By choosing Jack, I would doom not only Aric, but Selena as well.

41

DAY 381 A.F.

“This is blowing my ever-loving mind,” Selena muttered as we watched Death and Jack riding point together.

The four of us were heading south on horseback, along the slavers’ alternate route, a shortcut recently discovered and mapped by the Azey.

The “day” was cold and black, with spates of drizzle. Every now and then, I thought I spied a snowflake—like the sole one I’d seen at Aric’s—but it always turned out to be a bit of ash.

“If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be riding with Death,” Selena continued, “I would’ve shoved his head up his ass.”

The four of us could’ve taken a truck, trailering the horses, but we all had reasons to ride instead.

Selena wanted to heal more before she faced everyone at Fort Arcana. Her accelerated regeneration was erasing her bruises, mending her new burn wound and her hand. She thought she’d be able to draw her cherished bow soon. She’d been stuffing herself, already gaining weight. But she scratched at that icon so much, she’d taken to wearing gloves at all times.

Jack had voted for horseback because he burned to roust out any other slavers that had set up in Azey territory. No takers so far.

I’d been desperate for time to come to a decision. We were due back at the outpost tonight, and I still hadn’t made my choice.

Death had laughed at the idea of trailering his horse. Which was understandable, considering what that stallion had done to those chronicle-seeking clones.

Thanatos bench pressed three eighty and left us a pile of carnate chum. . . .

Selena steered her mount closer to mine. “You didn’t hear—because your senses are like a rock’s—but those two were talking earlier.”

“About what?” Deepening my voice, I imitated a guy, “You fought well, worthy foe.”

“I know, right? So J.D. goes, ‘I’m Jackson Deveaux. We’ve been in battle together. You goan to give me your real name, or what?’ The Reaper was all stumped, like he’s not used to being asked that.”

He wasn’t. And he was even less used to answering that question. Aric would never tell Jack.

Selena continued, “But then the Reaper says, ‘My name is Aric Domīnija.’”

My eyes went wide. Just like everything else about Aric, his name had come out into the world. I found my lips curving. Until I thought of my looming decision. Pain awaited me either way.

Selena cocked her head. “If J.D. can tolerate Dom nija, then I guess I can too. It’s easier when the Reaper isn’t raising a sword or wearing that creepy helmet.”

Aric had kept it stowed on his saddle more often than not. To some degree, he must trust Selena and Jack not to strike. And maybe he felt our strength in numbers against an outside threat.

Perhaps he’d realized all these fascinating new interactions were easier with his face unconcealed.

Jack received a transceiver call from Rodrigo then, answering with important-sounding military lingo.

“Didn’t I tell you he was a leader?” Selena all but sighed. “Isn’t he amazing?”

I got the weirdest impression that she was selling me on him. Or was she just bragging?

“I’m glad you got to see J.D. with the army last night.”

Jack had given an inspiring speech about being a force for good—providing protection for survivors. And he’d outlined a game plan.

Azey South was marching to Louisiana to start work on a new settlement. Azey North would descend upon the Shrine, eliminating the Bagger infestation to secure all the supplies.

Then the two armies would unify again to form New Acadiana.

Jack had been magnetic, giving folks a new story to tell. Hope had been palpable. Even as the temperature dropped—and night endured.

I gazed up at the murky sky. “Selena, you ever think the sun will come out?” The question reminded me of Jack’s words: You ever think we deserve better than the Basin? If he’d had the courage to hope, shouldn’t I as well?

Selena rolled her eyes. “If the sun can disappear, it can reappear. Really, Evie. Duh.” She took out her canteen, trying to open it, about to take the top off with her teeth.

I leaned over and yanked it from her. What was I going to do with this girl? “Here.” I handed it back, opened for her.

She chugged, swiping her coat sleeve over her chin. “Hey, drop back a little. Want to talk to you.”

Was she finally going to confide in me about her ordeal? I’d asked her a few times, but she always refused. “Anything you want to discuss, Selena. I’m here.”

“Not about . . . that. I’ve put that time out of my head.” The circles under her eyes belied her nonchalance.

“You can’t just ignore it.”

Her signature the hell expression firmly in place, she said, “Do you think about the cannibals you laid out? Or the time you almost ate raw human? Or the plague victims you offed? Yeah, I heard about that. You don’t dwell on painful stuff. Neither will I.”

I hadn’t given up on getting her to confide in me, but I backed off for now. “Then what’s on your mind?”

“What’s going on with you and Jack?”

Excellent question from the Archer. “Well, we talked after his speech, about the past few days and such.” Without a word, he’d led me behind a tent. . . .

“How you leaning, peekôn?”