Defy the Sun (Beware the Night #2) - Jessika Fleck Page 0,69

was to be a last resort, but now I think we can give it new purpose. Possibly win the war with it.”

“Okay…” I’ve no idea where he’s going with this or what it could possibly be. But before I can press him, there’s a knock at the door.

“That’ll be Dorian … Come in!”

When Dorian enters, he spots me right away, grins, and, I swear, his cheeks flush.

My stomach definitely flips end over end because lucid memories of my lips on his, my fingers exploring his chest, and his hands in my hair come barreling back. Not to mention that only a couple of hours later I was writing a letter to Nico.

What is wrong with me?

Also, moonroot should be banned.

Dorian walks over, takes the chair next to mine. Side-eyes me. “Morning.”

“Good morning.”

“Right.” The Sindaco clears his throat. “To catch you up, Dorian, I’ve just made Veda—the Lunalette—second-in-command of the Night. That said, I’m going to officially name you third-in-command.”

“Sir … thank you.” Instead of being angry that I suddenly outrank him—though he does make sure to make eye contact, nod respectfully—Dorian seems … appreciative. It’s strange, this new, more sensitive and considerate Dorian.

“No … No. I should have done it sooner, especially with the war advancing like it is. I’ll leave it to you two to name anyone you’d like in charge under you. In fact”—he holds the key up—“I was about to show her Rovina.”

Dorian’s eyes widen. “Oh? You’re still working on it?”

The Sindaco swats Dorian’s question away with a slip of his hand. “It’s been a night project of mine … I’ve only got a few soldiers working on it. I wasn’t sure it was going to happen, so I didn’t want to bother you with it. But…” He puts the key in his breast pocket, pats it for effect. “I just got word a few hours ago that we’ll be able to test it soon.”

“That’s great news, sir. I know how much you’ve put into it.” Dorian’s tone isn’t all congratulatory. There’s a definite air of trepidation beneath the surface. But he stands. “Let’s see it!”

Dorian offers his hand to help me out of the chair. As if I’m under the weather from my evening buried under a moonroot haze. To hammer the sentiment in further, he grins scandalously like he’s thinking of exactly that, and of course he is because I am too.

My stomach churns and turns end over end—a mix of angry moonroot-drunk wasps and confused butterflies.

“I can manage,” I say, brushing his hand away and standing up on my own. I won’t mention my head spins and my stomach lurches.

Collectively, we leave the map room and the Sindaco leads the way to his secret project—named Rovina, apparently.

The walk isn’t too terribly far, and we end up down below the Crag. The Sindaco unlocks the door and swings it open with so much excitement it hits the stone wall inside.

The room is dark save the rogue lantern here and there and the clanking of tools, but the Sindaco pulls a lever and like in the gardens, several large overhead lamps crank on so the cavern lights up like midday.

“My weapon,” the Sindaco proclaims. “The Great Destroyer.”

The Great Destroyer isn’t nearly as monstrous as the Sindaco made it out to be. In fact, it doesn’t look likely to destroy much at all, save a swarm of mud beetles. Maybe a wayward fox.

The contraption’s fairly small—about the size of a desk on wheels but with wires and fuses hanging off it without rhyme or reason.

If I didn’t know better, I would have mistaken it for a pile of rubbish. Parts and pieces left for scavenging through.

It’s with that thought that I begin to wonder how fit the Sindaco currently is.

Between the horrific Settlings and the strange buildup and obsession with this hunk of metal before us, I’m concerned.

Confused.

It would appear this man can barely make a sound decision, much less lead a revolution.

And based on Dorian’s expression, he’s having similar thoughts.

The Sindaco walks over to the weapon, and the three workers tending it stop and move out of his way. “It’s to be the main hub for a series of explosions.” He lifts a metal ball the size of an apple off a pile on the ground. “This—a prototype for the moment—goes here.” He connects the wires on the outside of the ball to a fuse connected to the box. “Then…” He connects another and another until there’s a small line of small explosive metal balls. Then