“Why is that funny?” I demand, immediately offended. “Is it so hard to believe that not everyone hates me like you do?”

His smirk evaporates. “I never said I hated you. I don’t trust you. That’s different.”

“Still?” I challenge, even though I’m not sure I want to hear the answer.

Thankfully, he doesn’t give one.

Which, in hindsight, might actually be worse.

“I want humans to survive,” I say firmly. “Just because I think about things differently, or help in different ways—it doesn’t mean I’m not on the Colony’s side. I want the Resistance to win, just as much as you do.”

“Is that why you’re helping Theo?” he asks. “You went to the palace without telling Annika, to somehow prove Martin could be saved. So tell me how that helps the Colony exactly?”

I hesitate, ruffled. How did he know?

Gil sighs exasperatedly. “Theo wears his heart on his sleeve. He hasn’t been able to keep a secret from me for at least three lifetimes.”

“What we’re trying to do won’t hurt the Colony. I’m not asking for more time; I’m just asking for space to try.”

“I know you’re always thinking of your sister, of what this world will be like when she gets here. But you aren’t the only one with someone you care about. I—I know what it feels like to want to spare someone pain.” He lowers his chin like he’s letting his guard down, if only for a moment. “I know what it feels like to want to keep them out of this hell.”

I don’t know anything about Gil’s family before Infinity. I never asked—never thought I was supposed to.

But the pain he wears, the pain I recognize…

Maybe somewhere in the living world, Gil has a Mei of his own.

I swallow, realizing we’re still holding hands, but unsure if I want to break them apart.

“If you understand so much, then help us,” I say breathily.

He shakes his head. “I won’t jeopardize the mission.”

“So we’re on opposite sides of the fence,” I say.

“So it seems,” he replies.

I look at our hands and the way his fingers are cupped around mine.

In another life, could we have been something other than what we are? Something other than enemies battling on the same side of the war?

And even though I know this moment should end, I don’t want it to. I want to lock this memory into place, to savor the quiet of the trees and the sea salt in the distance. I want to remember every twinkling star and the way he watches me like he might feel the same way too.

In another life.