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Chapters (61)
  1. Copyright
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Map of The Wastes
  5. I
  6. Chapter One
  7. Chapter Two
  8. Chapter Three
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. II
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. Chapter Ten
  17. Chapter Eleven
  18. Chapter Twelve
  19. Chapter Thirteen
  20. Chapter Fourteen
  21. Chapter Fifteen
  22. Chapter Sixteen
  23. Chapter Seventeen
  24. Chapter Eighteen
  25. Chapter Nineteen
  26. Chapter Twenty
  27. III
  28. Chapter Twenty-One
  29. Chapter Twenty-Two
  30. Chapter Twenty-Three
  31. Chapter Twenty-Four
  32. Chapter Twenty-Five
  33. Chapter Twenty-Six
  34. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  35. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  36. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  37. Chapter Thirty
  38. Chapter Thirty-One
  39. IV
  40. Chapter Thirty-Two
  41. Chapter Thirty-Three
  42. Chapter Thirty-Four
  43. Chapter Thirty-Five
  44. Chapter Thirty-Six
  45. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  46. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  47. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  48. Chapter Forty
  49. V
  50. Chapter Forty-One
  51. Chapter Forty-Two
  52. Chapter Forty-Three
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Acknowledgments
  56. Sample Chapter from ALL THESE MONSTERS
  57. 1
  58. Buy the Book
  59. Must-Read Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books
  60. About the Author
  61. Connect with HMH on Social Media

“Oh, please,” Asher grouses. “You’re going to have your entire plan hinge on this ram skull?” He flings a hand at the mask propped on Reed’s forehead. “The Loyalist who cost you your eye?”

“I like to believe that we are more than the actions of our past.” The Prime looks to me. “Delta, what do you think?”

I can see Asher’s point. I don’t know Reed, not truly. But he hasn’t put even a toe out of line since he joined our party in Harlie’s Hope. The moment he saw the Loyalists closing in on us yesterday, he could have held me at knifepoint, and when we captured Ember, he easily could have sent word to the General with his tiles. But he’s done nothing but stand by his word.

I have to believe him.

I have to start trusting people, or the future of the wastes is going to be more of the same: fractured packs, wandering vagrants, the powerful leeching off the needy.

Distrusting is how we survive this world. But to move beyond surviving—to truly live—we need to trust each other. Not everyone, but definitely the few who show us that they care more about the greater good than about themselves.

“He’s always been on our side,” I say. “All this time, he’s just been playing a part.”

“Excellent. Now prove it.” The Prime tosses a leather bag toward Reed. When it hits the table, several tiles spill onto the surface, symbols winking up at him. “Call for aid. Request what remains of the General’s Four. We’re taking out his most trusted Loyalists before we even put this plan in motion.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The tiles don’t allow for communication as specific as the Prime has requested, but Reed thinks that at least one of the remaining Four will be sent by default. He puts a message into the leather pouch and sends it up with Ember. We watch her soar east from the steps of Prime Hall. In no time, the night sky has swallowed her from view.

Come morning, Reed will travel north to Harlie’s Hope, where he asked for aid to be sent. The Reaper and a few other security details will accompany him. Asher is still grumbling his doubts when Amari the Tender asks me to show her the wind wagon. It’s late, the moon high above us, but I can’t come up with an excuse to delay.