Edge of Truth (9781310978142)

by Hanova, Natasha

  Nevan sat forward and tapped on her map. “See, I knew it!”

  Her stomach sank a little because she knew where he was heading with the comment. She looked at him as she rolled the pencil between her fingers. “Knew what?”

  “Tell the truth. The day you showed up at my house…” A knowing smile crossed his face as he pointed at her. “You weren’t lost.”

  “What makes you think that?” She blinked too fast and too many times.

  He lowered his gaze to the map then back to her. “So far, your map is perfect, right down to the quantity and location of the orchard domes. I think it’s time you tell me everything. What were you really doing that day? More importantly, how is it connected to your friend’s disappearance?

  Rena sighed and rubbed her neck. One look told her he wasn’t going to let this go. He wanted the truth. She folded a blank piece of paper in half.

  “Swear you will never tell another living soul.”

  He held her gaze for a moment before he said, “I promise.”

  He didn’t look away or blink. The genuineness in his eyes gave her confidence to tell him what he deserved to know, considering what he was risking to help her. She folded the paper twice, then stuffed it in her pocket. “Sometimes, I go out to Westrock to blow off steam. And yes, I know it’s not safe and it’s against the law, but for some reason, it makes me feel better.”

  “See, that’s what I like about you. You know what you want and don’t let anybody get in your way.” He lifted his hand, as if encouraging her to continue. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Go on.”

  Nevan actually liked something about her? And that’s what it was? She smiled to herself. “The day I showed up at your house…” Her ears burned at the memory. “The reason I looked the way I did was because there was an earthquake.” She peeked at him. “In Westrock.”

  “Now it makes sense. I knew your story didn’t sound right. I was wondering how you managed to get that scuffed up walking around town.”

  “I know.” She shook her head and looked away. “What a way to make a first impression?”

  He leaned back stretching his long arms across the back of the bench. “That wasn’t my first impression of you.”

  A delicate blush crept up her cheeks. “Market?”

  Nevan grinned as he shook his head.

  “School?”

  “Nope.”

  “Transit Plaza?” She spied on him there most often.

  The grin spread across his face, making his eyes twinkle and his dimple show. “South Lake. Maiden Walk.”

  “Last year?” At his nod, she buried her face in her hands. “That’s worse.”

  He tilted his head. “Worse?”

  She smoothed the edge of the already flat paper. “I earned the lead. They put Liana front of me.”

  “Don’t remember seeing anyone in front of you.”

  “She was wearing a pale pink dress.” The ‘how could you miss it?’ implied in her tone.

  “I only remember you.”

  Heat slid down the back of her neck. Of all the times for him to notice her, that was the most embarrassing. “I looked like a complete bodink. I was beyond furious that day.”

  “You wore it very well,” he said in a husky tone.

  The pencil lead broke beneath the pressure of her hand. Flirting. Definitely flirting. No doubt. There was nothing delicate about the blush on her face now. Meeting his admiring gaze was her undoing. Warmth blossomed from her core and spread through her like wild fire. She struggled not to pick up the paper and fan her face. She knew she should respond. But she simply sat there, the silence around them growing thick. Yet, Nevan’s posture remained relaxed.

  She squirmed, placing both feet flat on the ground. From a distance behind her, the languid footsteps of a man grew nearer. His left step was slightly heavier than the right as if he were carrying something in his left hand.

  She twisted to face the waiter the moment he stopped behind her. “Can I get a water?”

  His judging gaze raked over her. “How are you planning to pay?”

  “Guess you’ll find out when you return with the product.”

  Nevan chuckled as the man walked away. “How’d you know he was there?”

  “Saw his reflection.”

  “On fiberglass?” He knew the wall texture without turning to study it.

  She didn’t respond, and he didn’t press her. She really needed to be more careful, before she accidentally revealed herself as Other. She added miscellaneous things like trees and boulders to the map. “After that earthquake hit, it opened a cave near the base of the Jordan Mountains. Don’t ask me which mountain, because I don’t remember their names. Anyway, there were things inside. Time capsules. I thought they would help me afford Eden land, but now I’m not sure.”

