Chapter Twenty-Eight
When Gemma woke, Christian was lying on his stomach, one arm heavy across her waist, his breathing slow and even.
In the soft glow of the battery lamp, the lines around his eyes seemed less sharp, and his brow was relaxed in a way she rarely saw when he was awake.
The cot beneath them was barely big enough for them and a little uneven, but after weeks of sleeping in a shelter or in a prison cell, the cot felt indulgent.
For a moment, she thought about staying still and letting the morning drift by while she pretended the rest of the world wasn’t waiting outside. But the camp was stirring, and she might as well make use of herself if they were going to be sheltering here for the foreseeable future.
She carefully slid out from under Christian’s arm. He made a small sound and shifted onto his side but didn’t wake. A soft smile on her face, Gemma couldn’t help but tuck him in a little.
The air outside her tent was thick and heavy, humid in a way that made her skin feel damp within minutes.
A woman carrying a folded blanket passed by with a nod.
Nearby, someone hammered metal in steady, measured strikes.
The scent of algae broth drifted from the mess tent, but beneath it was something warmer—smokey and rich—that made her stomach twist with both hunger and curiosity.
After grabbing a bite to eat, Gemma followed the glow of the central lamps to the raised slab of the command tent.
Nadine was bent over a table, scanning a map crowded with pencil lines and colored pins.
Her dark brown hair was tied back in a loose bun, a few strands sticking to her temple in the heat.
“You’re awake early,” she said without looking at her.
“I’ve functioned on less sleep,” Gemma replied, managing a faint smile.
Nadine straightened, tapping the edge of the map. “We could really use your help in the med tent, if you’re up to it.”
Gemma nodded. At least it would give her something to do other than think about when she might spontaneously combust. “And Christian?”
“With Hawk, figuring out how to get you off this fucking planet. Imara’s already in the electronics tent. Come on. Let me introduce you to some people.”
They walked the perimeter together. Nadine pointed out the scaffolds around the edges and the people posted there as protection against any possible Systems infiltration.
The lamps on their platforms cast pale halos across the stone walls, the glow catching on rifle barrels and glinting in watchful eyes.
In the armory, racks of rifles stood behind locked mesh, and crates stenciled with coded numbers were stacked in neat rows.
In the communications tent, Imara sat alongside three others, listening in on the Systems and weeding through updates from the Dissent members planted in the streets of Perileos.
Every place and every person in the Dissent’s Tent City served a purpose.
As Nadine continued her introductory tour, Gemma’s heart softened toward her sister.
Everywhere they went, people greeted Nadine with small smiles, nods, or a hand to the shoulder.
Nadine didn’t just know them—she remembered things about them.
Names, injuries, whose sister had just had a child or whose cousin had been lost on the surface.
Seeing Nadine like this, rooted and respected, reminded Gemma so much of the sister she’d known three years ago. The sister who Gemma had worked alongside in the infirmary, who she’d looked up to, who’d raised Gemma for half her life.
Tears pooled in her bottom lids. Could they ever be that close again after everything that had happened?
“What is it?” Nadine asked, pulling Gemma aside just before they’d returned to the command tent.
“It’s just . . . did you even consider what my life would be like after I thought you’d been murdered?”
Nadine sighed. “I did, but I felt like I had no choice. I told you—Reymond was planning something really big that would’ve started an all-out war with the Systems. A war we would’ve lost. I had to do something, but I hadn’t yet built my own following within the Dissent.
So, yes, I used you to buy me some time. ”
A tear slipped from Gemma’s eye, and she wiped it away furiously. “Seriously? Those were the worst years of my life, and you put me through that to ‘buy yourself some time?’”
Her voice had grown louder, but Nadine didn’t flinch.
“What do you want me to say, Gemma? You want me to lie to you and say I regret it? I can’t. It was the only way I knew how to save my people—our people. But I also knew you’d win your Trials. You’ve always been smarter than me and braver than me.”
Gemma shook her head.
“It is true,” Nadine argued. “And it’s why I knew I could convince Reymond to hold off on attacking Zion.
I never wanted to lie to you. And I definitely never wanted to hurt you.
But I was right about you, wasn’t I? You were strong enough to make it through those three years without me and pass your Trials and follow through on killing—well, trying to kill—Rami.
