Page 98 of The Divide that Binds Us

“Wait—what?”I slide the touchscreen to view more, but another notification blocks my view.“What’s happening?”

Ding!“URGENT REQUEST: DISTRESS CALL RECEIVED FROM AN ELDERLY EMERALDIAN RE: ATTEMPTED HOME INVASION.ALL NEARBY MEMBERS PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY.”

My breathing halts in my throat.I rummage through my memories, trying to remember if we ever intervene in these situations.

No, we never respond to home invasions.Guards do.

Azul’s eyes meet mine, her mouth stiff and pinching the rest of her face.Our stares hold as her fingers drum the touchscreen from texting.I tightly grip my phone, but my clammy hands make it slippery.

“Billie claimed the distress call on Emerald Island,” she says.“It must be serious.”

I open and close my mouth, trying to dispel the dryness and swallow properly.Each breath takes more effort until I’m trembling, so I sit down.Azul is on the phone with Sophie briefly before switching her call to Brooke, assigning her to the case on Topaz.

Her Trace Mark is beautiful with a steady flash; flower silhouettes crowd around in one continuous glowing tattoo with an extension of what looks like lurking, lumpy shadows behind them.The crackly black veins that surround her Trace Mark gives off the creepy, mysterious mood she’s emitting right now.

“Secure the area immediately.I don’t care if you make people’s ears bleed.I will be there shortly.”Azul hangs up, looking at me.“Sophie is safe, but it seems her Guards are after those eggs.When I get back, we’re going to have a long chat about your attitude.”

I cross my arms, mainly to hide my shivering.“But you’re the one redirecting and not answering my question about what you know.”

“No.This is not how this relationship operates.Receiving information from me is a privilege.We’re talking about an accusation against a government official; one with a lot of influence and closely associated with a monarch for that matter.You will do as I say, or you won’t be involved anymore.Do I make myself clear?”

My eyes burn, so I turn away and focus on Evangeline’s breathing, slow and steady.“If she and Nicholas die, then I’ll resign and take on Mildred myself.”

“I wonder how far that’ll get ya.Just stay put,” Azul mutters, ducking out of the curtained room with harsh retreating heel clicks.

My leg resumes bouncing as I watch the monitors and try to tune out someone vomiting in the next room.Every passing second I’m here, Nicholas is in more danger.We’ve been playing it too safe for too long.I just need to do something.I need to be free.

I’m well on my way to a mental spiral before a doctor with tiny glasses pokes his head in.

“Oh!Did Azul leave already?”he asks.“I thought I heard her.”

“Yup.”

“Okay, I’ll just shoot her an email then.”The doctor grabs Evangeline’s cart and flips through a few sheets before writing a note and clipping it back to her bed and observing the monitor.

I shift in my seat, sweat beading on my forehead.“Wh-what’s going on?Is everything okay with Evangeline?”

“She’s doing great!”He smiles but it disappears just as fast when he meets my scowl.“Well, this isn’t good, but all her vitals are stable.We just can’t crack the mysterious coma.”

“So, what’s the problem then?Why are you emailing Azul?”

“Um...we may need to consider transferring her to the hospital for long term care.We simply cannot do anything else for Evangeline here.”

My jaw drops as the doctor shrugs and strolls out.Even if Evangeline’s okay, I don’t want them to relocate her.It doesn’t sit well that she’s fine but still asleep.None of this is okay, and I’m tired of people treating every damn thing so casually.I can’t lose her.I can’t lose any of them.I just can’t.

I grab Evangeline’s hand and squeeze.It’s warm with a chilling aftertouch.

Screw waiting.

I take the bus to Remington’s estate, hot and queasy.My anger can only fuel me for so long, but anxiety creeps onto my shoulders to remind me no matter what I try to do, it’ll never be enough to save this world.

Guards are posted along the walkway, but none of them say anything as I march my way along the stone pathway to the door, wondering if I need to be on official business.

Before I reach the Guards guarding the doors, someone emerges in a bright pink head-to-toe suit with lily patterns printed while sporting yellow eyeliner.

“Hi there, I’m Roon.I saw you on the cameras—so uh, I’m afraid you can’t go inside.King Remington is ill.”

I blink and step away from how fast he vomited everything.

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