His fist snapped against the Bullet’s face, and he curled his body around the other boy in a move that was almost elegant. He spun, dancing them both into a shadowed alley. Pine’s hand caught the boy’s chin, and before Caledonia had drawn a single breath, Pine slid a blade behind the boy’s ear and straight into his skull.

Blood slipped around the hilt of the blade. The boy struggled once and then fell limp in Pine’s arms.

Shadows wrapped strong arms around them. The only sounds were the receding footsteps of their crewmates, heading into the mess hall.

“Pine.” It was all she could say.

He met her eyes. The Bullet that usually lurked just beneath the surface was here now. Hard, unyielding, unforgiving. He shifted his grip on the boy, holding the blade in place to control the flow of blood. Then he moved down the dark alley in search of a place to hide the body.

Caledonia waited, her vision narrowing to a single drop of scarlet soaking into the pale pavement by her toe.

She killed to survive. She had done so many times, but never like this. Never outside the context of battle. Had he even recognized her? Had Pine seen something she hadn’t?

No. He’d seen less than she had. She knew that. He’d reacted to the barest sliver of a threat because that was what he’d been trained to do.

Pine returned to her side. He reached for her elbow, then stopped himself.

She met his eyes, letting her conflict surface.

“Pine,” she repeated because she could think of nothing else.

With a sad nod of his head he responded, “Let’s go.”

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The dining hall was cacophonous and too bright after the dark alley. It was filled with ordered rows of tables and chairs, nearly all of which were occupied by Bullets enjoying a hearty dinner. Lines formed at either end of the long room. In one, fresh fruits and vegetables were piled high. In the other, hot dishes of every sort were offered. There was perfectly roasted fish in buttery sauces, tender vegetables drizzled in tangy sweet vinegar, mashed potatoes, fresh bread with seeds baked into a crispy crust. There was butter and gravy and all of it was there for the eating.

Caledonia’s mind struggled to release what had happened outside and behave like a Bullet. Over and over, her mind replayed the Bullet’s smile. Had it been menacing? Flirtatious? Or merely a friendly gesture? She was horrified to discover she couldn’t remember, and each time it replayed she pictured it differently. She would never know if he’d been a threat, or just a Bullet who smiled at the wrong person in the wrong moment.