Irradiate by Sarah Addison-Fox

Author:Sarah Addison-Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarah Addison-Fox

8

Mallory

Cristan wants to stop off at his unit so we can leave the bag somewhere safe. I stay as calm as I can be thinking that over half the Irrelevants inside have been relocated. No wonder it’s so quiet in here.

I glance sidelong at Drew, who’s telling Cristan about how an officer gave the ultimatum, and Irrelevants from 2B left in the vehicles we thought were here for Cristan.

I’m following along, trying to understand the time frame when Cristan exhales low and looks at Drew. “Jackson said you’re in contact with the other Units? Did they arrive safely?”

Drew nods slowly. “Everyone’s confused. But yeah, as far as I can tell they made it.”

Cristan asks the question that’s on my lips. “So, the G men just loaded up their trucks and took everyone where they needed to be?”

Drew shrugs, though his face is growing more strained. “I didn’t exactly have a say in this. Did I want them to leave? Hell no. Do I understand why they left? I do. If they didn’t need someone to run this place, I’d be in the same boat with the ones who stayed.”

Cristan eyes narrow. “Tell me again how you managed to do that? And keep Jed and Jackie safe?”

Neither of them speaks for a moment. Tension starts to fill the space between them as they stare unblinking at each other.

When I can’t bear it anymore, Drew shakes his head. “I don’t like where this is going. If you’re looking to point the finger at someone, point it elsewhere.”

Cristan looks ready to argue some more, so I place my hand on his forearm. His muscle contracts under my fingers but he doesn’t keep arguing. “I’ll just get changed. Don’t go anywhere without me. We stick together, okay?”

I nod and with a frown, he turns on his heel and stalks off down the hallway leaving me with a grinning Drew. “Never thought I’d see the day. He really responds to you. Bloody brilliant.”

My lips tug into a hesitant smile. “Why is that funny?”

Drew shrugs. “It’s ironic, that’s all. The boy who swore to me he’d never be interested in girls, is madly in love with you.”

Heat travels through my body and warms my cheeks as I smile wider. “You think he loves me?”

Drew’s perplexing amusement only grows as he starts to belly laugh. “You must know that? He broke you out of here, went to hell and back to keep you safe, no man does that for a girl he isn’t in love with.”

Though Cristan has told me before, I let Drew’s words wash over me, soothing away my lingering doubts about Cristan’s motivation.

Surely Drew would know such things? He knows Cristan better than anyone. I find myself grinning at Drew, and for a brief moment, I forget about why we’re here, about losing my family, my status, and bask in the knowledge that my fiercest protector does so because he loves me.

Drew’s smile disappears as his expression grows serious. “Look. I’m not one for small talk.

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