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  I snorted. “Must have been nice working for the queen.”

  Bryce sobered. “It was scary as hell. We didn’t know for sure that the virus wouldn’t kill us; that we couldn’t contract it and wouldn’t die on the way home. And we didn’t know that she wouldn’t decide to kill us for the knowledge we’d acquired.”

  It was true. Lillith was the kind of evil who felt no remorse for her actions. She only cared about what would propel her forward in the world and eradicating anything that stood in the way of her goals.

  PHOENIX DID A MUCH BETTER job the next time we stopped. Luckily, it was smooth, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen a better sight than the old depot. Dawn had shown her pretty face in a brilliant orange display. I’d read about the fireworks the ancients had and wondered if they looked as beautiful as that. I doubted it.

  Gray nudged me. “We’re home.”

  “Yeah.” I smiled. We were. As amazing as that was, it was bittersweet.

  Kaia stood and stretched. She walked toward me and extended her arms to take Ella. As soon as the small baby bundle was secure, she cooed and smiled, bouncing back and forth on her toes.

  “You are a vision. Yes, you are. Grandma loves you.”

  Grandma. It suited her.

  Gray helped me up and to the door. I was still so sore. Moving hurt. Everything hurt. And I was stiff from the ride.

  He helped me sit on the edge of the car and jumped down. “Can I carry you, Abs?”

  “I’m fine. I really need to walk. I’m so stiff.”

  He smiled. “That’s fine. I’ll carry Ella.”

  About that time, Kaia eased herself down beside me. “No interrupting Grandma time, Gray. That’s a big no-no.”

  He eased me down and made sure I was steady before reaching for Ella. “Just for a moment so you can get down.”

  His eyes twinkled as he smiled at her in victory.

  Kaia huffed but complied. She hopped down quickly and then promptly took Ella away from him again with a sweet smile. Cooing ensued.

  The depot was empty. Gray checked by sticking his head in the door. It was dark inside. No signs of recent activity.

  I wondered what would happen. If the Lesser villages would still trade goods. If we could get along and not destroy each other.

  Power was such a dangerous thing. We held it in our hands. What will we do with it?

  Julia and Phoenix met us on the platform. She looked worse than I’d ever seen her, dark circles beneath her tear-swollen eyes, red nose, and she just looked frail. “Phoenix and I will head to Kyan’s cabin.”

  It was hers, too, I wanted to say.

  She tucked her arms around herself and quickly walked away. We watched Phoenix follow her but didn’t say anything. What was there to say? As he trailed behind his friend, he kept trying to run his hands through his hair, frazzled in a way I hadn’t seen in his usually calm demeanor.

  Words of comfort held no weight. She wouldn’t be okay unless Kyan somehow made it home to her. There was no sense saying she’d be fine, or that he was on his way. We didn’t know that, not for sure. So we said nothing, just watched her lead Phoenix away.

  My feet carved a path to my cabin. It was so early no one had stirred. The smell of apple blossoms filled the air, welcoming us home. Tears filled my eyes, and I began to laugh.

  It was infectious.

  Gray and Kaia joined in.

  “We made it.” My laughter turned to tears. “We really made it. I didn’t think we’d get out of Vesuvius.”

  Gray hugged me tightly, rubbing his thumbs over the small of my back. I kissed him like it was the first and last time I’d do it. Tentative but urgent. I had to know it was real, and a kiss from Gray was better than pinching myself any day.

  He smiled, his kisses slowing down. “We’re home. And I don’t plan to ever be apart from you again.”

  Kaia cleared her throat, and instantly heat filled my cheeks. She’d have to get used to it. I loved him and wasn’t going to hide it from her or anyone else.

  Ella began snuffling and rooting. She was hungry. “Let’s get going before she wakes the entire village,” I said, laughing.

  We passed cabins, smoke rising from their chimneys, most of them still dark inside. Soon, everyone would be awake and in the orchards. The Greaters might not be there to oversee our work, but we still had plenty of it. We needed those apples. We needed to eat and to feed other Lessers.

  Nothing would go to waste; not if we could help it. I couldn’t imagine our village not banding together and working hard.

