“I have to believe in a better world,” Nicolas barked at Danika. Their heated debate had escalated, causing Dwellers and soldiers alike to vacate the spacious great room. Dani was alone with Nicolas, but she wouldn’t have cared if the others had remained in the room. She and Nicolas needed to have this conversation.

“Go ahead,” she retorted. “But I live in this one.” She pushed past him and opened the door intending to leave. She turned and looked at him, a perplexed look on her face. She started to say something, but he cut her off.

“I’m here to help you,” he told her, his tone softening. She eyed him suspiciously.

“You’re supposed to help me? Is this a get-in-my-skirts kind of thing?” she scoffed. “Because if it is...”

“You don’t believe I want to help you?” he interrupted. “I want Hawkins dead every bit as much as you.”

“Wrong. I want him to suffer and then I want him dead. And I want my sister back. Alive.” The last statement was no more than a whisper.

“Dani, no one wants Katerine back more than I, but we can’t force our way into Hawkins’ camp outmanned, outgunned, and without a plan. That would risk not only her life but yours as well—and that’s not something I’m prepared to trade. Ever.”

She stared at him, shocked at his admission.

“There is nothing here for you except violence and danger,” he continued. “I promise you, we will get Katerine back. And then, I am going to take you both to a safer place—a safer time.” The last was a whisper.

She shook her head. “This is my home, Nicolas. I can’t leave Gabe—it would kill him and it would kill me. I love him too much to do that.”

“This planet belongs to the Order,” he stated, as if he was searching for the right words. “I suppose it always has. Perhaps we’ve been deluding ourselves that we could ever end this war. I don’t know that there is anything more we can do. Not here. Not in this time.”

“My home will never belong to the Order, Nicolas. Not now. Not ever. Duncan and his soldiers will see to that. And with mine and Catie’s powers fueling Duncan’s war, we will bring this back around.” She touched his arm and watched as his eyes followed her movement. “You used to believe that. What’s changed?”

“Dani, the Order is more powerful than we imagined. Hawkins and his men, they’re simply the people that pull the strings from behind the scenes. Who knows how deep this runs or how many more lives have been manipulated by the Order’s vast armies? I need to get you and Katerine away from here.” He looked at her, the intensity of his blue eyes in stark contrast to her dark brown ones.

“I can’t explain this feeling I have, Nicolas, but I know that it centers around the four of us. Together, we are destined to do something big to turn the tides on this war.”

“Oui, mon couer. But I am beginning to think Katerine is right—that the only way we will have a true impact is to go back before all this started. That’s where we will win the war, mon couer.”

Dani shook her head. What Nicolas said resonated deep within her, but right now she couldn’t think about that. Not when her sister was in the hands of a mad man who wanted nothing more than to strip her powers from her and use her as an example for other ‘gifted’ Dwellers. She remained in Duncan’s camp on this one: get the Seer back and use their powers to put an end to the bloody war. Once and for all.

She closed her eyes and tried to picture a world free of the New World Order. Catie and Duncan could be together and she’d be able to pursue her interest in Nicolas…assuming he felt the same way about her. It was all so complicated because of the bond he shared with her sister. She wished she could find a way to sever the bond—without injury to either her sister or Nicolas. She sighed and faced him, concern etched deeply in the furrow of her brow. His fingers were tangled in his hair, his eyes shut tight. She touched his arm gently. “Nicolas?”

“I’m fine,” he said between clenched teeth.

“You’re not,” she whispered. “Not when it comes to Catie.”

His head snapped up and she thought she saw denial in his eyes.

“I failed her,” he murmured. “I knew what Hawkins was capable of. I knew the intercession and parlay was a ruse. And while we were busy trying to hatch a plan that all but delivered Caitriona into his hands, she was living in fear of what she knew was coming. It’s no wonder she felt alone and that she had to do something. I wasn’t listening to her.” He groaned and reached for Danika’s hand.

“We will find her,” she said, watching the pain flash across his face. She wanted nothing more than to erase the pain she knew he felt; the guilt he harbored at having left her sister unprotected.

He gave her a weak smile and squeezed her hand. Standing, he brushed his hand through his hair. “Let’s get on with it, then, shall we?” he said, pulling Dani to her feet. “I haven’t felt her presence for two days, which means Hawkins is keeping her sedated. If she’s that sedated, she hasn’t been able to use her powers. Which means this is a personal vendetta for Hawkins.”

“He could be keeping her sedated because he fears her power,” Dani said as she pushed open the doors that led outside to the public plaza. She squinted at the midday sun, an almost painful shock after the dark recesses of the inner chambers.

“Can you try again, though?” She added the last part imploring him with her eyes. She knew Nicolas had been trying to feel for her sister’s presence since she’d been abducted. She saw the almost-blank look that crossed his face as he reached out with his mind to try and find her once again. After a few seconds, he shook his head.

“We need to find Duncan,” she pressed, disappointed that Nicolas had been unable to connect with her sister.

“Oui, mon couer. I need to find Duncan.” He stressed the word “I” and she knew where he was headed with this.

“Negative.” She dropped his hand and continued walking, hoping he wouldn’t ignore her. In truth, she felt every bit as guilty as he did. She hadn’t listened to Cat’s concerns. She too-easily dismissed her sister’s ideas and had pushed her sister into a desperate act. I am the worst sister ever, she thought as she nodded to a handful of Templar soldiers who were making their way to the training grounds.

Stumbling on a crack in the old cobbled pathway, she almost fell, had it not been for Nicolas’ strong arms. He pulled her to him, brushing the hair from her eyes.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded, her chestnut eyes mesmerized by the intense blue ones staring back at her. She started to pull away, unsure of where her feelings were headed, but he tightened his hold.

Dani hitched her breath as Nicolas’ thumb stroked her knuckles. Her stomach flip-flopped as she struggled to gain control of her accelerating heartbeat. The contact was brief and isolated but it set every nerve in her body on alert.

“I can see the appeal Cat finds from being in your arms,” she said haughtily, instantly regretting the words as soon as they left her mouth.

He released her and stepped back, a pained expression crossing his handsome features. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, a delightful flush covering his face.

Dani grinned. She did that to him.

“Sir?” They were interrupted by one of Duncan’s soldiers.

Dani stepped back and watched as the two saluted. “Commander MacKinnon has requested your presence,” he said to Nicolas. “He said to tell you the preparations are complete and you are to join him in la cocina,” the soldier said, his Spanish at odds with his English heritage.

Nicolas nodded. “Tell the commander I will be there, shortly,” Nicolas stated, his eyes never leaving Danika’s.

“Sir,” the soldier replied, “Commander MacKinnon asked that you accompany me immediately.”

Nicolas sighed. He turned to Dani. “Go back to your rooms and stay put. Even though Hawkins and his men have left, it may not be safe for you unescorted.”

She nodded, but knew he was overreacting. She was as safe at the estancia as she always had been. Besides, Hawkins still didn’t know who she was or her connection to Caitriona. She knew they needed to keep her identity secret.

“I will come see you later,” he said, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

She smiled, already missing him. Watching as he scurried off with the Templar, she couldn’t help the heavy feeling that settled around her. Shivering, she turned and headed back to the loneliness of her rooms.