Page 42 of Storm Caller

“I’ll go with him,” I say, causing every eye to turn my way. I nearly wilt at the penetrating look both leaders are giving me. “I’ll stay with him until you’re . . .”

I’m not really sure how to finish that sentence. Until she’s ready to haul me back to New Manhattan and deal with me? Trinity exposed me as a Keeper, but Rook thinks the general might be a Storm Caller. Will she believe that I’m one, too?

“Very well,” Summit says, eyeing me with a certain kind of interest. “You may go with him.”

“Thank you,” I say, and then the high commander and General Sol turn to leave, crossing the arena floor with purposeful strides. They stop to speak with Faroe before they exit the arena together. Their departure serves as a signal, as the cavern erupts into conversation while everyone tries to puzzle out what’s happening.

The medics pick up Rook and carry him to a different exit, while I walk between Sol’s Guards like a criminal, refusing to look back despite feeling the attention of the entire room on me.

I have the vague thought that Sol normally travels with six Guards, but today there are only four. Because Rook and I killed two of them, I realize with a sick swirl in my stomach. They came after us when we jumped from Amery’s roof, and then we cut the net. With everything going on, it hasn’t been at the forefront of my thoughts. Now all I can hear is the visceral crunch of their bodies hitting the pavement. They died trying to stop us, and Sol found us anyway.

We enter a hospital wing and make a few turns before Rook is brought into a room with a bed and a heart monitor. Observation windows line the hall, and I spot Fisher lying on a bed with his eyes closed. Calliope sits slumped in a chair at his side, and she glares at me as I pass.

“Give us a moment to deal with him,” one of the medics says, turning to me. “You can see him once we’ve assessed his injuries.”

“Sure,” I say while two Circle Guards take up positions at each end of the hall, ensuring there’s no way for me or Rook to escape. I’m not sure what authority General Sol has over Rook, but I understand that I still belong to her.

A scuffle behind the Guards reveals Navy and Justin, both demanding entry to check on their brothers.

The Guards hesitate, but Navy keeps talking until they relent. I have a hunch that she hasn’t heard the word “no” very often.

“You okay?” Navy asks when she sees me, and I shrug.

“I have no idea.” I study the pair, so like Rook. “Do you know what your brother was doing in the city?”

They shake their heads. “We knew where he went, but his mission was classified.” She gives me a sly look. “Of course, you aren’t beholden to the same rules.”

I snort as she not-so-subtly digs for information.

“Leave her alone, Nav,” Justin says and then addresses me. “Don’t tell her anything. If you want to get on our dad’s good side, you’ll keep whatever you know to yourself.”

“I truly don’t know anything,” I say softly as I watch Rook’s lifeless, pallid face.

After checking on Fisher, they’re both silent as they each take a chair across from the observation window, leaving an empty seat between them.

The medics work on Rook, but there’s nothing to be gained by standing here. I turn around and settle into the empty chair, tucking my knees up under my chin while I wait.

About an hour later, one of the medics opens Rook’s door and gestures to us. “You can come in. He’s still sleeping from the sedative we gave him, but he’ll be fine when he wakes up, if a little sore.”

I unfold from my position, wincing at the ache in my stiff limbs. Navy, Justin, and I enter the small room, where the only light comes from a lamp in the corner.

Navy drops into the chair beside Rook and takes his hand. “I have no idea what you were thinking,” she says. “I get that you wanted to show off for your new girlfriend, but you knew Dad was gonna wipe the floor with you.”

“He was just trying to protect me when he killed the Whisper,” I say. “It wasn’t even his fault.”

“Rook would rather be punished every day of his life than let someone he loves get hurt if he has the power to stop it,” Navy says.

“He doesn’t love—”

“He does,” Navy says, interrupting me. “My brother has never spoken about someone the way he spoke about you last night.”

“He lied to me,” I say. The words come out raw, like a confession. “He deceived me. I get it for the most part. I understand why he couldn’t share everything, but he was there when someone important to me died, and he didn’t tell me.”

It feels good to say it out loud. I don’t know if I’ll ever see these people again once Sol has her way with me, which offers me a kind of absolution. A moment to cleanse away this thing I’ve been carrying in my chest ever since I saw Rook in that blurry video of the night Raine was taken from my life.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “But he wouldn’t have done any of that without a reason. And he does care for you. Whatever happened between you, know that. I can see it.”

I nod, tears burning my eyes as I stare at Rook’s sleeping form. I care for him, too. More than care. I sigh and run a hand down my face.