Page 125 of The Divide that Binds Us

The dull air scratches my throat when we hit the cold breeze outside.It’s after three in the morning, so we fell asleep for quite a bit.I use my phone’s remaining battery to GPS the location Fae pinned last night, but the problem is...

“We forgot to wake up Fae,” I croak, clearing my parched throat.“She said she’d communicate with the dragons to help us.Where’s Poppy?”

“No time for that.”Rio is speed walking out of the parking lot.He stops at the curb and surveys the muted street.Poppy’s whine startles me as she bumps her snout against my shoulder and tilts her head.I have no idea if she’ll understand anything I’m saying, so I give a thumbs-up and a gigantic smile.Maybe she’ll comprehend that Fae is okay if I look happy.

Rio glances back and furrows his brows.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Shut up.I’m trying to assure Poppy that Fae is fine,” I reply through gritted teeth.Poppy still looks confused.

“Can we ride her back to find the warehouse?”He comes over, staring hungrily and determinedly at Poppy.

“She’s still a baby, you idiot.We won’t fit.”I pause.“And your breath is awful.”My brain is fuzzy.I’m wary about executing this mission on an empty stomach.I need to use the bathroom too.

Rio makes a gesture mimicking flapping his arms like a bird.I swear, this whole time I could’ve went back upstairs and woke up Fae.

Poppy smiles and nods her head, jumping into the air, flapping her wings.Rio claps and jumps with a big smile.When he looks at me, his expression returns to all business and no nonsense.

“Okay, let’s go.We’re going to follow Poppy.I think she knows where to go.”

I rub my temples and groan.“How are we gonna—”

Rio grabs my hand, distorting my vision.My periphery blurs, but we’re airborne, zooming speedily through cars and buildings.Poppyisfast and whatever is teleporting me is keeping up with her.We make it all the way to a forest by the warehouse.My vision clears, so I examine my body and touch my face.

“What the hell?!”I gasp.

Rio shakes his head and sniffs a few times.“Don’t ask.Just accept that it’s cool.”His hair blows lightly in the wind, while my hair wiggles violently in my face until I force it into a ponytail.

Staring up at the twenty-story high tin building is intimidating except for the growing stains of cooper rust that infectiously spreads throughout the ashy black exterior.My head flops as far back as it can.The perimeter looks quiet, so maybe a late-night attack will work.Rio grabs my arm and lightning bolts us to the roof.

The experience is a whirlwind again.When we land, I balance my feet and brace myself to be blown off from the fierce gust of wind that overcomes everything this high in the sky.Rio wraps his arms around himself and huddles next to me.I search around for Poppy, but I suppose maybe it’s smart she stayed behind and didn’t fly straight into Mildred’s hands.

In one corner of the roof, I make note of the metal, rusty ladder leading down into the warehouse.Beneath my feet lies the seam where the panels of this roof opens.

Oh!So, it opens to lower dragons inside.This is what Fae is talking about.

Rio turns to me with that same intense resolve raging in his eyes.“Let’s scrap the old plan since Fae isn’t with us.I’ll find the dragons; see if you can find the lever or button to open this place up.”I quickly grab his arm to stop him from leaving.

“Thisis our plan now?We’re just gonna wing it?We have no idea what the format is inside, and Mildred probably has cameras and knows we’re here!”

He blinks.“Y-Yeah.Let’s just wing it.”He runs over to the edge and bolts off the roof.

For Superior’s sake, he’s a Commander!I thought maybe he’d know a thing or two about strategic planning, considering his organization captures so many of us.Allegedly.

I look around, but it’s proving difficult because I squint through the chilling wind that’s punching my face.There’s no way the button or lever—or whatever!—is out here.That wouldn’t make any sense.

The ladder rattles—someone’s coming.

My drumming heart sways my confidence.

“Mildred.”

Her salty blond hair whips in the fierce wind as she emerges from the ladder, wearing a black leather jumpsuit that highlights her muscular physique.

Her face turns into a kaleidoscope of emotions, emulated through the twitches in her lips and shifts in her eyebrows.The last emotion settles in a smile with her brows pointed downward.Mischief sparks in those dead eyes.

“A face I hardly expected, all things considering,” Mildred says, though some of her voice is carried away by the wind.“The public could benefit from some charm from you.”

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