The Gender End (The Gender Game #7)

I shrugged. “It was Henrik’s idea, and it was the best shot at getting to you quickly. Elena was thorough. She disabled the entire Patrian fleet and took their fuel before we got to them. There’s a chance she stored it somewhere else within Patrus, but we just didn’t have time to look.”

She nodded, and then pulled me close again. “I was so scared that I’d never get to see you again,” she breathed into my chest.

“I know,” I soothed her as she trembled slightly. I understood completely—I felt exactly the same way. That fear had been tearing me apart for the last few hours… even now, it scared me more than anything how much sheer luck had led us to find her so quickly. I mean, we’d used what information we’d had, and made some very educated guesses, but luck was definitely a factor. “So, what is the deal with this place?”

Violet exhaled as she gently extracted herself from my arms. “Viggo, there are people here. I’m not entirely sure what to make of them, but they’re people just like us. Those black stick things the knights are carrying give off an electrical charge, so watch out for that. CS Sage is ninety-two years old. And oh my God, look!”

She held up her arm, and I suddenly realized I had completely missed the fact that her cast was gone. I had been so glad to see her alive, I had only given her a cursory glance, making sure she was relatively unharmed, before trying to appraise the situation with the others in the room. I gently took her arm, giving her a questioning look, and she beamed, nodding.

“This can apparently repair broken bones in twenty-four hours.”

I softly prodded the plastic encasing her arm, realizing there was some sort of gelatinous fluid inside. “Fascinating. Do you think they will be willing to meet with us again, at a later date?”

Violet hesitated, and then gave a shrug. “I have no idea. They are very suspicious, and I get the feeling they really don’t want us to be here. But honestly… maybe? Devon—the Knight Commander—wants to keep us here so he can take apart the, uh, gyroship,” she gave me a pointed look, and I caught on quickly, “and reverse engineer it.”

“I see. But that means we might have something they would be willing to establish a trade for.”

“Weirdly, they also don’t know what guns are. They didn’t even react to mine until I had to fire it.” She quickly explained the circumstances, and I nodded, listening intently, trying to absorb all the new information. After she finished, I frowned.

“That is weird. Our history books said that guns were everywhere before the Fall. It seems odd that these people wouldn’t even have a record of it.”

“I agree, but they clearly don’t.” She paused, and then looked up at me, the color leaving her face so quickly I almost thought she was injured again. “Oh, Viggo. Jay! I can’t believe I didn’t ask earlier. Is he—”

“I don’t know,” I told her honestly, my own heart sinking at the thought of how we’d left the young man. “April was working on stabilizing him when I left. Tim stayed behind to be with him. Morgan also got Cody out of the water. He’s alive, but he was shaken up pretty badly. I don’t know how things will go with him if… when… we get back.” Now wasn’t the time to speculate about the young man, and after hearing the new horrors Desmond had put him through, I had no idea what to expect.

Violet exhaled, relief flickering over her face, and then tilted her head up at me. “What about the plant? I know you got the purge to work—but was anyone hurt or… or killed?”

“Gregory didn’t make it,” I replied reluctantly, and reached out to grab her hand as her face filled with sadness. “A few others. Alejandro’s hand got smashed. And Harry’s hurt. He got smashed by a door. I’m not sure if he’s going to make it. Ms. Dale is fine.”

Violet opened her mouth, and I interrupted her, knowing her next question before it slipped through her lips. “Owen is fine. Amber and Logan Vox flew the heloship here—they’re upstairs right now. I went ahead and asked them to transfer Solomon to our ship. What about the Matrians? Should we—”

“Offer them a ride home?” Violet considered it for a long moment. “We can, but I doubt they’d take it. Things, uh, weren’t exactly copacetic between the three of us.”

“Yeah. I was surprised they let you down here on your own.”

She grinned up at me, her face smug, and quickly explained what had transpired after Desmond had been thrown from the ship. I felt a stab of pride. “You handled that extremely well—which I would never doubt—but still, getting them to work with you in spite of their Matrian prejudice? Impressive.”

“Well, with you and Ms. Dale as mentors, how could I not succeed?” she said, and I felt my love for her deepen, expanding in my chest like a never-ending fountain. Leaning over, I pulled her to me and pressed my lips to hers—just a gentle brush.

“And the award for fiancée of the month goes to…” I breathed after I pulled back, and she laughed a little. “Shall we?”

She checked her watch again and nodded. “We really should,” she said.

I took her hand and led her to the door, throwing it open. The two guards outside had disappeared, and Raevyn and Devon were waiting patiently for us. I paused, but Violet was already moving back in the direction I’d come from earlier. She moved quickly, pulling me with her. I followed, trusting her instincts.

Raevyn and Devon sprang into motion behind us after a surprised pause, the sounds of our boots echoing heavily down the narrow hall. Violet led with confidence, and I realized she had memorized the path here. I had done the same thing—naturally—but I still couldn’t help but feel proud of her as she moved down the long hall.

The windowpane on the left side of the hall slowed us both as our heads, unbidden, swiveled to take in the view of the buildings inside. Without discussion, we came to a stop at almost the same time. I studied the construction, the lines and angles as well as the practicality, but most of all… the sheer size and scope of it all. It was so dense and compact—and I could make out people from far away—men and women both. It felt ridiculous to have discovered something this big and be leaving so soon, but our own troubles were still waiting for us.

“We really should be going,” Raevyn said softly, and I reluctantly started to turn. Violet lingered, her gray eyes darting around as if she were trying to memorize the place, and then turned as well.

She moved a few more feet down the hall, and then turned around the correct corner, moving down the tight passageway toward the door. I moved ahead of her and opened it for her, as Devon’s voice carried down the hall from behind us.

“How did you know that was the right passageway?” His voice was sharp, edged with suspicion and mistrust.

“I memorized the route when you guided me here,” Violet replied curtly as she stepped through. I held the door open for Devon, Raevyn, and MacGillus, watching them closely as they moved past me. “Just in case you tried anything.”

“Smart,” said Raevyn. “You’ll understand if we continue to escort you, of course.”