Exported [Book 3 in the Expiring Series]

32 The Truth

Iris~~

Two weeks pass before the Amoris strikes again.

It's one body—an elderly woman, the report says.

We're all gathered in front of the television in the living room. I'm curled up on the couch, sandwiched between Bently and Colton, my knees pulled to my chest. Erik sits beside Bently. Andrew and Basile are in the love seat. It's like we're a family.

Bently, Andrew, and Basile take turns translating for me and Colton. Erik doesn't need their help. He claims that with the help of the subtitles his French is at the point he can understand what's going on.

The female reporter broadcasts from the park in Paris where the woman was found. Police tape flaps in the background.

Bently rubs his forehead. "How are we going to examine the scene?"

"We can't," Andrew says, his hand threaded through Basile's. "We'll all be recognized."

Basile's throat bobs up and down. "Not me."

"What if they know we're together?"

Erik clasps his hands. "They probably have tabs on everyone Andrew and I associate with."

"That may be so," Basile says, "but their concern isn't me. It's the five of you. Those creatures may be yours, but this is my country."

Bently and Colton tense on the word creature. The two of them are more like those creatures than they are human. The same probably goes for Erik. While neither of his parents is full Amorian, his father is the brother of Jonas's and Colton's, meaning they share the same Amorian grandparent, and Erik's grandfather on his mother's side is an Amoris as well.

As for Andrew, though, he's a mystery to me.

One the screen, the camera follows Sebastian and Tobias, their faces as stoic as ever. I wait for someone to translate.

Colton lets out a grumble. "They look like they're about to breakdown in front of everyone."

Bently grunts. He actually grunted like how a man who has been playing video games for eighteen straight hours would when someone asks him a question. "Couldn't they have sent someone higher up than the Theta and the Undici?"

Colton shrugs, shaking his head. "Just be glad they didn't send Enzo."

Bently blinks quickly like he's trying to get the image out of his head and sits up straighter. "We'd never hear the end of it if they sent the Douze."

"The only reason they didn't is because he's with Jonas."

"Who were they supposed to send?" Erik twists to the three of us as if I've been a part of this conversation. "Gwen and August are trying to cover for Jonas and you, Colton. And I'm sure Seong-ho and Riley are trying to cover for you." His eyes land on Bently. "They're doing the best they can with the mess you left them."

I rub the sides of my head. "You two might can tell how Sebastian and Tobias are feeling because you know them well, but I can't and surely no one else can tell. They look . . . very Society-ish. Intimidating and all that."

Andrew clucks his tongue. "No, they do look positively dreadful."

Pressure builds in my head. "Would someone tell me what they're saying?"

"They're saying how the Expiration Date she's been Marked with is identical to the style of those found in Elleany." Basile cocks his head. "They're also saying how it's a sign of goodwill that your cousins are here after what happened with the three of you."