My chest hollowed. I supposed I was more aware than anyone that Lord Tanner knew exactly how best to utilize us, his greatest tools against the enemy.
“You know,” she laughed, “I came here expecting… well, I’m not sure what I was expecting. But it wasn’t this place,” she said. “It wasn’t these people.”
“Gangsters?” I asked wryly. “Hawkers? Prostitutes?”
“Community,” she said seriously. “Kids. Neighbors… friends.”
I watched her closely, and whatever she thought of made her smile. “You haven’t been here long, Nina. But you’ll see it, too. Try not to.” Her eyes had stuck to something—or someone. When I looked, I saw Otto shucking his coat by the door, his forehead iridescent with sweat. A group nearby cheered at the sight of him.
I watched conflict pull at the corners of Polly’s eyes and
