“I gotta go,” Rain said. He collected more things. The key he’d been given. “You look after Victoria. Tell her thanks.”

“Don’t panic,” Tristan said.

How was he not supposed to panic?

“Thanks for everything, Tristan,” Rain said. “I’ll be in touch, but I gotta go. I can’t—”

He couldn’t. He wasn’t sure what to do. There was no answer. He had three people after him and they were stronger, more capable. He couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t breathe.

Choking on the sentence he hadn’t finished, he hauled the door open, stepped out to the fire escape, and made his way down at a run, trusting his power to catch him if needed.

He ran until he couldn’t run anymore. He walked, feeling the full force of dread catch up with him as he slowed down. Then he ran again.

“Rain!”

Rain turned. With the panic firmly set in, his first instinct was fear. Even at a familiar voice.

Tristan. Tristan had run after him, and the guy barely looked winded.

“There you are,” Tristan said. “Oof. I turned down the wrong street back there.”

Rain was silent, except for his hard breaths. He felt like he was going to throw up.

“You can’t run. Don’t panic. Trust me, shitty things happen when you panic.”

“I’m dead,” Rain said. “I’m a dead man walking. Holy shit. They’re going to torture me to death.”

“You’ve got to tell people, Rain. You’ve got to tell Victoria, you’ve got to tell Sveta. Kenzie. Chris. Even Ashley—she won’t blink either way, but you should tell her.”

Rain shook his head.

“I’m surprised you didn’t already say,” Tristan said.

“I can’t. I can barely admit it to myself.”

“What were you going to do if Snag or Love Lost mentioned the Fallen while negotiating?”

“I don’t—wouldn’t it be easier?”

“Easier? Yes. Better? No. It’s best if it comes from your mouth first, Rain. The others think this is all lined up against us. But it isn’t. We’re just liable to get hit with the collateral damage.”

Rain wasn’t sure what to say or do. He shook his head.

“No? No what?”

“You tell them.”

“I’m not going to tell them. I’ve been in situations like this before, trying to be an ally, ending up only hurting. Talk to them. Tell them. Write them a letter if you need to put the words in order. I’ll back you and argue on your behalf.”

“I heard that the Fallen attacked Victoria’s hometown. What if they hurt someone she cared about? What if she says she’ll only help the team if I’m not on it?”

“Do you think she would? I’m not so sure.”