This is bad.“Do you think he’s working against us?”
“He’s most likely taking a calculated step back to see how things play out.”
“Then why did he agree to meet with me?”
“So Unity wouldn’t know he’s waiting to see how things play out.”
I let out an angry sigh, worried about how our allies might react to not having High Hope’s military support. I can donothing about that now except wait to speak with the king myself.
“We shouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Timothy says. “The king’s hesitation to join could be related to how protected his city is, not to mention how far it is from Denver.”
“That’s possible,” Lyla says, though she sounds doubtful. “I suggest you keep acting like High Hope’s involvement is fully on the table, but keep a close watch for anything suspicious. You might notice something I missed.”
I nod. “I’ll do that.”
She stands up and asks Timothy, “Are you staying here or coming with me?”
“Well…”
“You should go,” I say. They have a lot of catching up to do.
He climbs down from the bed. “Could we ride up the mountain in one of those cable cars? River said the view is even better up there.”
“Sure.”
“Wonderful. Finn, I’ll be sure to return before nighttime to keep an eye on Caden.”
Lyla frowns, but I don’t explain, and they both leave. Once alone, I slump back on the bed, finding it too soft. I enjoyed my time on the road, but I’m glad to have a roof over my head again with the nights getting colder. I always dreaded winters when my family moved from place to place, but I was in the Hive during the last winter, sometimes forgetting which season it was.
Worried I might fall asleep, I force myself to take a shower, happy that the water pressure is so strong. Like everything elsearound, even the bathtub is made of brown stone that was carved from the mountain. Once dressed, I eat some of the food but don’t touch the wine. I wonder if Caden has fallen asleep already. I leave my room and walk down the hallway to check. I knock gently but get no response, so I try the handle. The door opens, revealing Caden lying on the bed with his eyes closed. He didn’t even take off his uniform before crashing.
I step inside quietly and shut the door behind me, then grab a blanket to carefully cover him. Since I have nothing better to do until the king calls for me, I sit on a chair by the door, watching Caden as he lies facing me. He looks younger and calmer when he sleeps, with less hardness around his eyes. I scan the room, not surprised to see he’s chosen the smallest one on the floor. He always claims his apartment is too big, even though it isn’t. But maybe everything can feel too big if you’re rarely there to enjoy it.
I stop looking around and jolt when I catch Caden watching me. I start to speak, but the words die in my mouth. He’s not really looking at me, even with his eyes wide open and filled with terror.
I clear my throat. “Caden?”
His breaths are fast and shallow, his body trembling. Beads of sweat slide down his forehead. I want to shake him, but what if he wakes up and attacks me? I remain numb in my seat, watching him fight whatever the hell is haunting his subconscious. Witnessing what only Josh has seen before, I’m positive that this is no ordinary nightmare. Cadenisseeing something.
“Stay back,” he says. “Stay back!”
A sudden jolt wakes him up. He glances around, blinking as his vision focuses on me. I remain quiet, giving him time to collect himself while my heart still drums. To my surprise, he doesn’t seem rattled, as if the horrors of his subconscious have become familiar.
“It’s getting worse,” I say, “or are you just used to this by now?”
“I think it’s both.”
“Those are not normal dreams, Caden.”
He wipes sweat from his brow. “Tell me about it.”
I don’t know what to say to make this better, and the fear in his eyes is painful to watch.
“Can we go get some fresh air?” I ask.
He sighs. “Good idea.”
*