Page 105 of Poisoned Promise
“I’m not so sure,” Dove replies, her gaze down. “I… I spent years living a lie.”
“We all did,” I reply softly, staring at her as my heart aches. “We all existed in false truths for fifteen years. Each one was different, sure, but that doesn’t change the fact that we were all fooled.”
Dove lifts her gaze from her place and glances at me, her eyes slightly softer than they were before. “Doesn’t that just make us all fools?”
“Sure,” I agree. “But we know the truth now.” My breath catches in my throat. “The whole truth.”
“As for Alex…” Bree leans against the counter as she eats. “I have my people out combing the city for him. We’ll find him.”
“No, you won’t,” Dove replies. “I taught him far too well for that.”
“Taught him?” Bree asks.
“I made a game of it but I was always scared that we would be found so I taught him how to hide. Where was safe. How to survive off the radar. I taught him well and I’m praying it’s worked but I’m…” She lowers her fork and brings her fingers to her lips as if trying to contain herself. “I’m terrified that something’s happened. If he panicked and got hurt or killed. If he’s been found by someone else. I taught him but he’s only fourteen. He’s just a baby.”
Her voice pitches as she talks and before I can fully think it through, I slide off my stool and wrap both my arms around her in a tight hug. Despite the flicker of tension that rolls through her, she sags into my hold and allows it.
“I haven’t known Alex as long as you have but from what I’ve seen? He’s resourceful. That fire for starters. Sure, it got out of hand but the intention was clever. And he’s been raised by you, the smartest person I know.”
Dove nods slightly against my shoulder, quivering in my arms so I hold her tighter. “I’m so scared,” she whispers. “It feels like something’s trying to claw out of my chest and I can’t stop it because I know Caterina’s on a rampage now and if she stumbles across him?—.”
“Listen.” Bree cuts in calmly. “I want you to go and see my doctor. He wanted to know when you were awake. Take the food, eat and get treated. Then we can sit down and you can tell me themost effective use of my people in helping find your baby. How does that sound?”
Dove nods again and slowly pulls out of my embrace, then she picks up her plate but before she can carry it, Toph surges forward and takes it from her.
“Let me,” he says. “Doc is just down the hall.”
“Do you want me to come?” As much as I ache to be by her side, until we talk things through, there’s no way I can force my presence on her.
Dove shakes her head but there’s warmth in her glance when she looks at me. “I’ll be fine.”
I watch her leave, staring at the doorway until Bree pats my arms.
“So,” she says brightly. “What’s your plan now? After all, you’re not officially at war with the most powerful woman in the city.”
31
DOVE
Dehydration, slight malnutrition, internal bruising, internal bleeding that’s not concerning, as well as countless physical lacerations, contusions and two broken toes.
The doctor’s words swirl around my mind later that night as I lie in a bed that feels and smells unfamiliar, in an estate that holds nothing but silence for me.
The moment he told me I needed to rest, I knew it was impossible.
Alex is out there somewhere, lost in the city with Caterina closing in around him and I know if she gets her claws in him, I’ll never be free from torment.
I have to find him first.
I have to.
Those thoughts send me into turbulent dreams I can’t escape due to my exhaustion, but waking up over a day later with an incredible thirst, it’s the first time I’ve felt rested since this entire ordeal began.
Rising and dressing quickly in clothes Bree had tailored for me, I slip out of my bedroom to find an assigned guard resting against the wall.
He greets me with a smile and quickly tells me where Felix is after assuring me that he’s just here to assist me, not watch me.
I’m not sure I believe him but he does fall back and then melt away when I walk into Felix’s room, and stop dead in my tracks.