And as I told you before, Colton was already loyal to me.
He made sure he was on your team so that he could keep watch over you.
I never would’ve let anything bad happen to you. ”
“Seriously? I got arrested and tortured. Or did you forget that part?” She made sure to lace her words with poison.
Nadine’s face fell. “I know. When Colton told me what happened . . . If there had been a ship docked at Oranos at the time, I would’ve jumped into it and given up everything to come get you.”
“It takes two weeks to get to Reva from Oranos.”
“That’s beside the point. I was fucking livid. I almost blew my cover. But then Colton got word to me they’d let you go, and we figured out a way to get our plans back in motion.”
“You mean your plans to kill innocent soldiers.” She fought the urge to roll her eyes.
A spark of anger passed through Nadine’s eyes.
“None of those soldiers in Zion are innocent. You have no idea the things I’ve seen them do or what they’re willing to trade for those high-value, prized goods we in Perileos never end up seeing.
You’ve met the Kaizen. How do you think she rose so high in rank so fast? ”
Nadine placed her hand on Gemma’s shoulder.
“Please believe me when I say I never would’ve introduced you to the Dissent if I’d had any other option.
I wish you could’ve stayed innocent and happy in the infirmary.
Fuck, there were so many times growing up I wished I could trade places with you.
But you’ve always been my priority, and the Dissent provided for us where working in the infirmary couldn’t.
I am truly sorry it led to this, though. ”
Gemma frowned when Nadine motioned to the markings on her arm.
“I promise you,” Nadine continued, “I will gladly give my life if it means keeping you safe. You have my word.”
Gemma’s stomach knotted. She wanted to forgive her. Truly. And she definitely still loved her; Nadine was her sister, after all. But Nadine’s actions had led to nothing but pain and agony and betrayal.
“Even if keeping me safe means turning against the Dissent?” Gemma challenged.
Nadine frowned but never replied.
“Exactly.” Gemma’s heart sank, but this time, no tears came.
It was as if her body at last realized Gemma’s relationship with her sister would never be the same again.
“Look, I appreciate you giving me and my friends a safe place to hide until we figure out where to go, but you and I . . .” She shook her head.
“It’s gonna take me a long time to forgive you for what you did.
I’ll work in the infirmary and do my part to help the people in this place, but stop pretending like I mean anything to you.
It’s obvious you’ve always put them first, so why stop now? ”
Nadine still refused to speak, but while her face remained impassive, a small flicker of sadness crossed over her eyes. Gemma’s chest pinched, but she wouldn’t take back what she’d said. She’d meant it all.
Without another word, she turned and headed for the med tent.
Nadine’s need for Gemma in the med tent had been an overstatement. Polly—the other healer—hadn’t needed Gemma’s help with anything, and with just one person stopping by for assistance in the several hours Gemma sat there, she decided she’d had enough boredom for one day.
As she wandered in the direction of her tent, commotion forced her from her mindless thoughts. Many of the Dissent members were hurrying toward the rope rig that Gemma had descended with Nadine. She sped after them.
The first figure dropped into view. It was the same broad-shouldered man who’d helped them get into Perileos—Theo, she heard someone call him. He landed lightly for his size, a coil of wire slung across his back. He scanned the crowd until his eyes found Nadine in the front line.
“It’s about fucking time,” Nadine said, stepping forward to embrace the man in a hug.
The next climber dropped down. She was young—even younger than Gemma—with light blond hair tied atop her head. She’d been the one to set off the distraction. Her cheeks were flushed from exertion, but her eyes sparkled with a kind of reckless satisfaction.
“Lysa!” Christian shouted from across the crowd, pushing through the few people in front of him to reach his sister.
Lysa ran into his arms, and Gemma felt a pang of longing as she watched them.
That was the kind of reunion she’d hoped she’d have with Nadine after Gemma had learned her sister was still alive.
Several more individuals hopped off the ladder to the hugs of their family and friends. Gemma turned to leave, her heart in a vise, when Christian’s hand found her elbow.
“Hey, Gem, I’d like you to meet my sister. Lysa, this is her.”
Lysa’s eyes were a vibrant green, and they were bright with unadulterated joy. Without even asking, she pulled Gemma into a hug. “Oh my stars, I’m so happy to meet you.”