  Thick new blankets of bright green grass covered the ground, sprinkled with dandelions and little purple violets. The leaves on the trees fluttered in the wind. It was as if the land was welcoming us back home.

  When I saw my cabin, I almost cried again, but there’d been too many tears. And I was so happy, if my body had been in better shape, I’d have run and thrown myself on the porch and planted my lips on those worn planks.

  I imagined showing Ella all of its secrets: the floorboard that lifted in the bedroom and held all my special things, the place behind my headboard where I carved my initials. Lulu had somehow found it and had a fit.

  I wanted to show her the path between there and Kyan’s and the swing we’d tried to make in the woods nearby. My heart. It hurt. Ky should be here for this.

  But I couldn’t give up hope. Hope was all we had. We had a future. And I hoped Ky would be a huge part of it.

  Gray stepped up beside me and threaded his fingers through mine. “I love you, Abs.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He kissed me and then gently lifted me into his arms. Somehow, he maneuvered onto the porch and was able to jerk the door open without dropping me. Gray carried me over the threshold like I was his bride or something. I giggled and Kaia did, too.

  “I think you should make it official soon, Gray.” She teased.

  The smile on his face fell, and he lowered my feet to the floor. My stomach dropped. Does he not want me anymore?

  Gray turned to Kaia. “I plan to. As soon as Abby feels better.”

  Butterflies. They were excitedly fluttering in my stomach.

  He turned his attention to me, sweeping me up in another hug. It was tighter than the last, and when he pulled back, I could see tears shimmering in his eyes. “I didn’t know if we’d make it. I thought when they took you in Vesuvius that...”

  I hugged him tightly. “I know. I thought the same thing.”

  His ragged breaths slowly started calming.

  Kaia had taken Ella into the bedroom, giving us a moment of privacy.

  “I thought I’d lost you.” Gray admitted.

  “I know. I thought I’d lost you and Ella. I thought we were all dead, or might as well be.”

  He gently rested his forehead on mine and kissed my tear-stained cheeks. “No more. No more tears. We made it.”

  “We made it.” I echoed.

  We were only in the house for another moment until the door flew open behind us, startling us both. We jumped apart, ready to defend ourselves. It turns out we didn’t have to.

  Laney, blonde hair and sunshine, burst through the door with Evelyn trailing right behind.

  Tears streamed down Laney’s cheeks. I knew I’d agreed not to cry, but seeing her was so amazing I couldn’t stop myself. I hugged her tightly and she squeezed me, saying, “I didn’t know if you’d make it.”

  “Me either,” I admitted.

  Letting go, I moved to Evelyn. She smiled, looking from my flattened stomach to my face, covering her mouth with her wrinkled hands. “I’m too late.”

  I shook my head. “Never.”

  She walked toward me with arms stretched wide open. I almost collapsed into the woman. She felt like home.

  “Where is she?”

  Kaia emerged from the bedroom with Ella.

  “Oh, my goodness, Abby.” Evelyn reached out for Ella and cradled her gently.

  “How’d you know we were here?”
>
  Laney smiled at Kaia. “I heard the train whistle and went to investigate. I found that,” she said, motioning to Ebony’s basket. It had food and items for Ella inside.

  Kaia hadn’t dumped her comm. Instead, she’d clung to it in the hope Adam would contact her. He hadn’t. No one had said anything, but even Phoenix had been on edge. I’d been so focused on Ella’s birth and Kyan, I’d forgotten about Adam. Guilt was quick to settle in the pit of my stomach and make itself at home.

  Evelyn looked at me, holding Ella’s tiny hand. “I’m sorry I wasn’t with you. I promised you I would be, but I didn’t know. I can’t imagine... What did they do to you?”

  “It doesn’t matter. It’s over. They can’t hurt any of us again.”

  Kaia interrupted. “I’ll explain later. I promise you that, Evelyn. But Abby would appreciate a bath if you could help with the baby for a little while. I’ll help Abigail.”

