“Edgar,” Em said, with pink cheeks. “Jack and Cat used him as a tool. Just like Ava, just like me.”
“I’m still not following,” I said. At all.
There was extreme fierceness in Em’s voice. If Poe was going to have a champion, the girl he’d tried to kill was his best chance. “He’s not a traveler to the past or the future, but he can move through space. Kind of like … teleporting.”
“Explain.” I stared at Poe, trying to get any other emotion besides sadness from him. It was all I could find.
“I use duronium to get inside veils.” His voice was thin, and it seemed as if he could barely stand. “I use exotic matter to get from place to place. Jack used me to do the same.”
“You were using Cat’s exotic matter,” I realized. “Did Cat help Em and Michael get out of the rip?”
“No.”
“How did you get them out?” I asked.
“I have my own source of exotic matter.”
I let the possibilities of that statement sink in.
“If we’re done with the happy reunion, I’m not just here for kicks and giggles.” I noticed a red spot on the front of Poe’s shirt growing wider by the second. He swayed to one side, blinking furiously. “I came to warn you. Landers. Chronos. Together … mistake. Huge mistake.”
And then he collapsed.
o;Mama?” I used the name I’d called her as a child, and my voice broke. I buried my face in her neck, feeling her pulse, strong and sure. “Are you … are you okay?”
“I knew you could do it.” Her voice was weak, and then she was crying.
I touched her face, held her hands. Felt the overwhelming love Dad had for both of us rush over me like healing water.
“I could hear. I knew how you tried to save me. How you blamed yourself, and I knew when your father came back. I just kept holding on.”
Then she caught a glimpse of Dad behind me.
“Liam?”
He rushed past me, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her.
Every lightbulb and electrical appliance in the room blew at once.
I turned to sneak out, to give them time to reconnect, but my mother called out to me.
“Kaleb?”
I turned around.
“Where’s Lily?”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
“She’s such a lovely girl.” Mom smiled again, as if she had a secret.
I guess she did.
Chapter 55
Lily and I escaped to the front porch.
“Are you okay?” Lily asked, putting her hand on my shoulder. I covered it with my own.