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“It’s nothing.”
Arlo grinned. “Let me guess—it has to do with a certain sexy DJ who’s playing hard to get?”
Jude struggled to make sense of his thoughts as they walked along the gray corridor to the comms room. “I don’t get why she doesn’t want to be here. It’s safer.”
“Juniper was just the same with me,” said Arlo. “She pretended like she wasn’t interested. She claimed she wanted her independence. She thought she was better off without me. Ouch!”
Juniper jabbed Arlo in the ribs. “Ignore him. Octavia is right to be wary. I understand why she is. We’re just voices over a communications channel.”
“She knows us,” said Jude. “Well, she knows me. I’m more than a voice to her.”
“It’s adorable. This guy is so in love,” said Arlo. “You couldn’t put him off if she arrived and had two heads, scales, and a forked tongue.”
“She’s not a dragon,” said Jude. “But even if she was, it wouldn’t put me off. Besides, you’re a fine one to talk. You’ve been dragon whipped.”
Juniper punched him in the arm. “I’m right here.”
Arlo grinned at her. “I love being dragon whipped.”
Jude shrugged, and grinned at Juniper. “I meant it in a good way. You’ve helped my brother become less self-destructive.”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about.” Arlo grabbed hold of Juniper and kissed her.
Jude liked seeing his brother so content. It hadn’t been many months ago that Arlo had been edging closer and closer to self-destruction. Finding Juniper had changed all of that.
“Whatever Octavia’s problem is, we need to solve it,” said Jude. “The State are up to something and we need to figure out what it is, and fast.”
“Let’s listen to this message they’re broadcasting,” said Arlo as they walked into the comms room.
Jude placed his coffee down and opened a channel. The babble of incomprehensible words began instantly.
They all listened for several minutes.
“Does it mean anything to you?” Jude asked Juniper.
“It’s nonsense,” said Juniper. “But I never heard much dragon language. I can only speak the basics.”
“Same here,” said Arlo. “What does Kade think?”
“He’s sure it’s a language,” said Jude. “We need to figure out what the hell they’re talking about.” Out of habit, he flicked on Flame radio. The song playing was fading as he settled in his seat.
“In case anyone hasn’t checked their messages recently,” said Octavia, her voice sounding unusually tight, “you might like to take a look. There could be something of interest.”
Jude froze. Was that message meant for him? He accessed his secure message system. Only a handful of people knew how to contact him through it. Octavia was one of them.
There was an unopened message. It was from her.
He clicked it open. A smile crossed his face.
“What are you so happy about?” Arlo peered over Jude’s shoulder. “Has Octavia finally agreed to go on a date with you?”
Jude couldn’t keep the smile from his face. “It’s better than that. She wants to meet.”
***
OCTAVIA SOMETIMES WISHEDshe drove a souped-up, three-liter pussy wagon, rather than this piece of tin held together with soldering and wishful thinking. She loved her van, but she’d be at the meet-up point Jude had sent through earlier by now if she had more power. Instead, she had another ten miles to go. It was torture.
She crept the van along the road, keeping to a steady ten miles an hour. Debris littered the road, pieces of metal and rock making for a treacherous route. If she hit one of those at the wrong angle, she could crack a wheel arch or bend the axle.
