Holding her knuckles like that, he raised her hand up to his mouth and kissed her palm, then her wrist.

“You’re worried about something.”

“The Wardens didn’t ask us before they signed off on this, yet they have people devoted to idiotic things like rescuing people from time bubbles and loops. Tattletale is maneuvering and I don’t think she has a good perspective when it comes to the big picture. There are monsters like the self-styled Goddess out there.”

“The Blue Empress of Earth Shin.”

“Sleeper is still parked in Zayin. I wanted to tell Gary Nieves that Cauldron capes are stable. We have the power and we’re not as driven toward violence and drama. We’re safe.”

“Safer,” Kurt said.

“Safer. Yes. None of the others are that safe. They threaten to weaken us at a time we can’t afford it. This idiotic business with the Fallen could leave us without enough people watching the portals. Earth-C could attack and having critical people in an asinine fight could be what leaves us vulnerable.”

“If you wanted it, you could seize the reins. The others are down or out. You could take charge and start making decisions.”

Jeanne leaned back in her seat. She surrendered her defenses, for one fleeting moment. She gave Kurt a look, worried, momentarily insecure.

Kurt was the only person she’d ever allowed herself to show that insecurity to.

He leaned over and gave her a brief kiss. He looked her in the eyes, and he said, “I know where you come from, Jeanne. Somehow, I don’t feel like I’m a species of one when I’m with you. Don’t doubt your ability to do this.”

Jeanne smiled.

⊙

Jean slouched in her seat. All around her, people were talking with lawyers, with parents, with family and friends. There were only fifty girls at the institution, all wearing navy blue sweats, or sweat bottoms and white t-shirts. Guards were stationed at points around the room.

Every week, it seemed, someone left, and someone came back in.

“Do you know who I am, Jean Brown?” the man sitting across from her asked. He was young, but short.

Jean shrugged. “Someone my parents hired?”

“I’m someone that hires, not someone who is hired,” he said. “I own several businesses in Boston.”

Boston. She made the connection and immediately started paying more attention. She sat up, gripping the seat with both hands to push herself up to a sitting position.

“I’ve been made aware that you recently had an altercation with a girl from Boston.”

“Yes,” she said. “Yes sir.”

“Tell me how that went.”

What was she supposed to say or do? Tell the truth? Beg?

He seemed like the no-nonsense type. For perhaps the first time in her life, she decided to play things straight.