  “How deep in the badlands were you?”

  She set the pencil down. “What difference does it make?”

  “Something my dad told me once. I didn’t believe him, but maybe it’s true.” He tapped the map near the Jordan Mountains. “When his grandfather’s grandfather was a little boy, people hid things near here. Some for safekeeping, others memorial. Probably hundreds of small caves out there with all kinds of valuables in them.”

  Her eyes grew wide. Had she found one of them? She felt dizzy. There were more caves, more antiques. Could hers be one of…

  “Hundreds?” she whispered.

  The waiter returned with the water bottle. The seal was still intact. She pulled out fifteen units and tossed it on the tray.

  Nevan waited for the waiter to leave then scooted closer to her. He spoke in a low voice.

  “There’s a really big one out there somewhere. Before their city fell during the war, people from Crimson hid some stuff out there, too. There’s no written record of it. Didn’t want the enemy to find it. By now, most people think it’s a myth.”

  “Do you think I found the Crimson City time capsules?”

  “Could be. If it is…” He shifted close enough to whisper in her ear. “Rena, they’re not some random time capsules, they’re a treasure trove. If you found it, you are probably now the wealthiest person in Hollowcrest. Maybe in the Nest, too.”

  She jumped to her feet. “Sweet Mother Earth, Nevan! I can’t believe it!”

  He stood, gesturing for her to calm down. “Be cool, Lil’ Mama.”

  She grimaced when she realized the amount of attention her shrill voice had drawn. People from other booths leaned out as they peered in her direction. Even more patrons who were lounging on the couches and chairs perked up and twisted to see what the commotion was about. The waiter who’d brought her water set down his tray and headed straight for them. A stern look crossed his face.

  Nevan and her were supposed to be keeping a low profile. She wanted to bolt, but he clasped her hands and drew them to his broad chest. Somehow, his touch amplified her gift to sense vibrations. Her body hummed with the echoes of every thump, clank, and thud. She wondered whether Nevan felt the thrum coursing through her.

  “Say ‘yes’.” He used that deep voice that rolled over her skin like warm water. It drew more attention. He nodded.

  “Yes?” she whispered.

  Two things happened simultaneously. He caressed her freckles with his thumbs, and she flattened her itchy hands against his chest. His heart tapped a steady rhythm on her palm. She closed her eyes, drowning in his heart song, his warm citrus scent. When his lips touched hers, his breathing hitched. Rena’s stopped altogether. He drew her face tighter, nose pressed against her cheek as his hands glided over her ears until his fingers touched the nape of her neck. He pulled back enough to gaze into her eyes.

  Her lips mourned the loss of his warmth.

  When she rose up on her toes, intensity flared in his eyes, and he kissed her again. One hand moved to her lower back, the other somewhere near her shoulder, still somewhat restrained. She cupped the back of his neck and all that careful control evaporated. His mouth tasted spicy,
sweet. The thump of his heartbeat reverberated through her no matter where she touched him—back, shoulders, waist. She was lost to the world, entranced by the cadence of his kiss. Her legs went numb, and he tightened his hold. Then he swept her up off her feet and into his strong embrace.

  Their lips parted.

  It took a moment for her vision to focus and her hearing to return. The crowd clapped and cheered. She hid her face in the curve of Nevan’s neck. With swift steps, he carried her to the door. Even after it closed behind them, she could still hear the crowd.

  Words escaped her as he carried her through the plush crimson-walled room and down the stairs. He set her on the ground before he collapsed on a bench. She didn’t trust her wobbly legs to carry her the three steps to sit.

  His smoldering eyes captured her as he licked his lips. “You taste like blackberries.”

  Rena touched her throat, her fingers playing along her collarbone as she stared at his mouth. Her palms and soles tingled. The warm shivers it sent through her arms and legs erased every trace of stress her muscles had been harboring. She was still able to sense music through the floor, but was nowhere near setting off an earthquake. Usually, it took triggering one to experience such freedom. She preferred kissing Nevan. Licking her lips, she lifted her gaze up to his eyes.

