Page 124 of The Divide that Binds Us

“What about you though?”Rio presses.

“Mildred...stole me from my family when I was young because she heard about my gift and wanted to use me to help her ‘find’ dragons.Sometimes she uses her grunt, Thaddeus as help to...persuade people—including me.I helped her until I realized that finding them meant hunting them.I waited until I found my chance to escape.That’s why all those Guards appeared in the forest; she’s been looking for me ever since I left.”

I ignore the artic chill in my spine.Thaddeus must be the one Nicholas and I met.

Fae continues, “The warehouse here is where she stores the dragons she steals.She’s falsifying ownership records that grant her permission to take them from families.There’s also a schedule for hunting and killing, but her grand act will be to slaughter the ones kept in the warehouse at once, which would send the world into...death on overdrive.”

Rio finishes his food first.“Naven is a promised, alternate world of eternal bliss and happiness.No wonder she wants to go there.That’s probably what she’s promised all those people who had hard lives.”

Fae points to him.“Bingo.”

The severity of this crime could land her in jail for life.No way is she acting alone.I bet King Evan is helping.If she promised him a good life for his people in a world he can start from scratch on, by all means, help the thoughtless woman and store dragons here.

“So, when the Guards attacked Queen Sophie, that must’ve been Mildred.But why?”Rio asks, looking at us.Fae shakes her head and shrugs.I pick apart a burrito and only eat the ground beef because the tortilla is also stale, and the cheese is hard and cold.

“I found three dragon eggs in a cave on her island,” I explain.Fae’s eyes perk up when I flicker my gaze to her.“I left them in her care.My guess is Mildred found out and wanted the eggs for her creepy slaughter count.”

Rio’s jaw tenses.He clenches his fists and looks away.

“Dammit,” he grunts.“She’s probably behind Lynn getting burned then.”

“I’ve been looking for those eggs,” Fae says, grabbing my attention again.“Poppy was, too, do you think Sophie can keep an eye on them for a bit longer?”

“I would imagine that’s her intention,” I reply, accidentally spitting out food.I grab a bristly, brown napkin and wipe the bits off my covers.

If what Fae is saying adds up, then maybe Mildred wants another Spirit User with visions like Wren who could help her see how this madness will end.

“Dare I ask, is King Evan in on this?”I look at Rio, but Fae nods.

Ah, so King Evan IS involved.That rat bastard.

A slight frown tugs at one corner of her mouth.Her sapphire necklace doesn’t gleam as much in the dull lighting of the drafty room.I have so many questions about that thing.

“If it isn’t obvious yet, King Remington has no clue.Mildred literally lives a double life.She’s able to feed everyone below because of her wealth as Remington’s advisor or whatever she calls herself,” Fae mentions.She crumples up her food wrappers and tosses it in the bin by the door.“We should plan our attack.”

Rio slumps against the headboard of Fae’s bed and yawns.I check my phone to see the battery is in the yellow and will surely die.A few texts from Billie come through that I didn’t notice before.Garnet is calming down with Elite’s help, another text mentions Guards arriving at Elite in search of me because of the ankle monitor, and lastly, Evangeline is still stable despite the most recent death.Thank goodness.I can’t risk losing her from this.

Tears well up to the edges of my lids that I quickly wipe while no one is paying attention.Fae is going over the plan but I constantly tune her out just so I can stare at the text from Billie.Rio looks at me which causes Fae to look too.

“Are you even listening?”she asks, crossing her arms.“This is important!”

I smile and put the phone away.“Sorry.Go over it again.”

Iwake up groggy anddetached from my body.My hair is a tangled mess and there’s drool on the side of my face.Fae and Rio are still soundly sleeping, but the room light is still on.Something about that is strange.

WAIT—we fell asleep!

I chuck a pillow at Rio, who’s lying on the floor with his mouth hanging open.It hits him right in the face.He flicks it off and slowly sits up, visibly annoyed and disoriented.

“What time is it?”I whisper loudly.Judging by the lack of daylight from the window, it’s definitely not the next morning, yet.

He rubs his face slowly and yawns.It’s clear he finally processes the question when his expression goes bug-eyed.

“Th-the warehouse!”he sputters, getting to his feet.I toss the covers off and dash out of the room with him.The sudden movement sends a dizzying rush through my head.I stumble around the hall with heavy legs.Rio tosses my shoes to me while he’s hopping around, trying to put on his.

I’m surprised we’re moving this well.My stomach hurts and I blame those tacos and burrito.

At least I feel refreshed from the tea and nap, but still slightly sore.

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