Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
“You sure you want to do it like this?” Nate asks once we’re outside the entrance to Del Morts. It takes thirty minutes to get through the tunnels by cart.
“Yes. I can’t imagine ever saying goodbye.”
Nate doesn’t answer, and I keep my eyes fixed on the thick mountains in the distance.
“Jessica, will she be here?”
Nate looks down at me as if pondering how to answer. “You’ll know when she’s here, but who she is, is not who she seems.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” I laugh, but it doesn’t feel happy.
“You’re still not to know each other, Lulu Bell. You’ll be strangers on the outside looking in. One more thing before they get here,” Nate says, staring off into the distance. I ignore his warning about Jessica. That is the first thing we learned, and we’ll both abide by it.
Nate’s about three times my size, so looking up at him requires my neck being bent. “What is it?”
His eyes search mine, and although he’s been a great commander-in-chief, teaching me so many things through the years, I can see it in him now. The soft side he has. I wonder if it has always been there or whether having a wife and children did that to him. I make a mental note to not allow myself the luxury of creating something so fragile.
“The final show will be in four nights from now. He will be there. We need you to come back for that.”
The muscles in my body all coil into knots. “And what does he know of where I’ve been for the past four years?”
He pauses a moment. “With Archer Thorn. He will think that Archer allowed you to maintain a normal life, going back and forth between Spain, Perdita, and Thornhill.”
There’ve been minimal times in my life where I’ve been shocked, since my whole life has been a reel of shocking moments, but this one catches me. “How?” His words from earlier come back to me. “You’re friends with Archer?”
A small shake of his head. “No, not me directly, but Bishop. Priest won’t know yet, so we’re going to maximize on that until he takes the gavel, because once he does?” Nate finally turns back to me. His smile isn’t one I’m used to. “He’ll be in Bishop’s place and that is not only the head of the EKC, but another, where you won’t know until your Hayes has the gavel.”
I swallow past the lump forming in my throat. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Fuck.” Nate pulls at his hair, distracting me a moment from the sound of tires crushing gravel. “I’m sorry, Luna.” His hand dips beneath his jacket, pulling out a black envelope.
“What is this?” My eyes dry out when I don’t blink, my fingers wrapping around the envelope.
“That is your life insurance. He signed it with more knowledge than you did. We didn’t lie to him, you’re both needed at the table, but we didn’t tell him explicitly why we needed you to sign that.” I’ve already torn it open.
The City of New York
Office of the Clerk
Certificate of Marriage Registration.
This is to certify that Luna Nox Rebellis, new surname Hayes
And Priest D’Mon Hayes
Were Married.
His words die out. “How?”
I turn to him, folding the paper back up and shoving it into the envelope. “And fucking why?” I’ve never been angry before, but furious doesn’t even cover the rage I feel.
“Luna!” Nate’s back in front of me, the car pulling to a stop behind him. His hands are on my cheek. “From this day onwards, all that I’ve trained you in needs to come into play. Are you ready?”
Pretty sure I told him I wasn’t.
The wind whips me across the face, slapping the rage I felt moments before away. “I’m ready.” I turn in time to see Mom’s SUV through the dust of gravel.
“Luna?” Nate calls out once more. With one last glance, I try not to look at the ancient archway that leads to the very place I’ve been for four years. “When you start, you go all in.”
I turn back, swallowing my nerves. “You didn’t train me any other way.”
My mom’s wide eyes are on mine when I slip into the passenger seat. “Sorry the Papas couldn’t be here. I flew up their ass about it, but because it was last minute notice, they probably wouldn’t have been able to make it in time anyway.” She drives us forward. I fight with myself to not look back. To watch the one place I have called home disappear out of my view. Truthfully, Del Morts wasn’t as it seemed. I’d silently prayed to get out.
“That’s okay,” I say, tossing my duffel bag into the back. “I’ll see them when they get home.”
Mom turns to face me, lifting her sunglasses from her eyes. In any light, Mom’s eyes are unique, but even more so when she’s sitting right in front of a burning sunset.