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  My lips pursed of their own accord. “They tried to hurt you?”

  “I think it was more of a test.” Wallace’s normally intense gaze was amplified to insane levels with these glasses. If he tore his shirt off, we weren’t leaving this sand.

  “They knew all about me,” he went on. “So, I assume they were gauging my strength.”

  I felt my left eye twitch. “Well, they better hope that’s all it was.”

  “That reminds me, did Cole tell you the girl’s name we’re supposed to find?”

  “Something foreign…” I pushed my hair away from my face and struggled to think. “Zvona…Zvoni…something like that. From what I hear, she’s good with technology.”

  “Good, like Larry good, or Dynari good?”

  “Dynari good.”

  “Ah.” His arms fell from their hold, and he patted my leg. “As much as I hate it, we’d better head in. I don’t want any of them coming out here after us.”

  I crawled off of his chest and brushed the sand from my clothes. “Do you honestly think they’ll help us?”

  Wallace sat up. “I don’t know, but I’m not leaving until we find out.”

  ~

  “So, where’s this electricity coming from?” I asked as we took another turn into an outdated hallway behind the mall.

  “George says they have a Dynari who cloaks things. Wind turbines, solar panels, generators…”

  “They sound pretty self-sufficient.” I fell into step behind him as he guided me down the narrow passage. Or at least, I tried to. He was really booking it to this meeting.

  “They are.”

  Okay, maybe I needed to lighten the mood. “Hey, keep those glasses. They may come in handy on the honeymoon.”

  Wallace flashed me a quick grin over his shoulder, but that was it. Whatever it was that bothered him about these people, he was dwelling on it, and that didn’t bode well. He had a thousand burdens these days—ERA’s race to their utopia, the containment of his family’s secrets, our future together, the wellbeing of everyone we would have to drag in, et cetera. As Harry put it earlier, my fiancé had become our de facto leader. Strongest man in the world or not, the weight of it all could very well crush him.

  I couldn’t let that happen.

  “How cute are you!” a flamboyant voice called from an open doorway. “You must be Rena. Look at you. You two are ridiculous together. I love it.”

  “Thanks…?” I peered inside with an arched brow and turned back to Wallace. He made quick work of the introductions.

  Apparently, Sanctuary’s council consisted of one representative from each group. Darien, the charismatic Dynari; Cam, the Nullari who seemed to be his verbal sparring partner; and George, the Augari who looked like he’d rather be anywhere but there.

  Our gazes lingered. Whether that was due to distant kinship or some kind of implied meaning, I didn’t know. There was something about him I couldn’t put my finger on.

  And then there was Franklin. Poor, human Franklin. He didn’t contribute much, probably because he knew his position was a formality. His wife, a Dynari with water manipulation abilities, came to live here ten years ago. Being the devoted husband that he was, he’d packed up his life and moved with her. Literally. He’d packed up his life. Apparently, a requirement for permanent residence on Sanctuary Island is to fake one’s death or provide a disappearance with no trail.

  I couldn’t help but wonder how many unsolved cases were in the rooms surrounding us.

  “Please, sit.” Cam gestured to their commandeered conference table, surrounded by mismatched chairs. “You’ll have to excuse our over eagerness to meet with you. It’s not often we have guests, especially those who desire a conversation of this magnitude. We probably should’ve let you rest for the night first.”

  Wallace pulled out my chair before taking a seat beside me. “Don’t worry. We’re eager to have this discussion, too.”

  “Excellent.”

  Darien studied Cam with an amused expression, his chin resting on his hand. “Someone has her serious pants on today.”

  “This is a formal meeting.”

  “It’s a powwow in an unused back office.” He flinched and cast a sideways look at George. “Sorry…”

  George raised his eyebrows.

  “Anyway,” Cam pressed forward, “we understand you’re here to discuss Faye Tobler’s ERA project and get some answers regarding our own little collective.”

  Wallace nodded. “More or less.”

