Unravel Read Online Free Page A

tension, running through the crowd.
    â€œThe problem ?” Miguel made an exasperated sound almost like a laugh. “God, you have no idea, do you?”
    â€œLike I said, deep space for about a month.” This time a slight snap came though Cadan’s words. “The last newscasts we got were back on Sanctuary. So tell me. We’ve come back to help—tell me what’s been going on.”
    â€œHelp?” Miguel gave that laugh that wasn’t a laugh. “I’d say we’re pretty much beyond help at this point—and when I say ‘we,’ I mean you as well. The best chance you have is to get back on your ship and get back into space. Unless that one ship is the forerunner of a fully functioning fleet, you don’t have anything to offer that’s going to help anyone.”
    â€œYou’d be surprised,” Cadan said. Apprehension prickled up Elissa’s spine. He was talking about her and Lin. Which made sense—that was why they’d returned, to offer their combined power to Sekoia’s space force, to help stop Sekoia sliding into poverty and chaos. But she’d never expected to be offering it under these circumstances, to someone who seemed so sure that by coming back they’d done everything wrong. And although their combined power had saved them before . . . we still don’t understand it. Not properly. We’ve tried to practice, but we didn’t dare do much on board the ship, and the link still comes and goes—it’s not there all the time, and it doesn’t always seem to work the same way. . . .
    â€œSurprised? Really? You sure it’s not you who’s going to be surprised?” Miguel jabbed his finger toward Elissa and Lin. “You think you’re going to be able to help us? You don’t getback on your ship, you’ll have enough to do trying to keep those kids alive for the next twenty-four hours.”
    Elissa’s stomach dropped. She reached for Lin’s hand and felt her twin’s fingers close tightly around her own.
    â€œSo tell me,” repeated Cadan. His voice had flattened back to calmness. If Elissa hadn’t heard that note in his voice before, if she hadn’t known it was a deliberate closing off of his emotions, she’d have thought he hadn’t heard what the other man had said. He flicked a look toward Elissa and Lin. “They’re in danger? Who from? Most people don’t have SFI inside knowledge—they’re not going to work out their identity as quickly as you did.”
    â€œShe’s a Spare, isn’t she?” Miguel said. “Who isn’t she in danger from?”
    All over Elissa’s back, her skin tightened.
    â€œThere are at least three groups who’ve made it their stated mission to wipe out all Spares,” Miguel continued. “And if the Spares hadn’t been rushed into safe houses, they’d be well on their way there.”
    Cadan made as if to ask something else, but Elissa was ahead of him. The man hadn’t said specifically that anything had happened to Spares yet, but those words— they’d be well on their way there —clanged, a warning bell, in her head.
    â€œHave they managed it?” she said. “Have they managed to kill any Spares?”
    Cadan took a step closer to her, and his hand settled, warm and steady, on her back.
    Miguel’s expression flickered, suddenly uncertain, as if he were deciding how—or whether—to answer her. Her throat closed, and for a few long, horrible seconds all she could do was wait, speechless, hoping he’d tell her the truth straightout and she wouldn’t have to argue and demand with this awful weight of dread inside her.
    â€œSome,” Miguel said.
    â€œHow?” Her throat was still frozen shut. The question came out as scarcely more than a silent movement of her lips.
    â€œSome were shot. By snipers, we assume, when