“Nothing you could’ve done.” I knew I needed the nanos. Audrey had done the right thing, and if Ahiga had been here he just would’ve been one more person to watch me at my weakest.

“There’s one thing I can do, but I shouldn’t do it. Unless you’re ready to give up? Unless you’re ready for the war to start tomorrow?”

My heart stuttered in my chest. “You’ll tell my dad where I am.”

“Not him directly. Declan thought it was best I didn’t have that information in case I was ever questioned, but there’s a chain I can send a message through. It would take a few days, but I think it would reach him. Or someone who could get it to him.”

I wanted to beg him to do it. If he had a way to get word to my father, I wanted that to happen now. Today. Immediately.

The nanos flared, and I hissed as a burning heat spread up my legs. I breathed in for six, out for three, in for three, and tried to picture the pain flowing out of me, and it did. The burning and poking and crawling needles were all gone.

I moaned with relief. “Oh thank God.” I looked at Audrey, still standing by my feet. “I think that was their last flare. I think they’re done.”

Audrey went to her computer panel. “Yep. Let’s see how your feet are doing.”

I held my breath as she pulled off what was left of my shoes. She ran a finger up my foot from heel to toe, and I jerked.

“Hurt?”

“Tickles.”

She nodded. “Skin is new, so it’ll be a little tender, but you’re completely healed.”

Audrey was right. A few hours of pain, and I was back to being okay. It was worth it. “I can walk?”

“Jog. Run. Sprint. Kick some ass. You can do whatever you want. The skin is a little thin, like a newborn baby’s feet, so be careful with them. The skin would’ve been thicker if I’d injected more nanos, but I erred on the side of caution with this one.”

Nope. I didn’t care about that. The fewer nanos used the better. “Thank you. I’ll double up on socks.”

“I’d tell you it was my pleasure, but it honestly wasn’t. I’ve never felt so helpless as I did today.” She sighed. “Let’s not do this again, okay?”

“That is something we can both agree on. Can I sit up?”

“Yes. As long as you’re not too weak.” She pressed a button, and the restraints retracted. “I gave you fluids the entire time, but the nanos depleted you considerably. Take it easy.”

Ahiga leaned forward, helping me sit. “You okay?”