Boom!

    A violent current of air throws me across the room. I slam into a wall, cracking the plaster before sliding onto the floor. Something pops in my ears. A high-pitched ring fills my head. I blink, trying to clear the sudden haze from my eyes, but the world remains black-and-white, as if I’ve lost all sense of color, and Javier—

    He’s on the other side of the room, slumped over. Crimson leaks from his eyes, nose and ears.

    What have I done?

    Warm liquid trickles from the corners of my mouth. My lungs refuse to work; they’ve deflated. Wheezing sounds rise from my chest.

    The door bursts open, and Reed rushes into the room. He takes in the situation with a single glance, just as he’s been trained.

    “Stay back,” I croak. If I’ve been drained of Light, I don’t want to accidentally draw from him.

    Reed ignores me, crouching beside me. He rips the chain from my neck and pours the manna down my throat.

    Other TLs rush in behind him. To take care of Javier, I assume. I’m losing focus, the black blending with the white until everything blurs...and disappears altogether.

    * * *

    “—going to heal?”

    “Yes, sir. A full recovery. She should wake up any second.”

    The first speaker I know well—Levi. The second I vaguely recognize. The Healer from the Sanatorium, maybe.

    I blink open my eyes and fight a wave of dizziness. My temples throb.

    Moaning, I rub my temples. “What happened? Where’s Javier?”

    A pause. Then, “I’ll be going now,” the Healer says. “Thank you for entrusting me with our Conduit.”

    A light patter of footsteps, the soft snick of a closing door. A heavier thump of footsteps. Then Levi is looming over me, concern etched in every line in his face.

    I’m in a spacious bedroom with a three-tiered chandelier, two white columns at the foot of the bed and a white rug the same shape as my brands. This isn’t a closet at the Sanatorium.

    “What do you remember?” Levi asks.

    “I—” Memories flood me, and I gnash my teeth. “Everything. Javier and the explosion. What happened?”

    He helps me sit up. “You have no control over your Light, and he has no control over his darkness. Light protected you, darkness protected him, and both lashed out at the other. The two forces collided...”

    I moan as a new tide of dizziness sweeps through me. “Is he okay?”

    “He’s recovering. He agreed to stay in our care as long as he’s with Dior. The situation isn’t ideal, but it’s workable. While they’re together, I suspect they’ll worsen, Penumbra growing stronger. We’ll have to be more careful around them.”

    The reluctance I experienced with Javier suddenly makes sense. The Grid is becoming an intricate part of me, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

    “Do I need to attend a debriefing?” I ask.

    “Consider this chat your debriefing. Let’s start with Lina.”

    I repeat her song and we discuss possible meanings—to no avail. He’s as lost as I am.

    A soft knock sounds at the door.

    “Enter,” Levi calls.

    Jeremy’s nanny, Millicent, carries my baby brother in her arms. I’m so happy to see him I whimper.

    He gurgles and reaches for me. —Ten!—

    His voice fills my head. “Are all infants able to communicate through the Grid?” I ask Levi.

    He frowns. “Jeremy speaks to you through the Grid?”

    Chewing my bottom lip, I nod. “He doesn’t talk to you?”

    “No.” Levi rubs two fingers and a thumb against his chin and studies my brother. “To do so at such a young age...”

    Means he’s strong. I smile.

    Deciding not to touch the little boy yet, considering I just came into contact with Penumbra, I wave. “Hey, buddy. I’ve missed you so much.”

    Levi collects him—and the ball Millicent is holding—and sits on the floor, placing Jeremy between his outstretched legs.

    “Call if you need me.” She makes her getaway.

    I take a spot on the other side of my brother. He giggles as we roll the ball back and forth.

    “Killian wants to defect,” I say, watching Levi closely to gauge his reaction. “He won’t actually do it, though.”

    His expression never falters. “Through feed recorded by the Eye, I’ve seen the way Mr. Flynn looks at you. He’ll do it. You are necessary to him.”

    I want to preen, sigh dreamily, ask a million questions and frown all at the same time.

    “Whatever you said to him worked,” Levi continues. “He released Mr. Prince.”

    A cool tide of relief washes through me. Thank you, Killian. “Is Victor in Troika? Is he okay?”

    “He is and he’s fine, though he doesn’t remember anything that happened.”

    Wait. “Killian wiped his mind?”

    Levi tugs the end of his earlobe. “It’s possible, but I don’t know how he could have done it.”

    “I’ll ask Killian for details.” And get him into more trouble? I chew on my bottom lip. “Will you help me help him?”

    He smiles, as if I’ve just given him the perfect Christmas present. “Yes, Miss Lockwood. I’ll help you.”

    His willingness doesn’t surprise me. Levi wants the best for me and even for Killian. He’s that kind of guy.