I’m the reason Nick even came back to the Legendborn in the first place. Maybe it all would have happened anyway—no one can escape their blood just like no one can escape the truth. But the dominoes that brought us here today began with me when I ran from my mother’s death instead of facing it. And now, if I choose to run again, someone else I love could die.

I can’t let that happen.

“I won’t run. We’re going after Nick.”

Sel smirks. William’s eyes squeeze shut. Alice’s fingers jerk on my knee, but she says nothing. Gill and Samira exchange a look.

The older woman stands, nodding. “The Crown Scion has spoken. We’ll get you to a safehouse for the night. You all need a clear head, a meal, and a full eight.” She jerks her chin toward a sliding door at the back of the seating area. “Two compartments in the back, each with bunks. Some sandwiches and bottled water in the mini fridge. Rest up. Gonna go update Lyssa and ’Phelia.” She walks toward the cockpit and leaves us in silence.

William shoves to his feet and heads to the bunks without another word, pulling the door closed behind him. I hear his footsteps recede, then a second door slides open and closed. I stand up to follow, but Gill is there with a soft hand on my elbow.

“Let him go,” she says. “It’s not going to go away anytime soon, what it did to him when you were captive, what they made him do. First there was Whitty, now this. Just give him time.”

I swallow and nod as she steps around me and follows Samira. I’ll let William go, because I know she’s right. He’s not the only one haunted by what happened at the Institute. Even here, thousands of feet in the air and surrounded by allies, there’s a part of me that feels like if I fall asleep, I might wake up disoriented. Confused. Certain that I was put to sleep like a toy left in a windowless room.

I jump when Sel abruptly moves to follow Gill.

“Sel—”

“Gonna go find out where they are taking us,” he mutters without looking back at me.

“Matty.”

Abruptly, I feel Alice wrap an arm around my shoulder and pull me to a corner as far away from the cockpit as possible.