EMBER’S POV

The janitor at the far end of the cafeteria has stopped mopping and is staring.

“Nathaniel, get up.”

“Not until you tell me if there’s a chance. If there’s anything I can do. If Queenie has said anything to you about what she needs from me that I can still give.”

I stare down at him on the dirty linoleum.

Queenie’s words from the car hit me suddenly.

Looking at him now, her jealousy toward Knox makes terrifying sense. It was never romantic. It is so much worse.

She has to sit back and watch her husband pour every ounce of his energy, his sharpest focus, and his...