Page 31 of Ashes

But before he can finish, Mack’s cell pings him a notification. The delicate sound seems loud out here in the open. Mack takes his phone from his pocket and looks at it.Can’t email tests. On way back. Will call when I’m at the barrier. Nico.

As he reads it, Luther’s face darkens.

“You think it’s a ploy to stop us from realizing that he’s running straight back to the League with my bloods?” I ask Mack.

Mack strokes his neat gray beard and exhales heavily. “Maybe, or maybe he really will come back here and try to maintain his cover.”

Cutting in, Kole says, “He said he wanted to prove we could trust him. So, maybe that’s exactly what he’s planning.”

“He knows we don’t trust him,” Tanner agrees, miraculously without any hint of ‘I told you so’ in his voice. “If he brings the tests back, he knows he’ll cement his place in the group.”

I shudder as a droplet of water from the fountain hits my neck and trickles down beneath my clothes. “So,” I say, looking at each of the guys, “what do we do now?”

15

LUTHER

While Mack and the others head inside to finish packing their bags, ready for a quick exit if things don’t go the way Mack hopes with Tom Haze, I stay in the kitchen with Nova.

She still has hold of my phone. She’s been staring at the photograph of her parents. I sit down opposite her. “I’ll send it to you.”

“Thank you,” she says, without looking up.

Interrupting her gaze, I reach for the phone. She frowns, but I dip my head to meet her eyes and say, “There’s a video message from Sarah if you’d like to see it.”

Nova hesitates. She shivers. I get up and close the doors; Mack has a thing about leaving them open, but the summer nights are drawing in and I’ve always preferred heat to chills.

She hasn’t said yes to viewing the video, but I show it to her anyway. She tilts her head as she watches, then wrinkles her nose. “You filmed this in your car?”

I nod.

“Where is she now? Where did you take her?”

“She’s in town with Rev.”

Nova raises her eyebrows.

“I wanted her close by but didn’t think it was a good idea to bring her here. She’s already in danger. My guess is that now Ragnor’s finished with her, he wants her out of the way so she can’t spill his secrets.”

“Bit late for that,” she says.

I gesture to her coffee. “Do you want that?”

She shakes her head. “I’ll make another. It’s cold.”

Gently, I touch my finger to the outside of the mug. The liquid heats almost instantly. “Not now.” I push it toward her.

“Thanks.” She smiles and adds two large spoonsful of sugar. As she drinks, her top lip hugs the rim of the cup.

For a moment, we sit in silence. She glances at the clock. Any minute now, if he really does intend to come back, Nico will return. “Luther?” Nova says quietly. “Sarah said Ragnor promised to tell her where Sam disappeared to…”

I’ve been waiting for this question.

“Did he keep his promise?”

“No. He didn’t.” I don’t choose my words carefully; at this stage, I’m pretty sure all Nova wants is the truth. “He disconnected his number.”

“But she said she knew where he was?”

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