  I patted his leg under the table. He could rock business mode, too.

  “Then it’s only fair that I inform you we’ve known of Project ERA for years now, but we do appreciate your desire to educate us.”

  What?

  Cam must’ve noticed my shock, because she turned her attention to me. “Come on. You guys aren’t so naive as to think Faye was the only one keeping an eye on the supernatural community, are you?”

  “So, that’s how you found out?” I swallowed. “Your research?”

  Darien leaned in front of Cam, effectively stealing the spotlight. “Faye approached us, actually. She and her husband came up—and what an ordeal that was, getting his wheelchair in here—to discuss their vision. They wanted help creating safe pockets for their SAGEs to begin their second existences.”

  My throat went dry, and I felt Wallace’s unease mingle with mine. “And did you?”

  “Some of us.” Darien shrugged. “Our council isn’t really a ruling body. We’re just mouthpieces for our respective groups. When the majority takes a vote, certain concessions need to be made from everyone.”

  “So…” Wallace lifted his head, his face scrunched up from trying to figure things out. “You took some kind of vote and decided whoever wanted to contribute to Faye’s project could do so?”

  “Basically.”

  And this policy had been in place for years? I thought we’d caught this SAGE business early enough to nip it in the bud. Even if ERA had turned a few dozen candidates successfully, I didn’t think they’d have a place to go yet. Hell, maybe they were already there…which brought up a good point.

  “Can you tell us where these pockets are located?” I asked, trying to keep my voice upbeat and curious. “One of my best friends actually received the treatment. I’m just wondering if I’ll be able to visit him or what.”

  “Then you are not disgusted by these experiments?” Franklin spoke up now, his eyes determinedly locked on mine.

  Wallace nudged my leg under the table.

  “O-Of course not.”

  Please tell me I interpreted that nudge correctly.

  He reached over and grabbed my hand, letting the Nexus carry empathic currents directly from his body to mine. All at once, I understood. Franklin was highly suspicious right now, almost as if he were waiting for one of us to say the wrong thing. Was he Team Faye?

  “They typically don’t welcome outsiders in their established zones,” he informed us, “but I’m sure she’d make an exception for someone already privy to the work.”

  I chewed the inside of my cheek.

  Franklin folded his hands and leaned in. “You two are privy to her work, aren’t you? George said you’re on the payroll.”

  Wallace said he’d told George everything, didn’t he? Either Franklin is bluffing or…

  I cut my eyes to George, who had kept a passive expression throughout the conversation. Something told me he was shielding us. Why else would he leave out major details, like the fact that we were actively trying to take ERA down?

  Wallace nodded in my stead. “That’s correct.”

  “Then I don’t see why we can’t accommodate a tour.” Franklin smiled, reclining in his seat. “Would you care to rest first, or would you like to go right away?”

  My forehead wrinkled as my brows met. “Are you saying it’s nearby?”

  The council shared a knowing look, amusement mixed with pride. “I’m saying it’s here.”

  CHAPTER 12

 
; « RENA »

  As it turned out, Sanctuary Island wasn’t just the base of operations for this particular faction. It was also home to the very first SAGE settlement, appropriately referred to as Sanctuary.

  A contained society of thirty advanced humans lay cloaked within the complex’s ruins. It housed everything these people could ever possibly need—a micro hospital, a community garden, a schoolhouse, et cetera. The only thing missing was a police station. Franklin said there was no need.

  “Everyone here has already had their last round of treatments to neutralize the aggression that presented in a few previous cases.” He walked backwards, pointing things out like it was a zoo. “They’re all given professions based on previous knowledge and skill sets, but none of our residents receive compensation. There’s simply no need. The community takes care of itself. Each individual does his or her part for the betterment of all.”

  “What about incentives to work harder?” I asked, eyeing the closed off storefronts. ‘Wouldn’t that make things run more efficiently?”

  He chuckled. “Believe me, things are efficient here. They have all the incentive they need.”

