Golden by Melissa de La Cruz Page B

stealing Eliza Wesson—her actions had broken a family and jeopardized the fate of the entire world—but was that Nineveh’s fault? And what if Nineveh was only here to fix what was broken? Now that the Queen knew Wes was the child she had sought all along, didn’t it follow that she would act on it?
    Nat had to make Wes understand. Nineveh was on their side, she wanted what they wanted—to make things right.
    The crew jostled them. “Come on, man, there’s no way out of here but through there,” said Shakes, pointing to the portal. “What are we waiting for? We need to get these people and our butts out of here.”
    The Queen waited at the portal, gesturing for all of them to approach.
    Liannan was already at the entrance, but she hesitated, looking back at Wes and Nat. She was the Queen’s subject, but she was also one of their team now. She put a hand on Shakes’s arm to tell him to wait. They would do what Wes told them to.
    â€œSomething’s off,” Wes said abruptly. “I don’t think we should go. We’ll find another way.”
    The smallmen looked longingly at the open portal. All around them was smoke and death, but through the portal they could see blue skies and peaceful vistas. Roark could barely see through one swollen eye. Brendon had a massive bruise on his forehead. “Whatever you say, boss,” he said. Roark nodded.
    Nat admired their loyalty, but she had to make them see what was right in front of them. Hope. Refuge. Safety. “If we don’t go with her, where will we go?” she asked Wes.
    â€œWe could try the mountains,” he said. “The original plan. Find another boat, get out of here, get back home.”
    Home? Oh, he meant New Vegas.
But Vallonis was her home, and home was so very close right now.
    â€œIf we go through the mountains, not all of us will survive,” she said, meaning the remaining prisoners. “We’re risking everyone’s lives.”
    Nobody argued with her, not even Wes, because she was right.
    Nat weighed the options in front of them, knowing a fresh band of attackers were sure to appear at any moment. New Kandy was burning; she could taste the grease and the gunpowder. Every part of her body ached. She trusted Wes, but he didn’t know the workings of the Blue.
    She placed a hand on his cheek, looked deep into his eyes. “Vallonis will protect us—and these prisoners.” She motioned to the ragged collection of survivors still following them. “She is their Queen. These are her people. She’s here for them.”
    Wes placed his hand on hers and squeezed. But then he pulled away, ran his fingers through his messy hair, and shook his head. “I just don’t trust her,” he said. “I can’t.”
    Nat turned to look back at Nineveh. The Queen of Vallonis, who stood in front of the only escape plan available to them, Nineveh, the lady in white, who had appeared at their darkest hour, a savior, a beacon, who offered refuge.
    To Wes, Nineveh was an enemy, a stranger. He was right to question her motives because of what happened in the past, but Nineveh was Faix’s Queen, and Faix had been her friend and mentor. The one who had taught her how to control her power, the one who had taught her the mysteries of magic. Nat would put her trust in Faix, and in her faith in Vallonis.
    So she turned once more to the boy she loved, the one from whom she drew her strength, the one with doubt in his eyes. “I can handle her. You don’t have to trust her. Trust me.”
    Wes took a deep breath.
    She knew he trusted her with his crew, with his heart, with his life. She had to make him understand this was their only way out. It was time to go, no time to hesitate. They would handle whatever came after, if she was wrong about this. But she wasn’t wrong.
    â€œTrust me,” she repeated.
    Wes rubbed his eyes with his fists. When he put his