Page 53 of Once a Villain
Joan folded her arms. Wherever the Lius were, they didn’t seem to be in London anymore. The whole world felt colder than it had an hour ago—when they’d had allies here, somewhere.
“Where are you taking us?” Aaron asked.
Tom blinked at him, still frowning.
“Well?” Aaron sounded impatient. His gray eyes shifted to Joan, and she realized that he was concerned about her. He didn’t think the nuts and fruit—and the bite of bread—had been enough to keep her grounded. He’d been counting on getting back to the Oliver mansion quickly.
She gave him a reassuring smile. She was okay. She closed her fingers into a fist—one of the other techniques he’d given her to ground herself. His eyes flicked down to her hand, but he didn’t seem any happier.
“Maybe I’ll drop you off at a guardhouse,” Tom said. “I have a feeling you’d be worth something to the Court.”
“My mother told us you weren’t a snitch,” Aaron said.
“She’s not your mother.”
Wasthere a guardhouse nearby? Ahead of them, on the water, a thin walking bridge crossed the river—one that hadn’t existed in the previous timeline. Joan guessed it was right about where the Rotherhithe Tunnel was supposed to be.
“Take those glasses off,” Tom ordered Nick. “And lose that stupid hairstyle.”
Nick’s eyebrows went up, but he obeyed, pocketing the glasses and running a hand through his thick hair.
Tom stroked Sylvie’s head. She’d fallen asleep in her little bed on the side table. Now she jerked awake, lifting her head tomrra surprised query. She settled again under his touch.
“You could be his twin,” Tom said to Nick. “You could behimexcept for the lack of scars....”
“Maybe theyaretwins,” Aaron said. “There’s your explanation.”
“Twins with the same name?”
“Our parents weren’t very creative,” Nick said.
Jamie ran a hand over his face. “Listen...”
“You came from another timeline,” Tom said abruptly. He grunted when they all stared at him. “Well, come on. That’s just obvious.”
“Is it?” Joan said a little weakly. It wouldn’t have been obvious to her in the same situation.
“Aaron and Nick are the same age as when I last saw them, so they’re not past or future versions of themselves,” Tom said. “Yet they’ve both changed—Nick most of all. I can only conclude that they’re the same people, born and raised in different circumstances. Same nature, different nurture.”
“Well, if you’ve already worked it out... ,” Aaron said.
Tom’s jaw tightened. “That doesn’t tell me why you’re here. How did you get here? What are your intentions? Are you spies for Eleanor? Did she put you here to infiltrate the wolf operation?” Standing at the door, he was a looming presence. Joan was very aware again that there was no way to get off this boat without getting past him.
“We’re not spies,” Joan said.
Tom’s eyes were sharp as knives. He wasn’t a Griffith, but Joan had the feeling he was good at sifting truth from lies.
Through the window beyond him, there was the bridge and then a long, empty stretch of water. Joan had seen London in more times and timelines than she’d ever dreamed. The Thames had been the one unifying feature. Buildings and bridges came and went, but the river was always here.
Joan glanced at Jamie, who twisted his mouth in response. Tom had already figured it out, and they knew it. Any attempt to lie to him would only make him more suspicious, more distrustful.
“We don’t have bad intentions,” she said. “You’re right, wearefrom a different timeline.”
Tom took a sharp breath. It might have been his own suggestion, but he apparently hadn’t expected them to confirm it.
“There was a timeline before this one,” Joan told Tom. The words were familiar in her mouth—she’d said this beforeto Aaron, to Nick. “In our timeline, humans didn’t live in fear. We weren’t forced to wear pendants or obey curfews. We didn’t have to bend the neck to any monster who demanded it.”
Tom was silent, his face closed. Joan had no idea if he believed her. No idea what he was thinking.
