The valley looked so small below us as we stood before the Sacred School. Elsie had been enthralled with the trip up the mountain elevator. But she kept poking at the snow with her foot and a twisted expression.

"It's cold up here," she said. "Look at all the snow."

"I know, baby." Nash lifted her up. "It'll be warm at home when we return."

"When?"

"When it's safe. Until then, we'll be together every day."

"And Mommy?"

"Mommy too, when she gets here."

"It's warm inside." Piercey smiled at Elsie. "Like spring. Want to go in?"

Elsie's eyes brightened. "Really?"

Nash patted her head and then waved at the valley. "Say bye for now."

"Bye for now!" Elsie waved excitedly. "See you later!"

We chuckled as we turned and entered the school.

Piercey led us to a hall that used to lead to the training rooms, which had been converted into personal suites with light yellow walls.

"I let everyone know we would have guests," Piercey said. "You'll have privacy here. If you need anything, Max can teach you how to use the phone. It'll connect directly with me. Our graduates and their families often stay here, so it should be comfortable."

"Phone?" Nash patted Elsie's back.

"I'll show you." I smiled.

Interesting that Piercey had connected a phone system to his neural link, so people without power could tap in. What else had he invented?

"Here." Piercey opened a door to a small living room with two bedrooms at the far end of the room. "The little room is set up for you, Elsie."

"For me?" She wiggled in her father's arms. "I want to see!"

"Say thank you," Nash said.

"Thank you, mister."

Nash lowered her to the ground and she peeled out in a run as soon as her feet hit the floor. He followed after her, leaving me with Piercey.

"Your generosity–" I squeezed my hands in front of me.

"Don't act like it's a favor. We're all fighting this battle together."

"Thank you anyway."

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He shrugged. "No problem." His voice lowered. "Before you try to convince me that you should return to the valley, you need to stay."

"I can't abandon everyone to whatever the Prophets and Flare will do. The Prophet of the Valley has been humiliated. He'll be ruthless."

"You're not alone in this, Max. Let's do this the right way. My graduates are already on their way. We can meet, talk, vote. Join with us."

I didn't like the limitations that would impose. I wanted to be free to fight however I needed to. "I'll talk with you, but I'm making decisions for myself."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

I snorted. "Yes, you would. You want order and justice. I do too. It's for the best. But Dr. Henderson won't play by any rules."

"Just promise you won't leave without talking to me."

"I promise, Piercey… It doesn't feel right. My people are free now, but they aren't safe."

"Does leaving Elsie feel right?"

I shook my head. "No. Nothing feels right."

"Let me work my connections, okay? I'm sending people to protect your village. Everyone will be safe for now. It takes time to plan a war. Our enemies are doing what we are. Preparing."

"I suppose I can train while I'm here. Nash can work on battle plans."

Piercey clasped my shoulder. "There you go." He backed up to the door. "I have work to do before the others get here. Call if you need me."

I walked past the sofa and coffee table in the living room to Elsie's room. She knelt on a little bed by the window, gripping an armful of dolls. The bag with her clothes and belongings that we'd gathered had been thrown on the floor beside a small nightstand.

Nash sat on the edge of the bed.

"I've never had a room for Elsie." He chuckled and then looked up at me. "Strange, isn't it?"

My heart must have crumbled inside of me. Because of having to spy and battle for the Prophet, he'd never been able to really live with her, had he? That would change.

I left them to settle in while I explored the wing. There were three more suites identical to this one and four with only a single bedroom. It would give plenty of room for everyone to stay.

The closest one bedroom suite was two doors down from Nash. So I picked up my bag of weapons and carried them to the door when I heard him.

"Are you lost?"

I paused and turned to him.

"You're going the wrong way." He pulled the bag from me and backed up toward his suite with a smile hugging his lips.

"I can't stay with you," I whispered.

"Why not? We need your protection. Who will look after us if we're all the way down here?"

I eyed his swords and then pursed my lips. "Because you're totally helpless without me."

He caught my hand and tugged. "We don't have power like you do."

"You're very safe here."

"You'll hurt my feelings if you don't come."

"You have a four year old, in case you forgot."

"Totally slipped my mind."

I jerked my bag back from him. "We could be here for a while. I'm not going to live with you."

"I don't see the reasoning behind it, but fine. It's your life."

"I've known you for two weeks."

"And multiply lifetimes."

"It's totally inappropriate for Elsie. It could confuse her."

"What's confusing about our own personal bodyguard?" He flashed that smile of his. Wasn't even fair, the weapons he used against me. "She's four. She'll believe anything."

"Nash. You can't be serious."

He hadn't lost the playful look. "Take your own room if you must, but don't tell me you're going to leave me all alone in a strange place. Stay the night at least."

I chuckled and lowered my head. "You're impossible. I'm going to my room. Alone. Get back to your kid."

He was looking at me, really looking, the longing I felt reflected in his eyes. His voice was quiet now. Instead of returning to his room, he walked close to me, lifted my chin, and looked into my eyes, so close to me that I couldn't draw in a breath. "I'll stop teasing you. Rest and settle in. Just don't run from me when you get scared. I'm right here."

My chest tightened.

He left me with that, walked back to his room, and gave me another look before he disappeared behind the door.

I fell against the wall and groaned. He made it hard to think with his ridiculous ideas like basically moving in with him and his daughter. Now was the time for me to plan.

Although, perhaps, it should have been time for me to live.