Maisie muttered something he couldn’t understand.

“And I think Declan knew that you wouldn’t go up there just to drop Lennon off, since you’ve been asking about that shipment. So, he left. For the north, I mean. He’s coming for you. And the shipment. He took some guys with him and they have a stupid plan to take on the Spencers.”

Lennon looked at Maisie worriedly, but she actually appeared amused.

“I wish him luck with that. We’ve encountered some serious shit here, and I don’t know how he’d even find us.”

“Solid point, solid point. But Declan has also decided he wants Lennon, by the way, since—oh! I forgot the most important part. Lennon is there, right?”

“Yeah, I’m here,” he said.

“Dude, your dad won the election!”

Lennon stopped. He blinked.

He had somehow completely forgotten that the election was tonight.

And his dad won?

“He…what?”

“Yeah, he totally won. Hold on. Let me turn this up and you can hear for yourself.”

It was quiet for a moment, and then he heard a familiar male voice. A news anchor.

“A historic night for the United States tonight, as Senator Camden Pierce defeats President Howard, ending the over-twenty-year reign of the Howard family. Senator Pierce looks to be winning by a landslide, and voters seemed to have turned against the president since news broke today that his campaign was responsible for dropping Lennon Pierce into the quarantine zone.”

“Holy shit,” Lennon breathed.

“So, congrats and all,” Hadley said, the anchor’s voice fading. “But now Declan’s decided he’d like to keep the son of the next president.”

“And do what with him?” Maisie asked.

“I dunno. Smugly show him off once in a while? Threaten to murder him occasionally if they don’t keep sending supplies?”

“That…doesn’t sound great,” Lennon said.

“They’re not going to blow us up if the president’s son is in here. Declan probably knows about that.”

Lennon glanced swiftly at Maisie. Hadley might be right. He worried suddenly that she might also decide it was best to keep him here.

“Calm down,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“What?”

“What?” Hadley echoed.

“I’m not going to make you stay here just because they might be less likely to blow us up,” Maisie said.

His cheeks heated. “I, uh…”

“I said I’d take you to the northern gate, and I will.”

He swallowed, embarrassed that she could read him so easily. He was usually really good at hiding his emotions and pretending everything was fine. It was unnerving, to have her so easily size him up.

“Anyway, mostly I think Declan’s just pissed that Maisie didn’t follow his orders,” Hadley said. “So, he’s going up there to take charge or whatever.”

“Okay,” Maisie said with a sigh. “Thanks, Hadley. We’ll keep an eye out.”

“Anytime. And answer your radio faster next time! I thought you were dead!”

Maisie’s lips twitched. “I’ll try.”

She slipped the radio into the backpack, then smiled at Lennon. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” he said, still a bit shell-shocked.