  Wallace pulled me closer. I knew this place gave him the creeps as much as it did me. “So, where is everyone?”

  “After dinner, they retire to their residential quarters in the old hotel.” Franklin gestured ahead of us to a courtyard with an iridescent film covering the sky. “That is by their choice, as it is the sensible thing to do in preparation for tomorrow’s tasks.”

  “And fun?” I asked.

  “Their manipulated chemical levels compensate for time not squandered on recreation.”

  “Ah.”

  In other words, these people had lost their previous lives for a cause they knew nothing about. Their existences had been reengineered and reduced to mindless efficiency. It was sick.

  We proceeded to the utilitarian residential area without another word. I was sure the lack of color had something to do with SAGEs not needing stimulation or inspiration of any kind. Or maybe certain colors would trigger unwanted behavior. Ugh.

  “Marlene.”

  I looked up as Franklin called a small girl—a child!—over to us. She walked briskly, wearing the same ghost of an expression Aiden had. “Yes?”

  “Please tell these nice people what your life is like here. Can you walk us through a typical day?”

  “Yes, sir. I get up early, go to school, and learn to become an active con…trip…you…”

  “Contributor,” he corrected.

  “Contributor.” Her little glazed-over look was unsettling. “I learn to become an active contributor to our society. Afterward, I get to apprentice at the bakery until dinner. Then I study before bed.”

  “Very good.” Franklin dismissed her with a wave of his hand, but she was too busy staring at Wallace.

  He arched a dark eyebrow.

  “You look like someone,” she told him plainly, before returning to her books at the hotel table.

  “O-kay…”

  Franklin steered us back toward the courtyard. “You’ll have to excuse that one. She came in with the last batch of residents. I fear she still has a bit of adjustment ahead of her.”

  Batch, he’d said, like they weren’t even human. My fist tightened at my side. “Why use children?”

  “Use?” He stopped dead in his tracks.

  “I, uh, meant include.”

  Our tour resumed as if I had never tripped over my words. “They’re easier to mold at an early age.”

  “What about their families?”

  “The situations vary.” Franklin gave a dramatic sigh. “Sadly, Marlene’s father is in jail and her mother was involved in an unfortunate accident.”

  There are rarely accidents where ERA is concerned. I wanted to punch this guy. Then I wanted to burn this freakin’ living diorama to the ground. Everything about it rubbed me the wrong way. My fight or flight response was about two seconds from breaking free…

  “How sad,” I finally managed, covering the twitch in my eye.

  “Indeed.”

  As he led us toward another building, I tugged on Wallace’s shirtsleeve, making him bend as we walked. “Is it just me, or do we need to get the hell out of here?”

  He kept an eye on Franklin’s back, lowering his voice to match my whisper. “We can’t get a ride off the island until morning, unless we improvise. Are you thinking about taking the SAGEs with us?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Wallace threw a look over his shoulder and leaned even closer. “What if we brought some kind of vessel back with us? Then we could coerce everyone necessary on board, including that Zvoni girl, and then torch the place. Faye’s going to be out for blood by that point, anyway. There’s no use tiptoeing around anymore—especially when kids are involved.”

  My heart stirred at his conviction. This man truly was my partner in crime. “That works for me.”

  “Sorry.” Franklin spun on his heel so fast, we nearly collided. “I know I promised you a proper tour, but we’re actually going to have to end it here.”

  He unclipped a walkie-talkie from his belt. “Cam, I’m going to need you around E6.”

  Wallace edged in front of me, subtly putting his shoulder between me and the human warden. “Is there a problem?”

  “No, no…” Franklin leaned against a pillar and waited for his fellow council member. “It’s just that your plan isn’t going to work for us.”

  “How did you—”

  The next thing I knew, Franklin had me pinned against the far wall and Cam was pinning Wallace down. She’d jumped from somewhere—somewhere high. Why wasn’t he throwing her off? I struggled against the forearm at my throat. And why wasn’t he lending me his…

  Oh.

