Page 109 of Coerced

“I meant,” Tara clarified, “that maybe he can’t stand to talk about it. Maybe it hurts too much or brings back memories he’s trying to forget.”

“He was Reilly’s slave for months,” I reminded her. “Plus, he’s still carrying some taint. Give him time to heal first.”

“Why are you guys onhisside?” Her mouth pulled into a pout and her brown eyes sparked with anger. “You’re supposed to bemyfriends.”

“Don’t be a baby, Mads!” Tara slung an arm around Maddy’s neck. “Of course we’re your friends. But you need to be realistic and aware of his issues, too, and not just your own.”

“I agree with you that she was an afterthought at the trial, though,” I said. “All the legists wanted to focus on was who Reilly was working for and what the ultimate goal was. The higher-up wardens used her death as another charge against Reilly, but that was about it.”

“She deserved better.” Maddy snuffled into Tara’s shoulder. “She may have killed herself, but it was Reilly’s fault she did, and I won’t forget that. When he’s out of jail, he’d better watch out!”

“You’ll have beat a line of other people to him,” Tara’s voice was dry. “Listen, when we get out of here, stop badgering Travis. We’ll look into it, get our wardens to ask some questions. Okay?”

“Better yet, I’ll get Kerry to talk tohiswarden.” I grinned. “Hank Bishop has a formidable reputation and tons of contacts. He’ll get some answers for sure.”

“All right.” Maddy looped her arm around my waist and pulled me into a group hug. “I’m just so frustrated that no one seems to care about Aspen except as a statistic!”

“Well,wecare.” Tara smiled at me over Maddy’s head. “We’ll find out the truth one way or another.”

“Yes,” I said. “Now how about we see if the boys left us anything to eat?”

We exited the bathroom together, but Tara put a hand on my arm and held me back. Waiting until Maddy joined the others at the work table, she leaned close and spoke in a whisper.

“Remember what Kerry and Rome told John around the campfire the other night? That nephs rarely used guns because they don’t always work on the Diabolical?”

“Yeah.” I shrugged. “So?”

“So, there aren’t any hunting stores or shooting ranges or anything like that at the Sanctuary. And if warriors don’t use them, I doubt they’re stocked in the Armory. Even if they are, the Master at Arms isn’t going to let a 16-year-old guide sign one out, complete with ammo, for no reason.”

I sucked in a sharp breath as the penny dropped.

“So where did Aspen get a gun?” My wide eyes met Tara’s.

“I don’t know, but I think we need to find out.”

29. Sir Serious

Rome

After lunch, Mira was ready to test out the bow she’d repaired. Kerry said we’d passed an overgrown field on our way back from the store and suggested it would probably be as good a place as any. Then he surprised me by asking if I’d escort her.

When I met his eyes, I understood.

So I agreed with a smile until she said she wanted to walk. Frowning, I reminded her that it was two or three miles away.

“If you’re worried about time,” she said, “we can jog it, but I need to stretch my legs.”

Hmm. Stretch her legs. That’s a lot of leg to stretch.

I sighed, for more reasons than one, and drew hard on my power to absorb more of the pain.

“Time isn’t the issue,” I said. “We’re stuck here until we get a lead to where our friends were taken. But you were just freed from a minor devil who didn’t exactly take care of you. Maybe you need to recuperate another day or two.”

I didn’t know what to make of her expression as she stared at me. A dozen emotions seemed to flit across her face before she looked away.

She doesn’t like someone being concerned for her.It makes her uncomfortable. How curious.

“I’ll be fine.” She shrugged into her coat.

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