Into Darkness

58

“Not necessarily, son,” said Christian. “Many pre-Flash governments had missile programs. Russia, China, Iran, France, Germany . . . there were dozens. Maybe more.”

“So it could be anywhere. We have no idea where to start looking,” said Morgan, sounding deflated. “Actually we do.” Everyone turned to look at Lumina. “The helicopter pilot was born in the same city he worked. He raised his . . .” she swallowed, pausing a moment to steady her voice. “He raised his family in the same place. The same place I believe this structure is located, although I couldn’t tell for sure from his memory . . . he died before . . .” She paused again. “I don’t know exactly where this thing is, but I think I know the city it’s in.”

“Where?” said Magnus.

Lumina looked at him, her expression registering fury, anguish, and, worst of all, self-recrimination. With a telling tremble in her voice, she asked him, “What’s the worst place in the world it could possibly be?”

No one else understood her, but Magnus grasped her meaning instantly, even before she sent her thoughts directly into his mind.

She was right there. My entire life, my mother was right there, and I didn’t know it. Her eyes filled with tears.

With his heart aching for her, Magnus said into the hungry silence, “New Vienna.”

Slowly, Lumina nodded, her eyes burning his. “I have to save her, Magnus. I have to go back.”

His gaze never leaving hers, Magnus shook his head. “No.” He stepped forward, the space between them charged. “I have to go back. You’ll be recognized immediately—”

“I’m not going to just sit here and wait—”

“That’s exactly what you’re going to do—”

“She’s my mother—”

“It’s my responsibility!”

They’d moved closer and closer while they spoke, drawn as if by an invisible magnet, eyes locked together. He felt all the other eyes on them, he felt the tension in the room, but all he could think about was Lumina, her anguished face and voice, what he could do to take away her pain.

Finally they stood once again mere inches apart, staring each other down. Into the uncomfortable silence, someone in the room coughed.

Always the hard way with you, she said into his head, examining his determined expression.

Before he could form a reply, she said aloud, “Fine. We’ll go together.”

EIGHTEEN

Almost another full day passed before Lumina and Magnus set out on their journey back to New Vienna, and in that time he managed to avoid speaking directly to her, preferring instead to communicate his plans and directions in the presence of others so that she would overhear and be informed, deftly sidestepping the need for one-on-one conversation.

It was as if her kiss had changed something between them. As if he’d erected defenses even higher and more fortified than those he’d had before. He wasn’t even looking at her.

Though she knew she could communicate with him by speaking right into his mind, Lumina avoided doing it, sensing his need for privacy. She was well-practiced in blocking stray thoughts, so it was no great challenge, but the temptation was great.

As was the temptation to kiss him again.

If he smelled enticing, he’d tasted even better, and Lumina found her gaze straying over and over to his mouth. Those full, sensual lips became a sort of beacon, drawing her attention any time he came near. When he spoke, she was mesmerized, just watching them move, sometimes losing the shape of the words altogether so that she was left with a kind of muted pleasure, his teeth and lips and tongue moving silently while she lost herself in the memory of how he’d tasted. Of the way he’d reacted when she touched her mouth to his. Of the need she’d felt surge through him, into her, another memory she lingered on in her private moments, the ache of his unfulfilled desire.

Her own desire for him was huge, real, and frightening.

She’d promised herself she’d never get close again, she’d never again risk another person’s safety for her sake, and she’d meant it. But every moment she spent near him became a kind of torture, because no matter how hard she tried to block it out, the animal inside her knew what she really wanted, and was far less self-controlled.

The animal inside her was greedy, a writhing, hissing beast that demanded satisfaction.

Lu knew that kiss had been a touchstone. It had changed them both. For better or worse remained to be seen.

“. . . approach through the southern Czech border,” Magnus was now saying to Demetrius and Hawk, both of whom were intently studying the holographic map Beckett had projected above the center of the rectangular Assembly table. Beckett had been dismissed after setting it up, not only because the Assembly was always held in closed session, but also because Lu could tell he was getting on Magnus’s last nerve. Beckett had been shadowing him, dogged as a bloodhound, insisting he should accompany them on their trip, regaling Magnus with reason after reason why he’d be an asset in their quest to extract Lumina and Honor’s mother from the IF prison.