  Cam’s Nullari powers nullified all of Wallace’s ability, meaning he couldn’t use them and neither could I at this distance. But wasn’t Franklin supposed to be human?

  “Sorry,” he apologized again, his pupils disappearing into the dark abyss of his iris. “I should’ve mentioned my…advanced somatic status.”

  Franklin was a SAGE? My mind raced, pulling a thousand facts at once. This changed everything. Enhanced abilities and heightened senses…no wonder he’d heard us. And the speed, the strength—that’s how he’d separated us without warning. Damn it!

  My usual defensive maneuvers proved inconsequential, even my heat-seeking knee. His pain receptors were dull, just like—

  Images of Aiden’s assault tore through my mind. The wind. Bricks at my back. Feeling helpless. My heart rate skyrocketed without warning, boiling acid into my throat. I fought to breathe around it. I…I…

  “Rena!” Wallace’s hoarse voice cut through my flashback. He’d gotten free of Cam’s hold without his powers—the guy was built like a beast, after all—but a horde of others had joined the fray. Their lifeless eyes betrayed their identities. They, too, were SAGEs.

  It was like a bad zombie movie, only these people did have consciences buried somewhere. They were just suppressed, forced into submission by engineering they’d received against their wills. Hadn’t Faye neutralized their aggression, too? Or were they so open to suggestion that it didn’t matter?

  “Wallace!” I yelled back.

  Something wet covered my nose and mouth. A rag. God, it smelled like—

  ~

  I came to on a tile floor.

  Everywhere I looked, I saw olive green and canary yellow—colors that belonged anywhere but a commercial kitchen. I went to scratch my nose, but slammed against a metal cuff encircling my wrist.

  “Seriously?” I asked the universe with a growl, jerking against the metal counter leg. “This can’t happen again!”

  “Don’t pull so hard,” a man chided me in a quiet voice. “You’ll hurt yourself.”

  “I doubt you guys care about my wellbeing. Why else would I wake up handcuffed?”

  His response was a soft chuckle behind me. “Maybe it’s for my protection. Did you
ever think of that?”

  I craned my neck back. “George?”

  Unhurried boots came into view, and he crouched down in front of me. His eyes were dark and intense, a simmering blend of youthful rebellion and hard gained wisdom. “You and I need to have a talk.”

  That didn’t sound good. “Is ‘talk’ code for torture and interrogation? Because we’ve got people en route, and they’d love nothing more than to kick your ass. Where’s Wallace?”

  His mouth twitched, finally lining an otherwise flawless russet complexion. “Though that might prove entertaining, it wasn’t what I had in mind. Wallace is safe.”

  “Where?”

  “That doesn’t matter, right now.”

  “Ugh.”

  Something about this man made me feel guilty putting up a front. Aside from our distant relation, he had a familiar aura about him—like an old friend I couldn’t quite place. He didn’t spark any memories just looking at him, though…

  “You are here to rescue the SAGEs, correct?”

  Yeeeeeeah, I didn’t know how to answer that.

  He studied me for a moment before letting out a wary breath and digging through the pocket of his jeans. “Here.”

  Before I could protest, he reached over with two metal picks. A few quick, well-practiced motions, and my cuff sprang open. “Does that confirm my intentions?”

  I rubbed my wrist and sat up, still careful to keep the counter’s edge between us. “Maybe.”

  Why didn’t he have a key?

  “Then let me put it this way,” he said, propping up against an old dishwasher, “I’ve been looking to get those people off the island for months. I just don’t have the resources to help them, once they’re back on the mainland.”

  The mainland being Ohio? Or Michigan, maybe. It touched Lake Erie. So did New York, Pennsylvania, and Ontario…

  I cleared my throat. “Just you?”

  “A few of us.”

  “No one else on the council, though.”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Ah.” I wasn’t used to straight answers. It threw me off my game. “So, if you’re against the rest of the council, why do you live here?”