  He blinked for the first time in a minute.

  She cleared her throat. “I’m not complaining, but uhh…that kinda caught me off guard.”

  “I-I…uh…” He pushed his hands over his dreads.

  She’d never heard him stutter. Glad she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t speak properly.

  He rested his elbows on his knees. “When you got all excited, you drew a lot of attention our way. I had to do something.”

  Her first real kiss was a sham, and she didn’t care. She hooked her thumbs in her back pockets and tilted her head as she peered at Nevan. “They think you proposed, and I said yes.”

  “I couldn’t think of anything else. I’m sorry.”

  People who were sorry didn’t stare into your eyes daring you to come closer. They didn’t study your mouth while licking their lips. No, Nevan wasn’t sorry. He sat there with a smug and satisfied grin.

  “Liar,” Rena whispered. Maybe he wasn’t faking after all. Euphoria from kissing him mixed with the dread of her missing best friend. It left her in an emotionally awkward place. She couldn’t be completely happy, because she was too worried about Blaze. She tugged down the hem of her shirt. “We should head out.”

  Nevan cleared his throat and nodded as he shifted and pulled the remaining cash from his pocket. “We better stop and buy supplies first. Water, food, matches, rope.” He stood as he continued, “Be nice if we could find a way to get a knife, too.”

  Rena scoffed. She always carried standard stuff like lip balm, sunscreen, and a water canteen. The things Nevan suggested would only weigh them down. “I’ve never needed that stuff before.”

  He closed the distance between them, resting a warm hand on her shoulder. “This time, is different.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Saturday, June 24

  Early Evening

  They trudged along a path to the orchard domes. Excessive heat from the Burning lingered. Every now and then, a tree would grace them with shade. In an attempt to cool down, Rena lifted her braids to let out trapped heat. She also tugged her lavender t-shirt away from her sweaty skin. The cargos locked in heat, making her wish she could peel them off.

  If only she’d been as smart as Nevan with his convertible clothing. He’d long ago detached the sleeves from his shirt and the legs from his pants. Her mom would’ve liked him. He planned. He worked hard. According to Chai, he was next in line for Lead Grower. Even though she didn’t know anything about Aggie job rankings, it sounded impressive.

  “Did you reschedule that meeting?” she asked.

  “What meeting?”

  “The one with Mr. Elliott.”

  He adjusted the weight of the backpack. “You been talking to Chai?”

  “She said it’s all you think about.”

  “Sometimes I forget to shield my thoughts. She’s still learning how to control her ability. Would be easier if we could talk to someone. Find her a tutor.”

  “I can relate. And don’t think I didn’t notice you’re avoiding my question.”

  He held his silence a while longer then said, “I couldn’t get it rescheduled.”

  “What! Why not?”

  “Mr. Elliott’s a real nice guy, but his boss never wanted me to get that promotion. He gave me impossible goals and put every obstacle he could think of in my way.”

  “But it didn’t stop you?”

  “When there’s something I want, can’t nothing stop me from getting it.” He looked at her a breath too long for a glance. Like he really wanted her to understand the weight of his words.

  A fresh wave of heat rushed to her cheeks. “Is there any way you can still get the promotion?”

  “I’m sure Mr. Elliott would work out a deal with me if I asked, but it’d cost him.”

  “Cash?”

  “Pride.”

  “I’m sorry, Nevan. About your job. You didn’t have to come.”

  He stopped and adjusted the brim of his hat. “I want to help. And I don’t regret that decision.”

  “Thanks,” she said, but it didn’t feel like enough. She’d have to find a way to make this up to him.

  By the time they reached the outskirts of the domes, her body ached, from her tender soles to her tight calf muscles to her throbbing shoulders. She couldn’t imagine how sore Nevan must be since he carried the additional weight of her backpack. With his fingers hooked through the straps and his eyes locked on the horizon, he appeared lost in thought. She wondered what was on his mind. What caused his eyebrows to knit together like that? What made the corner of his eyes glisten in the sunlight? What weighed down the corner of his mouth?

