Page 71

I think I love him… but I can't choose him over Illyana. If she'll even accept me.

"I want to hand myself in."

Tension snaps through Cassian like the string of a bow and he straightens up, his eyes growing dark. "What?"

"I want to do what Boris says and hand myself over. They won't kill me because they need my kidney, and Mario… he made a comment about how they might also need my second kidney if the first one doesn't take, so that's even more reassurance that they won't kill me."

"Sabina…" He doesn't even hide the pain in his voice and despite the soft way he says my name, the crack almost brings tears to my eyes.

"Please," I say, taking his hand between both of mine. "I thought about it but I also think I made the decision immediately because of Illyana. I haven't been there for her all of these years. And I know the risk. I know that her future might end up being terrible, but I know that no matter what happens to me, you will do everything you can to look out for her. Won't you?"

His brows knit together and he glances down at our joined hands, then back up to my face. "What are you asking me to do?"

"If this goes wrong and I die, you get Illyana out of there. But only after she has my kidney."

"Sabina, there are other options. We haven't even exhausted all possible attempts to get Illyana out of there."

"I don't care. You saw her. She's been at the edge of everything since I met her, and I can't prolong that any further. I have to do this. Think about it." I scoot forward until our knees touch. "They need Illyana for their business deal, which means they want her alive and healthy. I can give her that. And they will take care of her to make sure she recovers, which gives you and your team a small window to save us because we might be in the same place at the same time."

"Sabina…" His eyes dart back and forth between mine. "No. I can't let you do this. I can't let you just walk into danger like this."

"You can't let me?" My mouth wobbles as I smile. "It's my choice, Cassian. I have to do this for her, and what better chance for you to act than when everyone is going to be stuck in the same place?”

"No," Cassian growls and his grip tightens around my fingers. "Sabina, I⁠—"

"Actually," comes Valentina's voice from the door to the roof. "Sorry to interrupt. I came to make sure Sabina was okay, so I couldn't help but overhear." She locks eyes with me. For a second, there's a glint of something akin to pride. "Sabina's idea might be the best one we have."

29

CASSIAN

Igrit my teeth, anger twitching through my limbs as I stand with my arms crossed in the medical wing of our hideout and watch the doctor give Sabina the all-clear. Such news should be a good thing, considering the attack on our convoy two days ago when we returned from Italy. Relief doesn't breach the fog of anger clouding my thoughts.

I vehemently disagreed with Sabina's suggestion to hand herself over to Boris.

Everyone else agreed.

I was overruled.

Bradley stands next to me with an electronic tablet in hand while Raven steps to Sabina's bedside.

"Are you ready?" she asks, not looking up from the small black case she sets on the bed next to Sabina.

Sabina nods quickly and rapidly tucks her hair behind one ear. "Yeah. I'm ready." She flashes Raven a small, tight smile, then looks at me with her brows raised.

She's looking for support. Comfort. I need to give it to her because there's no guarantee this will go as smoothly as our talks suggested over the past forty-eight hours, but the anger clouding my thoughts keeps me locked in my stubborn refusal to accept that this is our plan.

Handing her over so she can save Illyana is admirable on paper, but I don't trust Boris. There's no guarantee he won't kill Sabina as soon as she's on the table. Or worse.

Sabina holds my gaze with that same hopeful warmth lingering in her eyes and after a few moments, it thaws me enough that I walk forward and reach for her hand with my good arm. I removed my sling against medical advice. Pain from my shoulder is easily managed, especially if I have to face Boris in a few hours.

"Okay," Raven says as I slide my hand into Sabina's and weave our fingers together. "You'll feel a sharp prick and some tension, but that should ease quickly." Opening the case, she removes a needle and a small jar filled with a black solution. Carefully balancing them between her fingers, she injects the needle into the jar and draws up some of the black liquid.

"Why does it look like that?" Sabina asks as her fingers tighten around my palm. "Why is it black?"

"This is just fluid to help with the transition. It's not harmful," Raven reassures her. "It will guide the tracker into your bloodstream and then we should get a signal on Bradley's tablet. Then we'll be good to go. Boris won't be able to block the signal or remove the tracker because it'll be inside you."

"And it's not dangerous?" Sabina tucks her hair behind her ear once more, almost as if the repetitive motion is soothing.