The Weight of the Stars - K. Ancrum Page 0,55

anything Roland could have said that would have had an impact on him in any way. But the perspective is … I don’t know.”

Ryann shifted closer and plucked the cigarette out of Alexandria’s hand and took another breath of ash. “Blake wants to know if we’re going to tell the others?”

“Why wouldn’t we? They helped and they deserve to be a part of things,” Alexandria said scathingly.

“I know,” Ryann said soothingly. “I know. He’s just trying to care about us all in the only way he can.”

Alexandria looked over at Tomas and Blake. “Are they a thing now?”

Ryann laughed mirthlessly. “I don’t think so. But I’ve been wondering that for years.”

4 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES

Ryann woke up again. This time it was near dawn and the room was lit in shades of pink and gold. She looked over to find Alexandria still awake.

“Did you stay up the whole night?” Ryann whispered.

Alexandria didn’t move. Instead she said, “You pinkie promised me something and I want to cash in on that.”

Ryann turned over on her side so she could see Alexandria properly. “What do you want?”

“Remember when we were walking in the woods and you told everyone why you were helping me?” Alexandria asked.

“Yeah, I—”

“When you said that you wished you could … but that you had responsibilities and had to let your dreams go?” Alexandria interrupted.

Ryann frowned. “I’m not helping you because of that anymore. I did this because you deserve to have someone on your side. And because…” The words caught in her throat.

Alexandria waited for them, then she laughed dryly, the way she did when something upset her and the only way to deal with it was to laugh at her own misfortune.

Ryann, always reckless this close to sleep, reached across the sheets and picked up Alexandria’s hand. Alexandria’s eyes went dark. She caught Ryann’s jaw in her palm, holding it fast.

Instantly, Ryann was fully awake, her heart slamming in her chest as Alexandria studied her. The last time Alexandria had looked at her like this, it was in the silence of Shannon’s bedroom, with her knees between Ryann’s thighs.

Alexandria moved her thumb over Ryann’s chin and settled it against the fullest part of Ryann’s bottom lip, then pressed until Ryann’s mouth fell gently open.

The sun from the balcony doors lit Alexandria’s eyelashes white and shot her brown eyes through with light.

“I want you to go,” Alexandria whispered. “Take my place. I want you to be selfish for the first time in your life, Ryann Bird. I’ll carry your weight. You’re worth the price.”

Ryann’s mouth watered with the need to touch the tip of her tongue to Alexandria’s thumb—to bite and lick. But before she could, Alexandria took her hand away and held out her pinkie. The rush of cold air on Ryann’s face nearly made her lean up to recapture it.

Alexandria’s eyes tracked the motion hungrily, but she said nothing.

She waited until Ryann reached her sleep-warm hand from under the blankets and locked their pinkies together.

7 MINUTES

Tomas and Blake woke up soon after. Tomas looked shocked at Blake’s arms around him and started trying to wriggle out from underneath without waking him up.

Blake buried his face in Tomas’s neck as he slowly regained consciousness, but pulled away immediately when his eyes opened. Tomas turned around to face him.

Blake blinked up at Tomas sleepily, then put up his fist. Tomas fist-bumped it, seemingly resolving whatever Ryann and Alexandria had just witnessed.

Alexandria still eyed them contemplatively as she got dressed.

Tomas lumbered sleepily over and hugged Alexandria—who was a little more than shocked that he was touching her. Tomas also curled into Ryann as well, hugging her for a suspiciously long time, and then he disappeared into the bathroom.

Blake shoved his legs through his jeans, then quickly put on his sweater and jacket. “Meet me outside when you’re ready.”

29 MINUTES

The ride back was calmer and less tense than the ride up.

Ryann received a text forwarded from Alexandria, giving her a time she should arrive, a room number, and instructions for check-in at SCOUT’s headquarters. Roland must have sent it to Alexandria last night.

Her chest tightened as she looked at it. Alexandria, who could see Ryann’s screen from the back seat, gripped Ryann’s shoulder and the tension drifted away beneath her fingers.

3 HOURS AND 49 SECONDS

Ahmed was pacing outside the warehouse when they pulled in around noon.

Shannon and James were waiting inside. The fire pit was lit and Shannon was typing feverishly into her laptop.

“Did you get it?” Ahmed said, rushing to