Cage leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest. “Look, Kenz, I’m not sure how to say this without pissing you off.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s a great start.”

Again, that ghost smile touched his lips, there and gone almost before I glimpsed it. “I know you’ve been around prisons most of your life, but this . . . it’s different. The kids on Sanctuary were mostly victims of circumstances. The people here are a hell of a lot more dangerous. I’ve dealt with them. I know how to deal with them. You . . .”

“Don’t,” I said, a queasy feeling in my stomach. He was right, but I hated the reminder of my helplessness. I rolled my shoulders and drew myself to my full height. “But I’m going to have to learn. I can’t hide behind you forever, Cage. And I can take care of myself.”

“There is not a doubt in my mind that that’s true,” he said with such conviction that, to my horror, tears welled behind my eyes. I forced them back, but I couldn’t get rid of the pleasant warmth that came with them. I’d spent so much of the last weeks doubting myself. Cage’s obvious sincerity sent a jolt right to my heart. “I just want you to be careful. There aren’t any second chances here.”

I nodded, steeling myself. I didn’t have a lot of experiences to draw on for navigating an enclosed space full of people who would probably slit my throat as soon as look at me. But if I survived a shipful of alien creatures determined to harvest my flesh and assimilate my mind, well . . . a street gang and a Russian mob didn’t seem like much of a threat.

“I can handle myself,” I said firmly. I hesitated a moment, then pressed on. “But you should know I haven’t changed my mind. As soon as we’re out of danger, I’m telling the others the truth.”

He didn’t have to ask what I was talking about. “It’s a bad idea,” he said flatly.

“Maybe, but it’s my bad idea.” I imagined the betrayal on everyone’s faces, especially Rune, my gentle, soft-spoken friend. “I can’t hide this forever. I did what I did, and I have to face up to it. I mean, I feel like they’re beginning to trust me, and . . .”

“And you’re determined to break that trust.”

My head shot up, my eyes locking with his. “No, to earn it. What’s this really about, Cage? Are you worried about the others trusting me? Or about them finding out we lied?”

His brows knit into a solid, heavy line. “I told you I’d be honest with you,” he said, his muted voice making me realize I’d almost yelled the last few words. “So yeah. I am worried about how they’ll react about us lying to them. Especially Rune. She barely trusts me as it is. But that doesn’t make my other objections invalid.”