“I couldn’t terminate my own flesh and blood,” Switch had said. “So I smuggled you and your brother out and gave you to women who would love you. And as of the recording of this message, your brother James is still alive and well. If you ever want to meet him, he’s a mechanic in a little town called Franklin, North Carolina. To my knowledge, he’s never developed powers. He knows nothing about his origin. Telling him is up to you.”
She went on to apologize for what happened to Bethany and the other children. When she lost her powers at the end of the War, she was stuck in her other persona—becoming Uncle and refocusing on those kids was her way of coping with the loss. She was furious when the Overseer discovered Dahlia was alive and demanded her execution this past June. She was equally furious when the mission resulted in the deaths of three of the five hybrid-Changelings. Everything was spiraling out of control.
“I could no longer blindly follow the Overseer’s orders,” Switch had said at the end of the video. “And I have no place in your world. I hope you can accept this gift, Dahlia. I’ve seen enough of my children die. Good luck.”
So poor Dahlia was Switch’s biological offspring, and she had a twin brother out there in the backwoods of North Carolina, blissfully unaware that he was a science experiment gone wrong. Or right, depending on your point of view. I doubted she would contact James until the Overseer was neutralized as a threat. Dahlia would never purposely make him a target of the Overseer and his wrath. If the Overseer didn’t know where he was, all the better for everyone.
“Is Sasha still squawking about feeling trapped here?” I asked.
“Yes, and honestly, I don’t think it’s a terrible idea for her and her team to leave. We have the resources, and more than enough people.”
Sasha reminded me of Teresa in more ways than one, including her stubborn independence. She wanted her people to learn and to train, but she also didn’t want to stay here permanently. Teresa was floating the idea of returning a team presence to the West Coast, maybe in the Pacific Northwest area. Sasha jumped at the suggestion. I admitted that it had merit.
I missed the West Coast.
Two figures crossed the far side of the lawn, hunched against the chilly air, deep in conversation. I grinned at the sight of them together, both ambulatory and smiling. Landon had been officially released from the infirmary a few days ago, and he was healing well. And Derek had returned just yesterday, after being officially and fully pardoned by the United States government for all past crimes.
We’d had quite the reunion and celebration last night.
I’d briefly floated the West Coast idea to Derek, and he’d been intrigued. Getting Landon away from here for a while was a good idea, he’d said, because of Bethany. Seeing her body walking around with someone else inside was hell on him. I didn’t relish the notion of leaving my friends for the other side of the country, but going with Derek wouldn’t be so bad.
“I take it you two are doing fine,” Teresa said, tilting her chin in Derek’s direction.
“More than fine.” My cheeks warmed. “I have to admit, T, never in a million years did I think I’d fall for an ex-Bane.” And I was falling hard.
“I never thought a lot of things would happen. It’s been a hell of a year.”
“Amen. And we haven’t even made it through the election yet.”
She snorted harshly through her nose. “Don’t remind me.”
Gage walked across the snow-dusted field and stopped to talk with Derek and Landon. Next to me, Teresa tensed enough that I noticed. Gage turned to go and spotted us. He froze. The look he and Teresa shared was indecipherable—like the momentary glance of two perfect strangers wondering if they happened to know each other. And like strangers who realize they aren’t acquainted, they both looked away.
“What was that about?” I asked.
Teresa sagged against the bench. “Gage and I had a pretty big fight last night.”
Oh, crap. “About what? Splitting the teams?”
“I wish it was that simple.”
“Then what is it?”
She looked at me, so uncertain and confused it broke my heart a little even before she spoke two words that changed everything: “I’m pregnant.”
Much thanks to Adam Wilson, Julia Fincher, and the team at Pocket Star. And as always, thank you to my agent, Jonathan Lyons, for your work on this series.
A special shout-out to Nick M., the only person on the planet who loves Trance more than I do. Your support means the world to me.
Thanks to my family and friends for all the crazy I put you through when I’m writing.
Lastly, big bear hugs to my readers and fans of the MetaWars books. Thank you for sticking with me and my intrepid band of superheroes.