Page 86 (1/2)

Diana turned away and only then realized that Astrid had been standing just a few feet away, quiet, listening

Caine saw her, too “What’s your advice, Astrid the Genius? When she comes, when that monster child of ours comes to kill us all, it will be Sae with So what do you have to say, oh great fountain of morality?”

Diana stared at Astrid Caine was right, and Astrid kneas right Of course, Diana thought, Astrid had seen the implications quicker than anyone That’s why Astrid had tried to derail the bigin the mayor’s office

Astrid, still ht bitterly And yet, wasn’t she just defending the boy she loved? Was that so terrible?

A little kid ca up and pulled Astrid away

“See?” Caine said, as though Astrid had proved his point “When it ge

ts down to it, when it gets down to the endgame, everyone just wants to buy another five minutes for themselves and theirand the people they care about”

It was Sanjit’s little sister, Boho had found Astrid and pulled her away “Lana says you should come”

“Why?” Astrid asked

“Saht him to Clifftop And he’s hurt”

Astrid ran from the town plaza to Clifftop with her heart in her throat She burst in, breathless and red in the face, and nearly stepped on one of the injured in the hallway

Lana looked up as Astrid ca in and, before Astrid could speak, said, “He’ll live”

But Lana was not with Sam: Sam was in a corner, on the floor, practically shoved underneath a coffee table Quinn ith him

“Hello, Astrid,” Quinn said

She ignored him, knelt beside Sam, and took his face in both hands “Sam Sam!”