Page 19 of Ashes

“I’m not sure what I did,” Mack says, still looking at the TV. “But at the very least, it seems I bought us some time.”

“We should still leave.” I mute the TV and look at Kole for his agreement. “Right? He just said that if he’s not satisfied, he’ll take Nova. So, we get her out of here. Mack, you and Luther can talk to Tom alone. Right?”

Mack is rubbing his beard, lost in thought. “I don’t know…”

“You don’t know?” My temples are throbbing. Since the jump, I’ve been on the verge of a migraine. I can feel it lingering in the darkness of my mind. The room shifts and splinters momentarily into a kaleidoscope of images. Then it shifts back. I shake my head. “You can’t possibly think it’s a good idea for her to stay here?”

“If Nova’s here, she can tell her side of the story. Plus, it’ll be a show of good faith.”

“Good faith?” Kole snarls.

“Do you think that’ll work?” Nico ventures into the conversation. “I mean, they’re SDB agents. Aren’t they more concerned with proof? Facts? Irrefutable evidence? Surely, Nova’s side of the story isn’t going to sway them very far from their current position?”

Nico’s tone of voice makes me want to strangle him. It’s the same tone he uses in his celebrity speeches and at his fancy galas and charity events… patronizing, sycophantic.

“Nico’s right…” Mack says, pacing over to the window. “We need more than words to convince them. We need—”

“The blood tests.” Kole cuts in. He crosses the room in two strides and grabs my arm. “The tests you took Nova for. Did you ever get the results?”

I shake my head. Why the fuck didn’t I think of it sooner? For the second time, the room splinters, then returns to normal. I reach into my pocket and take a migraine pill. Kole notices but says nothing. “The results, Tanner. Did you get them?”

“No,” I say. “But that could be it.” I turn to Mack. “If the tests show Nova’s got human DNA—”

“Make the call.” Mack nods.

* * *

Ingrid’s cell rings to voicemail six times before she finally answers. She’s speaking in a hushed voice. The background is noisy. She’s mid-shift. “Tanner? You shouldn’t be calling me.” She pauses. There’s the sound of a door clicking shut and the background noise dims. “I’ve seen the news. That girl you brought in here… she’s the country’s most wanted witch right now.”

“I know. That’s why I need the test results, Ingrid. Have you got them?”

She hesitates, then says, “Yes. I have them, but—”

“Can you send them to me?”

“Tanner…”

“What do they show?”

“Tanner… I’m sorry. I can’t get involved. I have to go.”

“Ingrid. No. Wait.” I raise my voice. “Ingrid—”

“I have a family. If the Bureau found out I was involved… I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Before I can say anything else, she’s gone. When I look at the others, they’re staring at me. “She won’t help. She’s too scared.” I flex my fingers at my sides. “It’s okay. I’ll go.”

“Absolutely not.” Nova grabs my elbow. “Tanner, the entire town knows you’re in here with me. If they do arrest me, won’t that make all of youaccessoriesor something?” She looks at Mack. His mouth twitches and he nods.

“She’s right, Tanner.”

“And it’s not just agents or cops… there are a lot of angry people out there.” Nova slides her hand down my arm and slots her fingers between mine. “They could hurt you.”

“I can look after myself, little star.” I press my forehead to hers. “We need this. If the tests show you have human DNA, the Bureau willhaveto back off. They’ll have to take the prophecy seriously.”

“And if the tests show I’m a witch?” She meets my eyes and searches them for a sign I understand what she’s saying. “Then they’ll have irrefutable evidence that I broke the treaty. If you’re caught and they get hold of that information, it’ll make things worse.” She shakes her head. “We should stick to Mack’s plan—hope my story will be enough.” She runs her hand over her chest. She’s wearing a tank top and a thick gray cardigan. Her tattoo camouflages the scar beneath it, but we all know it’s there. “I have plenty of scars I can show them to prove what Johnny was like.”

“I’ll go…” Nico’s voice is small and quiet, as if he’s talking to himself. As we all turn to look at him, leaning on the sideboard near the TV, he repeats, louder, “I’ll go.”

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