  “You ready for a break yet?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “Let’s rest over there.” She motioned to a huge shade tree. They crossed the grass and the instant the shade covered them, the temperature dropped. She sat up against the tree with her legs folded underneath her. The rough surface of the bark poked her sore back, but, in an odd way, it felt good. The white siding of the orchard domes stood in stark contrast to the green surrounding them and the backdrop of the bright blue sky. Even from a distance, the ‘Sponsored by Overlord Andrick’ signs were easy to read.

  Nevan set the backpack on the ground, drawing her attention back to him as he joined her. He twiddled his thumbs as she pulled out two water bottles.

  “Thanks,” he whispered as he studied the bottle on his lap.

  She twisted hers open and took a swig. “Sure you’re not upset about missing your meeting?”

  He leaned his head against the tree, his gaze on the domes ahead. “This is where they took him. Every time I come to this part of the orchard, I think of him.”

  “The friend you told me about at lunch? The one you used to go to the Underground with?”

  “Yeah, Cyrus. We’d just finished working when it happened.” He stared at a random spot on the ground. “It could’ve been me.”

  She waited a moment for him to continue. When he didn’t, she sat forward and asked. “What happened?”

  He shook his head as he spoke. “He was my boy, but he was lazy. Only had one thing on his mind most of the time.”

  She knew many guys like that, the kind who made a sport of dating as many girls as they could at the same time without the girls finding out about it.

  “A hound…” she whispered. She didn’t mean to say it aloud, but was relieved when Nevan nodded with no trace of anger on his face.

  “He’d spent most the day up to no good and fell behind on his quota. I was on my way out when I saw him hauling baskets to the processing dome.”

  “Don’t you have machines that carry them?”

  “We do, but they only ru
n certain hours.” He picked up a twig, snapping it into small pieces as he spoke. “Cyrus messed up and got real far behind. I knew he wasn’t going to be able to finish before lockdown. I helped him, even though I was in a hurry to get going. On the last load,” Nevan paused, flicked the last piece of the twig, and dropped his hands to his lap. “I pulled a muscle in my back.”

  Rena reached out and took hold of his hand.

  He gently squeezed it as he continued, “He had to help me walk out and…uh…we saw the Synbots heading toward us. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

  “They patrol way out here?” They were stationed at the factory, but Rena always assumed the Aggies had more freedom where the Syns were concerned.

  “They patrol everywhere.” He let go of her hand, plucked a piece of grass, and rubbed it between his fingers. A sweet scent lingered.

  “Did it happen after curfew?”

  “Nah, we still had about an hour. I didn’t think they were coming for us, but Cyrus said something didn’t feel right about it. Told me sometimes they collect people. I didn’t believe him. Then—”

  “Wait.” She thought back to the boy she saw stalking in the shadows the day she crashed Nevan’s house. “You mean arrest people right?”

  He shook his head. “Cyrus used to say Nesties sent Syns to find human guinea pigs. For experiments.”

  “They can do that?” She couldn’t keep the disbelief out of her voice. “And the Overlord lets them?”

  “Maybe he doesn’t know.”

  “He knows about everything.”

  “That’s exactly what he wants you to think.”

  “Did you and Cyrus try to run or hide?”

  “My back was hurting bad. I couldn’t get anywhere fast, and Cyrus wouldn’t leave me behind no matter what I said.” He dropped the withered blade of grass and eased back against the tree. “Besides, those things read heat signatures. You can’t easily hide from them.”

  “What’d you do?”

  “Couldn’t do nothing.” Nevan’s voice escalated with each sentence. “We weren’t breaking laws. We had every right to be standing outside the place we work. We weren’t doing anything wrong. Not a dang thing.” His hand balled into a fist. “They looked at both of us. Me standing there all hunched. Cyrus standing straight. Tall. Proud. They took him.” He pounded his fist on the grass and looked up at the branches. “And there wasn’t anything I could do about it.” His words came out shaky as his nostrils flared.