“Eva.” I gripped Tair’s hand, frozen where I stood, torn between rushing to her and reaming her out. He gave my fingers a squeeze and then I was seeing Eva through his eyes—and she had aged. Subtle crow’s feet imprinted the corners of her eyes and a few strands of gray had grown mixed in with her red hair. She slumped a little, as if she’d been desperate too often lately, but the sparkle in her hazel eyes said I was bringing the hope right back. Holding Tair kept most of my ghosts quiet, but I had a feeling that as soon as I let go, I’d be drowning in images of all the crazy things Eva had planned.

She stopped short of us and smoothed down her coat. “I’m glad you’re safe. So very glad.” As she scanned us both, her gaze stopped on our linked hands. Tair tensed as her lips quirked. “It seems all has worked out for the best.”

“About that…” I glanced up at Tair.

He shook his head. Inside.

Right. We definitely didn’t need Eva’s minions knowing our dirty laundry. “Can we come in to your secret fortress, or do you want us to camp in the woods?”

“Please come in. I already have quarters prepared for you.” Eva gestured for us to move past her.

I kept a tight grip on Tair’s hand as we followed. There’d be time to dig into the past and future later. For now, I wanted to stay grounded in what was actually happening.

As soon as we crossed the holo, the fake trees disappeared. We stood in a huge mountainside meadow and every inch of it was clogged with RVs and trailers and stacks of converted shipping containers. Everything was mobile and ready, just in case the Seligo tracked Eva down. People weren’t exactly milling, but they were everywhere, doing whatever rebel forces did to keep themselves occupied between guerrilla missions. I held Tair’s hand so tight my palm sweat, but the more people we passed, the more images crept into my field of view. When I let go…

I wasn’t sure I could be around this many people. There were too many ghosts of terrible pasts and too many bloody possible futures. And I could already see them dying in sprays of bullets and car crashes and botched missions—

It’s okay. Tair drew my hand against his stomach and stroked my fingers, sending distracting tingles up and down my arm.

I relaxed into him and some of the timeghosts flickered away. You’re seeing this?

Just flashes.

I don’t think we can stay. Whatever Eva had to say, I was pretty sure my head would explode if we stuck around the Ravens.

Fine with me. We’ll get our bearings and head out as soon as we’re ready.