I opened it up and found a coffee mug from Pies and Stuff. “Oh, man, I can’t believe you went without me,” I teased.

“This is for us,” she said. “The first thing to put in our new home together. I’m working out something with Stanton to buy our freedom. When this is all over, we’re going to have a life together, Adrian. A real one.”

Love for her threatened to overwhelm me. I set down all my bags and drew her into my arms. That silly mug suddenly took on monumental significance, and looking down at her, at the face I loved so much, I could see the future she described, a future together where we could accomplish anything. Going back on meds seemed a small price for that. I didn’t need spirit so long as I had Sydney.

I pressed her gently against the door and kissed her, allowing myself to briefly forget everything waiting for us outside this room. For now, there was just the two of us and this one perfect moment of togetherness.

“You make me believe anything is possible,” I whispered.

“I told you before, we’re the center,” she said. “And the center will hold.”

I kissed her again, more deeply, and it was with great reluctance that we finally had to draw apart again. “I’m all for a real home,” I said, brushing hair from her face, “but before that, can we please have a real honeymoon?”

“Gladly,” she murmured, kissing me one more time. “As soon as we have Jill, everything’s going to change.”

I held her tightly. “Then by God, let’s go get Jill.”

The four of us hit the road to St. George, driving overnight to get there in time. We tried to take turns and get rest, but it was hard. Honestly, by this point, I felt like schedules and “daytime hours” were just suggestions in my life. I was happy to be with Sydney again, and she and I found ourselves catching up on what we’d missed during our time apart. She wouldn’t elaborate on what deal she was attempting with Stanton, but she spoke confidently about that future home we both wanted so much.

We made good time, arriving at the Alchemists’ and guardians’ makeshift command center just before dawn. And as much as I hated to admit it, the Alchemists proved useful. In less than a day, they’d found a vacant office building and filled it with Alchemists and computers. They had cameras and satellite info on the Warriors’ compound, as well as scouts already in place on-site, reporting back with information on the Warriors’ state of affairs and security measures.

A gruff guy named McLean was in charge of the Alchemists’ soldiers, and he and Dimitri—who’d gotten there a few hours ago—were working surprisingly well together organizing the attack. Everyone assured us it would be simple, relatively speaking. Our forces outnumbered the Warriors’. If the initial raid came on strong, without warning, there should be no reason we wouldn’t triumph. Sydney and I exchanged uneasy glances, knowing things were rarely as easy as they seemed, but we tried to be optimistic. We hoped this would be simple. We needed it to be, and we sent Dimitri, Rose, Eddie, and Neil off in high spirits, leaving us nothing to do but wait around for updates.

It felt strange for me, though, not to be out there. I’d spent so much of the last month worried for Jill but unable to act while trapped at Court. Then, when we’d gotten our lead on Alicia, I’d had to stay behind at first in order to cover for Sydney. Now, finally, we knew where Jill was, and I was staying behind again. It was maddening. Ever since I’d brought Jill back from the assassination attempt, I’d felt as though her life were in my hands. Even though I knew a compound of armed fanatics was best breached by trained guardians and Alchemists, I couldn’t shake the feeling I should be out there.

“It’s okay,” Sydney said gently, coming to rest a hand on my arm. “I feel useless too, but they’re the experts. And once they get her out, we’ll be among the first to see her.”

“I know,” I said. I slipped an arm around her. “Patience just isn’t always one of my better traits.”

As I was speaking, Sydney’s gaze wandered to something behind me, and I turned to look. It was her father and Zoe, entering the command center. They too froze for a moment, and then Zoe took a few steps forward, her face breaking into a smile, until a sharp rebuke from her father drew her up short.

“Zoe,” he barked.

“My own sister can’t come see me, Dad?” Sydney asked. “Afraid I’ll taint her?”

He flushed. “I heard you cut some kind of deal with Stanton. It wouldn’t have happened if I were in charge.”

“How are you, Zoe?” Sydney asked, directing her attention to the youngest Sage sister. “You okay?”

Zoe cast an uncertain look at her father and then gave a slow nod. “Yeah. You?”

“Come along,” ordered their father. “Let’s see how this operation is progressing.”

Zoe gave Sydney one last glance and then reluctantly followed Jared Sage to where some Alchemists were monitoring communications from the team raiding the Warriors’ compound. Sydney broke from me and went after them. “I want an update too,” she said. But when she reached the group huddled around the two people in charge of communications, Sydney waited until her father was distracted, asking someone a question. She touched Zoe’s sleeve and gently drew her back a few steps toward us.

“I never thanked you for not reporting me, back in the Ozarks,” said Sydney softly.

Zoe shook her head but kept an anxious eye on their dad. “It’s the least I could do. Sydney, if I’d had any idea what you had to go through there, I never would’ve turned you in. I thought they were going to help you. Honestly.” Tears brimmed in her eyes.

“How do you know what happened there?” I asked. Last I knew, the full details of what detainees in re-education endured wasn’t widely known.

Zoe didn’t answer right away, and from the uneasy way she regarded me, it was clear she hadn’t quite come to terms with a vampire brother-in-law. “Carly told me,” she said at last. “She heard it from some guy who helped you out. I think she’s dating him?”

Sydney and I exchanged surprised looks. “Marcus?” we asked in unison.

“Yeah,” said Zoe. “I think that’s his name.”

“That sly dog,” I muttered. It had been apparent when he and Carly met that he had a crush on Sydney’s older sister, but I’d had no idea he’d pursued her.