Bonds of Brass (The Bloodright Trilogy #1) - Emily Skrutskie Page 0,64

to walk down that path, feeling as if you have no other route. I know how hard it is to pull yourself back from it once that instinct is ingrained. And I know how easy it is to give in to it when you tell yourself it’s the only way to survive. I suppress a flinch at the thought of how viciously I fought today—how much I want to forget where that came from. I wasn’t raised to feel the give of a skull under my fists, but I have, knowing all the while how disappointed my parents would have been to see me reduced to such violence.

Gal’s parents probably would have applauded.

If we go to the Archon resistance, he’ll run right up against the ledge of that opportunity. I want to believe in the way it seems to tear him up inside. But his duty to his blood is everything.

My stomach twists. “We can try it. We’ll strike out and see what’s there for us. And if it goes sideways, I’ve carried you out of worse.”

Gal’s gaze drops to the streets, his eyes tracking a few pedestrians far below. “Someday there’s going to be a time when you can’t,” he says, swallowing like the words are caught in his throat. “You keep making all these sacrifices for me. I can’t possibly live up to them.”

“It’s not an exchange, dumbass.”

“I know,” Gal says sharply. “I just don’t…I don’t want to be the terms that decide your life’s path, Ettian.”

It’s a little late for that, but I don’t dare say it. “Let’s focus on our path out of this mess,” I tell him. “And speaking of messes…” I tighten my grip on his shoulder, crushing him against my side. “The rut were you thinking, telling Wen that you’re my boyfriend?” I snarl in his ear.

“Sorry.”

“No ap—”

“Shut up. Look, I was hoping it’d get her off our case. No one wants to be a third wheel, right?”

The comment stings, but not for the reasons he might assume. If Gal understood anything about what it’s like to be out on the streets, he’d know that being a third wheel is the difference between a groggy, paranoid stupor and a solid night of sleep, between a mewling, weak stomach and enough stolen food for everyone. I sigh. “Well, it looks like we’re stuck with our third wheel for the time being. Which means we’re stuck in this charade, unless you want to explain to her why we’ve suddenly decided to call it quits.”

Gal grimaces. “She’s too smart. She’s going to figure out something’s up.”

“Hey, you’re a good liar.” I jostle his shoulder, and his arm tightens around my waist.

“I suppose. And if we’re going to march right up to an Archon resistance base and try to dismantle it from the inside,” he says, leaning so close that his breath ghosts over my cheek, “I’m going to need an excuse to whisper in your ear.”

Stop that, I groan internally. One way or another, this adventure is doing its damnedest to kill me.

When we make our way back across the roof, we find Wen lounging in the shade of her umbrella with her head propped up on my pack. She cracks her unburned eye open as our footsteps approach. “Decision made?” she asks, sitting up.

Gal bends to scoop up his own pack. “If you think the resistance can help, lead the way.”

Wen scrambles to her feet, swinging the umbrella up onto her shoulder. She kicks my pack at me, and I flinch, thinking of the precious cargo buried in it. “Better get a move on, then. Daylight’s wasting, and it’s a long way by rooftop.” She turns on her heel and strolls off toward the edge.

Gal leans close and hisses, “Is she serious? I can’t tell if she’s serious.”

Wen snaps her umbrella shut, tucks it under her arm, and takes a running leap, landing crouched on the next building over.

I sigh. “She’s serious. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER 14

TRAVERSING THE ROOFTOPS of Isla’s north side isn’t the worst way to travel, but it wears me down in ways not