Page 6 of Elas

I sit up straighter, eying him warily. “Don’t ignore your instincts, Ronan. If it feels like something is wrong, wait until your next rotation.”

“And give him another three days to decide he’s better off without me? You didn’t see the way he looked at me when I left him, Elas. He was ready to run the moment I told him I couldn’t stay.”

“He should be more grateful,” I say, and Ronan’s brows snap together as I scoff. “Oh, don’t give me that look. Heshould. You risked everything to get him out of that prison. The least he could do is not be a brat about it.”

Ronan jumps from his chair and swats the water bottle from my hands. “Watch how you speak about him.”

My smile stretches at his outburst. “Not committed, huh? Relax, I’m not insulting Cameron—“

“Aren’t you?” he demands, leaning closer and flashing his fangs.

“For fuck’s sake, Ronan, stop with the melodramatics and sit down.” He snarls at me for another few seconds before he storms over and drops back into his chair, arms crossed. “Sometimes when I look at you, I still see that scrawny ass teenager… especially when you’re throwing a fit like this.”

He lifts his middle finger, and I bark out a laugh. His lips twitch, fighting his grin, as he relaxes again. “A gut feeling isn’t a valid reason to abandon him at that house, Elas. Not as far as he’s concerned. There are deep-rooted trust issues I can’t even begin to understand yet. If I wait any longer, he’ll be gone.”

“When are you leaving?”

“Shortly after lunch.”

“Do you need any help?”

He shakes his head before I’m finished speaking. “No. I don’t want you involved any more than you already are. Plausible deniability, and all that.”

Throughout our long lives, there has been very little we haven’t tackled as a team. “I don’t like you doing this alone.”

His smile turns into a soft one he doesn’t allow many people to see. “You’re going to have to let me go, Elas.”

It hits me in that moment—reality crashing into me with the force of a tidal wave.

If everything works out with Cameron, my dearest, oldest friend will leave. He’ll have the love he’s always deserved, and I’ll be here.

Alone.

For the first time, his road will lead somewhere I cannot follow.

Thick emotion builds in my throat as I force a swallow, and we stand at the same time. He pulls me into a tight hug, thumping his hand on my back. “Promise me you’ll be careful, brother,” I murmur, and he nods, squeezing me once more before releasing me.

“I’ve always been the careful one,” he says with a soft laugh. “And if I’m not here, you’ll have to find someone to keep you in line.”

A forced smile tugs on my face as I follow him to the door. “Yeah, good luck with that.” He flashes me one last grin before walking away, and I close my door with a heavy heart.

It feels too much like goodbye.

August

“How’sthelegfeeling,Janice?” Narrowed eyes glance up at me from her spot on the ground, picking at the blackened bread and dried-out chicken we were served for dinner. They’re definitely feeding us whatever food the cooks screwed up for the day. Yesterday’s peas were suspiciously soft, and today’s meal is hard enough to worry about cracking teeth.

It isn’t exactly the best cuisine, but at least we’re getting fed.

“It would feel a hell of a lot better if I was sleeping somewhere other than on a concrete floor,” she mutters, allowing me to roll up her pants and examine her swollen ankle. Five days ago, she got pushed to the ground during the escape attempt and ended up with a sprained ankle. Nothing’s broken, though, so she’s lucky.

“Well, while I can’t do anything about that, I have good news. Your leg is going to be just fine. Stay off it for a few more days so you don’t irritate it further, and it’ll beback to normal in no time.” I push her pant leg down and pat her knee with a smile.

“It’s not like I can go anywhere,” she mutters.

“Well, silver linings. You aren’t missing out on anything by taking it easy.”

“August.”

---