chapter 74

Valen “Everly!” I call after walking up the steps to her apartment and pushing the door open. I get no answer. Valarian ducks off to his room, and I can hear Zoe coming up the steps behind me. Wandering through the place, I walk into her room to find her uniform on the bed. As I head back to the living room, Zoe enters, dumping Casey's stuff on the table. “Have you seen Everly? She didn't answer when I called on my way here,” I ask her. “No, she was in the restaurant earlier; I thought she would be here.” Zoe shrugs. “Maybe ask Tatum? Wasn't he on guard duty today?” “No, he had to go to a border patrol meeting today,” I tell her when Zoe picks up her phone. “Ah, she’s gone on a run at the reserve,” Zoe says, and I walk over, snatching the phone from her fingertips. The text message was sent two hours ago. My heart skips a beat. That’s far too long, and I’m worried, knowing the borderlines aren't secure. “Watch Valarian,” I tell her, taking off and jumping over the guardrail on the balc