him.
Al, next to him, grins wickedly and shouts even louder, “I’m always down for kicking rebel ass!”
And Erik, on Jay’s other side, shakes his head with amusement before he too yells, “I’ll be right there beside you!”
My heart swells with something I don’t have a name for when I look at the three of them. Even from a distance, they look so confident and resolute. Despite all the things I’ve lied to them about and all the trouble I’ve put them through, they’re still defending me. I want to be worthy of them. I want to be able to do the same for them.
“I’m not about to let our friends’ deaths be in vain!” someone else shouts, and I see Amal on a different side of the room, just as strong as always, head held high. “I’ll keep fighting—for them! For everything they fought with us to protect!”
The room starts to stir again, differently from any of the times before. All the captains, and then the Helpers, shout their support. And then it seems everyone from every part of the room is shouting or cheering or maybe crying—but raising their fists and yelling words that get lost in the noise but that all resound into one firm answer: We will fight. And this time, we will win.
32
JAY
EVERYONE IS ASSEMBLED inside Sakchai’s Gate. The garage it leads out from is a huge space with running conveyor belts and large crates stacked neatly around the room. A few transport vehicles crouch against one of the walls. The business owner herself stands resolutely with us—not a fighter intending to go with us, but prepared to see us off. She’s even turned the wide-open space around the Gate into a makeshift infirmary to treat anyone injured in the battle as quickly as possible.
This means, of course, that she’s thrown off any public pretense of not being an ally of the Order. Her workers bustle around the room, preparing beds, medicine, and tools for the doctors Sakchai hired just for this. They all watch us, but the looks seem more tinged with curiosity and admiration than anything—looks I’m unfamiliar with. Several of them break off to speak with members of the Order.
I catch Lai surveying our troops once more. Everyone wears a red strip of cloth in some way or another to differentiate themselves from the rebels; some with it tied around their upper arm; others, their leg; others still, around their waist. Many of our comrades are still injured from the last fight. However, most of the people here with us now are the ones who were left behind at Regail Hall during the last attack. People who are filled with a vengeance for their friends as well as fear at the prospect of facing the rebels who hurt them in the first place. Those who were injured in any way that would inhibit their ability to fight were left behind, no matter how much they wanted to come.
All except Lai. Even with her major injury, she refused to remain in Regail Hall. No one could tell her no, much as we attempted. The only thing left was for us to resolve that we’d have her back in this upcoming fight. I won’t let anything happen to her again. We are going to make it out of this, victorious and alive.
I stand by Lai’s side as a messenger reports on the arrival of what backup the military could provide. Behind her, a group of about a hundred soldiers stand uncertainly but at the ready. Since only Austin and Noah knew of the military and Order’s alliance, it’s little surprise they’re confused. Yet I feel no suspicion from them. They know why they’re here and what we’re all attempting to do.
Once Lai has greeted them—most of their presences shifting to shock at the sight of the ex-lieutenant—and assigned them to their respective groups, I say, “You’re doing a great job. I’m sure Fiona would be proud.”
Lai closes her eyes as she leans her forehead into my shoulder. “I hope so. I keep trying to figure out if I overlooked something, but I’m out of ideas. This is the best I can do.”
“Your best got the Order in motion again,” I say softly. “Because of you, we have this huge defense team and the promise of help from the military once the Council’s been taken care of.”
“No,” Lai says. “I might’ve helped, but all of this isn’t because of me. It’s because of everyone fighting together.”