But the way their lips twist in satisfaction tells me my words aren’t making any sense. My eyes grow heavier. I crane for a view of the room. Wires, a metal door, sterile, but the walls are made of stone. I know this place… from Binding. Am I in the Central District? Boots walk past a small window high on the wall.

Underground. I’m…

I need to get back to them… my people… they…

I blink again and this time the space between the images is longer. Even my breath is heavy somehow. A weight. “Jham—” The words dissolve on my tongue as everything disappears.

I swallow, my shirt balled in my fist. H-he had me strapped down. The one with eyelashes. I-in a lab or somewhere. It looked like the room where I was bound to magic. I close my eyes tight, glimpsing for more but find nothing. Why… why did I forget? I run my fingers over the places Jhamal stitched. I shut my eyes, trying to pull at more remnants of the memory, but it’s gone as fast as it’d come. The weight of the past several months sits on me like a brick.

Five… four… three… two… one.

My grip eases.

Five… four… three… two… one.

Focus, Rue. I force out a breath. You can do this. You can find a way to get everyone fighting again. You can win.

I blink and the Ghizoni looks at me expectantly. My cheeks burn, realizing I don’t know anything he just said. I want him to know he is important to me. Not only in fighting for us but sitting in the little moments too.

“You know what I mean?” he says, smiling warmly, my distractedness going unnoticed, thankfully. “Anyway, it was so nice to meet with you.”

“I-it was so nice to meet you, too.” I reach for his hand. “Let’s talk again soon.” He smiles brighter at that, and I smile too, thankful to have done something right.

I spot a crowd of onlookers folded over drinks across the room. Bati isn’t among them. I recognize Kai and her Yakanna at the center of all of them. They are standoffish from everyone else, and something about Kai’s expression tells me that’s intentional. She’s not a fan of me or she doubts me. Of course she does. Why would she feel any other way? But I can show her. I can show all of them.

Another steps up to talk to me when I catch sight of a white head of locs and almost fall out of my seat getting up. “Sorry, if you’ll excuse me.” I jet off, push between a few pointy elbows, and clamp a hand on the familiar shoulder.

“Bati!” Without thinking, I hug him.