  Gray cleared his throat, and after Laney squeezed the life out of his neck, he stepped back and smiled. “I’ll start a fire and get some water.” He immediately went to work. He fit there. It was like he’d been in Orchard his whole life. Or maybe it was more. Maybe he was meant to be with me. Maybe we’d be happy regardless of where we were, as long as we were together.

  Evelyn sat down in an old rocker and started learning all about Miss Ella.

  Laney looked over Evelyn’s shoulder and told Ella what a troublemaker I’d been growing up and the fun outfits that would be sewn for her.

  Gray brought the tub in and then went for water. A bath would be amazing. I felt bad about all the fuss and looked forward to the warm summer days when we could just go to the lake to wash off.

  And I looked forward to the day my father and Kyan would walk into the village, smiles on their faces. Maybe Adam would clap Kyan on the shoulder and tell him he’d done a great job. The two would run their hands over the tips of the amber fields of hay and laugh as they approached the cabin. The hot summer sun would warm their skin and the earth. We’d welcome them, run to them, and hug them tightly, thankful they made it.

  THREE DAYS. WE’D STOPPED AT Timber, Diamond, Maize, Coal, and were finally closing in on Orchard. At each stop, someone would explain about the Greater plague. They’d negotiate with the councils for homes and jobs to be provided to the Vesuvian Lessers. So far, everyone had been receptive. And the train was getting emptier stop by stop.

  We’d be home within the hour, and I couldn’t wait to see Julia, to smell her hair and touch her skin.

  Gretchen was excited, too. I wasn’t sure if it was the thought of stepping foot in some place familiar or just getting off the train, but she paced the car like a caged wildcat. Her claws were out but in a good way. She wanted out.

  Freedom tasted mighty fine.

  The countryside passed in a blur of bright greens. The train began to slow, and the scenery became familiar. We were in Orchard. Passing the depot, I grabbed Gretchen and headed toward the door.

  “Go, Kyan. Don’t worry about me. Go find her.”

  I nodded and smiled, squeezing her hand. The door wouldn’t open, so I had to wait. But as soon as it released, I shoved my way through. My boots hit the wooden planks with a loud thud and I took off, running like I was a sail and the wind was pushing me forward, filling me up.

  The cabin came into view and I pushed harder. My lungs burned. I heard the creak of a door and saw her before she saw me. “Julia!”

  She turned around, mouth agape. My girl was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt. The jumpsuit thing was hot, but she looked fine in denim.

  She dropped whatever she’d been carrying and ran, pumping her elbows to gain speed. When we collided, it knocked the breath out of both of us. We ignored it, kissing and hugging and touching until we couldn’t stand up anymore and collapsed on the ground in a fit of giggles and tears.

  “You’re here! You... Kyan, you’re here!”

  I kissed her tears.

  “Yeah, baby. I told you I’d come.”

  She giggled and hugged me tightly. “Where’s Adam?”

  I stiffened, and the smile dropped from my mouth.

  Julia saw right through it. “Oh, no,” she said, covering her mouth.

  I nodded.

  “I’m so sorry.” She murmured into my neck, nuzzling me. She was comfort. I was home.

  ELLA HAD JUST GONE DOWN for her morning nap. She was sleeping sweetly, surrounded by pillows in our bed. It looked so big, and she looked so small. We’d been working on getting her into a routine of sorts, but she was stubborn, just like me. She was much too excited to look around at everything and everyone who came to visit to sleep.

  Then she’d get absolutely exhausted and cry herself to sleep while I walked, bouncing her up and down softly while patting her back. That was what she loved. Motion. Movement. Gray and I would pace those floors night and day to get her to settle down. Hearing her little cry broke my heart.

  I couldn’t stand it.

  Gray and Kaia said I was spoiling her.

  Evelyn told me to do what felt right. I agreed with Evelyn.

  Gray was out back working on her cradle. I could hear the sound of his saw eating wood. It was almost finished, but he wouldn’t let me see it—which was aggravating because I really wanted to peek. I always wanted to bite the forbidden fruit. It was my nature.

  Julia had received a comm from Cotton. Marian hadn’t survived the gunshot wound, but the healer had managed to save her child. Vivian was caring for the baby boy and would stay in the village for the time being.

