after to me to think up a way to stamp out the Spectators once and for all. I guess his botched science project is bad for his ego.
“I’ve thought about it.” I nod. “And I think it’s necessary.” The Spectators have been terrifying the population for years. If we don’t move to eradicate them, we’ll have an apocalypse on our hands one day. “It’s just a means to an end. They don’t really want to live like that—nobody would.”
“Have your journeyman get their attention. Make them believe a cure is on the horizon. Gather them in droves. They must never see it coming.”
Journeymen. A dry laugh rattles through me.
Coop’s all I got, and usually he’s all I need with the exception that I don’t trust his ass anymore.
“Consider it done.” It doesn’t sound too safe for Coop, but I’m starting not to care.
Guilt coats me heavy as lead.
So, maybe killing Coop isn’t high on my priority list at the moment, but if he keeps pushing things, it just might get there. A thought dawns on me. If he goes after them, he might get bit and turn into the very thing we’re trying to eradicate. A part of me wouldn’t feel too bad if it did happen. I hate that I feel like a jealous thirteen-year-old girl. I used to like Coop. He’s one of the nicest guys I know.
Edinger takes a breath and nods over to Laken, still lost in her conversation with Flynn.
“She can hurt you, Wesley.” Edinger squints into her a moment. “If I were you I’d be very careful. Women like her have the ability to impress themselves over your soul, to become a paralyzing obsession. I should know.”
“Laken and I are good. Things are moving in the right direction.”
“If you had to choose the Countenance over Laken, would you?”
“Of course.” I don’t hesitate with my response. I knew it was the right answer, but it’s not the truthful one.
Edinger gives dry laugh. His shoulders bounce with disbelief as he walks out of the library and into the rain. What my mother sees in him I will never know.
I make my way over to Laken, who’s busy roping her hair around her finger, and slip my arm around her waist.
I know for a fact I’ll never have to choose between Laken and the Counts because she’s one of us now—she will be forever—we both will.
“I’m out of here.” Flynn digs his palm into his eye like he’s exhausted. His sandy hair is shagged out in wiry curls like some surfer who forgot his way to the barbershop. “Think about what I said.” He points into her before hitting the exit.
“What’d he say?” I’m only half-interested. I’m more into what Laken is going to think when I give her a private tour of the stacks in a few minutes.
“He said I should dump you and go to homecoming with him. He said he has access to condoms in three different colors, and he’d pay me ten grand to keep my cheer uniform on.”
“I’d laugh, but it sounds like Flynn.” I shake my head while inspecting the new crop of books that were just returned.
“I might be teasing,” she laughs, relaxing her hands over the back of my pants. “So, what’s this Ensign thing about? Can anyone join?” There’s an innocence about her that lures me in, disables me and leaves me down for the count. “Does it have to do with the flag or something?”
I cut a look to the door where Edinger stained the entry not too long ago. He goes ape shit if anyone rats out his status as a Fem. I only found out through the Ensign program once I became a cadet. If Laken goes down that thorny path, she’ll have to deal with the fact her English teacher is a creature not of this earth. I don’t want to set her brain on fire with all this psychotic info, but in a way she has the right to know, to dig in as far and deep into the Counts as anybody else. Besides, after Edinger sliced off his head in front of her, he was practically asking to be revealed. I don’t think for a minute Laken believes she was hallucinating.
“The Ensign program isn’t school run.” I swipe my thumb over her cheek. I’d much rather focus on the two of us than discuss anything to do with the Counts, but she’s hungry for something more, I can tell. “In fact, Ephemeral