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would regret that choice.
    “But that doesn’t mean you won’t have to make some tough choices down the road. Love’s a funny feeling, and we do stupid things because of it. I know you miss her. I miss her. God, I miss her.” He paused. “But I won’t ever be able to explain it in a way that will make it all right. I know that—I accept it—but if there is one thing you should never doubt, it’s that I loved her.”
    I chucked the rock as far as I could and got up. Robert was right. “Thanks for the talk. I know it wasn’t easy for you.” I paused, finding the strength to admit what else I needed to say. “And thank you for everything else. You didn’t ask to have the biggest brat of all time as a sister-in-law, but I couldn’t have asked for a better brother-in-law.”
    “Anytime,” he said with a small smile.
    I made my way to Henry. “What were you two talking about?” he asked, trying to sound indifferent.
    I shrugged. “About how long it will be till we get there.”
    Henry nodded and stuffed his now-empty hands in his pockets. I couldn’t help myself. I reached out and pulled his hand free, taking it in mine. “Doesn’t feel like we’re close to getting there,” I said softly, looking at the miles of woods that still lay in front of us.
    Henry squeezed my hand. “No. It doesn’t feel close at all.”
    …
     
    “If you would just hear me out, I wouldn’t have to keep talking so much,” I argued, pushing my tired legs to try and catch up with the men. Robert and Henry followed behind, effectively surrounding me. I had decided it was time to lay down the groundwork for my plan to get my sister and back.
    “I don’t need to hear you out, because I already know what you have to say. And you can say it in any pretty little way you want, but we’re not going to change our minds. A deal’s a deal. And we stick by our word,” McNair gruffed, pulling the strap of his gun tighter against his shoulder.
    “I’m sorry, but I wasn’t told of the deal you made, which is pretty absurd considering I’m part of the trade. My sister. She’s all by herself.”
    I wanted to start gathering volunteers the minute we entered the camp. Robert had told me back in an abandoned barn, just days after they rescued me from certain death, that there was a sector of the resistance movement located in our compound’s community. Surely these men who came all the way to save me were a part of it.
    It pained me that I wasn’t fighting for James, too, but Louisa was my priority. I couldn’t imagine James being stuck in a life he hated—following rules without question. Suffocating any part of himself that dared to think differently in order to survive. I knew what that felt like, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to do it. And when the council found out he wasn’t just another blind, devoted solider, they would murder him for it.
    But saving my sister was bigger than us.
    It had to be.
    McNair walked on like he couldn’t hear me. With a grunt, I pushed myself even harder, stumbling over the uneven ground to keep up with his long strides. “I think I deserve to be heard. You and your medical staff will want to poke and prod me as soon as I reach your camp. If you think I’m just going to let you without—”
    McNair stopped suddenly and turned on me so quickly I almost fell into his arms. His normally stoic expression was gone. Blotches of red spread from his neck to his cheeks and his fingers tightened over the strap of his gun. “Enough. I’ve had enough.” He spoke quietly through his teeth.
    I wanted to step away from him, but I knew to do so would be admitting defeat, and I couldn’t back down. Not now. I took a deep breath and lifted my chin. “You don’t—”
    “I don’t believe I asked you to talk,” he snapped.
    “Leave her alone. She’s got a point,” Henry said, suddenly appearing by my side. I could hear Robert moving closer to me as well.
    “No. I don’t think she gets it. Let me