  I tried to picture him: Crew and Marian’s baby. Dark hair. Would he have golden eyes?

  Just settling in to fold some of the laundry Gray had carried in from the line, I heard a soft knock at the door. Three taps.

  I stood up from my seat and left my mug of coffee to steam on its own. Thank goodness, I didn’t have it in my hands. One of us would’ve gotten scalded. Kyan Marx stood on my porch, smiling from ear to ear, dimples at full attention.

  “My God, Ky, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!” I threw my arms around him and hugged him, rocking us both from side to side.

  Julia was behind him. I let him loose and hugged her just as tightly. She was crying, and it looked like she had been for a while. She laughed and sniffed. I held her back from me. “I told you he’d make it!”

  No tears, I told myself. The smile on my lips couldn’t have gotten any bigger. “How did you get out?”

  He laughed heartily. “Well, that’s an interesting story, actually.”

  Having heard the commotion, Gray came around to the porch and stepped inside the door. “Hey, man!” He hugged Kyan—not a bro-hug. A real, bear hug. Then Gray hugged Julia awkwardly, patting her back and quickly moving to my side.

  Ella started crying from the back room. I started to get her, but Kyan stopped me by grabbing my elbow gently. “Can I get her, Abby Blue?”

  I nodded. “Absolutely. She needs to meet her Uncle Ky.” I turned to Julia. “And Aunt Julia!”

  The two smiled and hurried to the back room. Seeing Kyan scoop Ella into his arms was icing on the cake. He smiled, looking from her to me and back. A tear slid down his face. “I’m a sorry sap.”

  Julia giggled and wiped it away. “Aww, she’s very beautiful,” she said. Julia was striking when she was happy.

  They cooed at Ella and Kyan blew raspberries on her belly. She calmed and stared at him and Julia. Evelyn said babies couldn’t see well at first and couldn’t see color. To Ella, everyone looked the same, blurry, black, white, and gray. To her, there were no rings around the irises. There was just dark, light, and shades in between.

  And to her, everything was right in the world.

  “Ky?”

  He smiled up at me. Julia did, too.

  “Where’s Adam?”

  Their smiles vanished. Kyan sighed deeply and pulled Ella close to his chest like he was keeping her safe. “I’m so sorry, Abby Blue.”

  SALT FROM MY TEARS SLID down the
back of my throat, clogging it. They poured down my face, coating my lips. I couldn’t hear anything but my own breathing.

  “He died fighting, Abby Blue. The queen ordered that all Lessers be rounded up and taken to this quarry to be shot. He told the guards that were taking them there about the virus, how it would kill them all. His rumors spread, and most of the guards left their posts to investigate. A huge number of Lessers were guarded by only a handful of guards. So, Adam and some other men tried to overpower them. He was shot in the process.”

  “Were you there?” My lips trembled so bad, I barely got the words out.

  Kyan shook his head. “Gretchen heard about it. He was considered a hero to all Lessers in Vesuvius, and his story reached her, even in the palace dungeon.”

  I couldn’t breathe.

  Adam was gone. I didn’t know how to process that—or tell my mother. She hadn’t come over yet. She’d been working with others in the village, after spending time with Ella, to build housing for the Lessers taking refuge from Vesuvius.

  Kaia was hoping to get a home of her own one day and wanted to pitch in. I’d heard she couldn’t pound a nail without smashing her fingers, but maybe she was getting better.

  I shook uncontrollably, holding Ella on my lap.

  Gray was sitting beside me on the couch rubbing circles on my upper arm. He’d offered to hold her for me, but I wanted her close.

  “Where’s Gretchen?”

  Ky smiled sadly. “She made friends with a few of the older women near the depot and started talking. They took her to get cleaned up and were going to give her some fresh clothes and something to eat.

  He and Julia were seated across from us in some worn rockers that creaked with every back and forth motion.

  We were in that same position, somewhere between being joyous that Kyan had made it and grieving over the loss of my father, when my mother walked in the door. The smile that had been on her face grew larger. She ran toward Julia and hugged her. Then Kaia hugged Kyan. Wiping tears from her cheeks, she blubbered. “Where is he? Where’s Adam?”