Romy watched Atlas as he left the Hull that night, ignoring the talk around her.

The light in Atlas’s office flicked on. Excusing herself and avoiding Thrym’s suspicious gaze, she left in the direction of their bungalow.

Once out of sight, she retraced her steps, keeping close to the buildings. She glanced towards the window where her knot was seated, laughing with the teen humans. And guilt churned her stomach because she knew she might be risking the entire knot. Perhaps it was pathetic and selfish, but she would rather not look back on this moment and regret not reaching out one last time. He’d held her in his arms for an entire night. It had to mean something.

Romy crept up the steps, avoiding the flickering light from the projector screen at one side. The smiling face of a Mandate member—the petite female again—flashed across, followed by the usual brainwashing words. A thin stream of light illuminated the centre of the entranceway. It came from Atlas’s office and cast the other offices into shadow.

His door was ajar. As Romy drew near, her ears picked up the sound of a voice inside his office. Not his own.

And not just any voice.

Hers.

“It’s time, Atlas,” she said.

Romy ground her teeth together and raised her hand to knock.

“You know how to address me,” he replied.

The coldness in his voice was what stilled her hand. Lowering her arm, Romy pressed her eye to the crack and had to muffle her gasp. Tina was dressed in her usual combat gear, looking just as put together as always. Except her palms were splayed out over Atlas’s stomach.

An ugly red anger pulsed through Romy before settling in her gut.

“I know how to address you when we’re alone,” she purred. Romy squeezed her eyes shut and rolled sideways onto the wall, still listening.

“It’s time,” Tina pressed. “Why delay any further?”

Atlas paced the room. He was agitated for some reason, and she needed to know what it was. This was her last chance. Romy leant closer, with a quick look over her shoulder for Houston. The building was empty and dark.

“You’re right. It has to be done. I’ll make the call in the morning,” he said, voice hollow. “The Mandate will send a team down to collect the bodies.”

Horror riveted through Romy in a slow, vibrating tide. At first all she understood was that he was calling the enemy. Then the rest of what he’d said hit her. Atlas was alerting the Mandate. . . . Her mouth dried and she swayed on the spot. He couldn’t be reporting them, could he?

There was no way his words could mean what she thought they meant.

Cold fear trickled down her spine as she tried not to leap to conclusions.

“Will it be so hard to say goodbye to her?” Tina simpered.