Defy the Sun (Beware the Night #2) - Jessika Fleck Page 0,9

gotten used to her early morning visits and moreover, the muffins keep getting better and better.

She claims if Veda were here, she would have asked Bronwyn to look after me.

Of course, I can’t begin to argue with that.

“I think I’ve got it this time,” she says, smile bright as she shoves the basket toward me.

“I think you had it three batches ago.” I take one out from under the linen. It’s still warm. As I bite into it, the blueberries bursting with perfect sweet-bitter pops, she stares expectantly. “All right … You win. This batch is far superior.”

“Yes!”

I glance across the muffin at her. “Why are you doing this anyway?” Not only do they function in a far more advanced way down here than I ever imagined, they’ve discovered ways to grow food without the Sun. Raevald would call it blasphemy. I’m not sure what to call it, short of miraculous.

“Um … Why am I being nice to you or working so hard on this muffin recipe?”

“Well, I meant the muffins, but now that you mention it…”

She gives a light laugh. “Any friend of Veda’s is a friend of mine.” She tips the basket forward so I can take another. I do. “And I love to bake and Veda loves my treats, so I want to have the perfect blueberry muffin ready for her when she returns.” She gives an even bigger smile.

“Fair enough, but—”

“Nico—” Dorian intrudes as he always does, then helps himself to a couple of muffins.

“Hey!” Bronwyn snatches one back. “One per person.” But she sends a scandalous smile my way before she leaves because she always gives me two.

I sit up more fully, fish the nub of charcoal from my pocket, draw another hash mark—thirteen days.

I look across the cave at him. “Is that how you woo all of the ladies?”

“She’s not a lady, she’s my sister.” He shrugs. “You coming? The chickens finally laid eggs.” He waggles his eyebrows, and, as if in answer, my stomach growls.

I’ve really given it my best effort to hate the guy. Sometimes I succeed. But most of the time, he’s not all that bad.

“Yeah,” I say, standing up but jerking to a halt midway. My far-from-healed wound screams from my back and clear through my ribs that I best lie back down. Ignoring it, I stand tall, sucking a deep breath in while scrubbing my face and hair with the palms of my hands.

Everyone down here has been waiting for the chickens to lay eggs, the delay having something to do with acclimating to the environment underground, the lack of sunlight.

I throw on my tunic and lace up my boots, walk over to the door where Dorian stands like a tall, lanky blockade.

“You know the drill,” he says, staring back at me, a hint of humor in his voice. As if I think today would be any different than yesterday.

Still, I shake my head, sigh loudly. “It’s not like I can go anywhere. I don’t know my way … I’m outnumbered … Each step I take sends an angry jolt up my spine…”

“All true.”

“But?”

“But…”

“Sindaco’s orders,” I say, unimpressed.

Dorian and I, we’ve got this routine down. We’ve spent a lot of time together, begun finishing each other’s sentences.

He lifts an eyebrow. “It’s less for you and more for them.” Dorian motions toward the door to a crowd of invisible Night members. The ones who still might fear me and my cruel Dogio-Imperi ways.

I stiffen my jaw. Nod once. I suppose I can’t really blame them.

Wrists pressed together, I hold my hands out so Dorian can cuff them with rope. It’s more for show than anything, he reminds me. I’m not exactly a welcome figure down here, despite how the Sindaco—even without my signature on his treaty—has been trying to spin that I’m now on the Night’s side. Despite that, the greater whole of the Night is weary of my presence, concerned I’m a spy for the Imperi.

Little do they know, never again will I call myself Imperi. Not after Veda …

Never.

But honestly, I’m not loving the Sindaco either. Where I’m sitting, no one’s winning right now. There are no sides.

Well, that’s not exactly true. I’m on Veda’s side. Full stop.

Though, if my being tied up makes them feel safer, so be it. If I run, I won’t get far without use of my hands. There’s that, I guess.

Hands bound, I follow Dorian through the zigzagging caves. There are small groups of Night members behind us, some in front, most everyone