I care about everyone.”

All of them.I will bring the dead with us and bring them all back.Nancy.Dad.Everyone.

Roon awkwardly smiles, casting shadows across his face from the cheddar cheese texture of his skin.“So, is it gonna happen?”

“Well, with you three—” Mildred sweepingly gestures across the three of them as they smile bashfully and share a look.“—it will happen sooner than planned.My soul appreciates you.”

Thaddeus sheepishly rubs his bald head before bringing Logan and Roon in for a massive side hug with his arms.

“I’m not scared of what’s to come, so bring it!”he shouts.Roon winces and whines before pushing himself out of the hug and fixing his curly bun.Logan stays locked in Thaddeus’s embrace, rolling his eyes with a smirk.

Roon was deep in debt on the verge of ending it all.Mildred found him on the roof before counseling him to come down.She put him through it, but with years of hard work, Roon worked off his debt with her gentle coaching.

“Well, it sounds like Roon has everything under control here.What should I do in the meantime, then?”Logan asks.

Mildred scratches her eyebrow.“Two things: Find Fae.Roon almost had her on Sapphire, but she’s probably on her way here since Wave Riding Season is coming.Follow up with Elite regarding your application.Craftiness will be your greatest asset, and I believe in you.”She looks at Thaddeus.“Thad, see to it that no one notices my absence at Remington’s; I’ll be up there shortly.”

Thaddeus finally releases Logan.“Yes, ma’am.”

She watches the three guys shuffling away together, all talking over each other with big grins.Somehow, the Superiors have failed them.Zeala has failed them.Society has failed them.

Mildred grabs an oillamp and red cloak from the back of her chair before heading upstairs to the tunnel labyrinth.Copper stones curving inward into a round ceiling encase the tunnels, veering in different directions.Wooden torches are built into the walls every five feet to guide the community of survivors of crime, pain, and loss.They walk with gratitude and relief.The tunnel ceiling showers dust as traffic roars above.Mildred manages a tired, inflated grin at the family she’s created.

She reaches a different train platform—the one that may have gone in the direction of Topaz Island judging from the worn signs.Walking the tracks has never been her favorite thing, but it’s the quickest way to get to the cooler.

The darkness envelopes Mildred as she turns on the oil lamp to guide her through the rusted tracks to avoid tripping.Up ahead, the cool blue glow of the touchpad on the walk-in freezer is visible.Mildred quickens her pace, eager to visit her new friend.

When she reaches the stainless steel, ten by ten-foot wide cooler, she sets the lamp down and adjusts the temperature with the touchpad.She unlocks the door and steps in to find the Elite member huddled in the corner with a layer of frost coating his clothes and skin.He shivers violently with a grimace.

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