Marked by Jenny Martin Page A

balance. “For the record, I think you’re allowed to punch him in the face,” she murmurs as I recover.
    I let go. I rush James until we’re nose to nose. Or nose to sternum, as it were. I look up and pretend I’m taller.
    â€œPhee, do we have to do this? I’d rather skip this bit.” He takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose.
    I stare at him, but the fury’s already dead and gone. He closes in for an embrace, and I find myself reaching back. When the corners of my lips start turning up, I don’t even try to resist the pull.
    â€œI was so worried about you,” James says, still squeezing the life out of me.
    For a moment, I freeze. Care and concern? This is a first for us. A few months ago, I didn’t even know my uncle existed. Then he became the architect of my escape. But a part of me always kept him at arm’s length. I still haven’t gotten used to the idea that we’re actually family.
    â€œI am so worried about you,” he says again.
    I pull back. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
    He appraises me. “I don’t think you are, Phee.”
    I shake him off. I turn away and slump into the seat at the far end of the table.
    â€œWe need to talk,” he says.
    He looks at our audience. I’d almost forgotten that Sindal and Miyu and the guard were still here. “Would you three mind excusing us for a bit?” James asks. “My niece and I have some catching up to do.”
    They all turn to leave, but I look at Miyu. After all the trouble she’s gone through to get me here, I won’t let James dismiss her. “She stays,” I tell him. “Whatever you’ve got to say, you can say it in front of her.”
    â€œVery well,” he says. He gestures at a seat between us. “Please join us, Ms. Yamada.”
    Miyu nods, and she makes her way to the desk. After shesits, Sindal and the guard slip away without another word, leaving us alone in the vault.
    â€œFirst things first,” James says. “We need to talk about your—”
    I cut him off. “No. First, you’ve got some explaining to do. Where have you been, why did you keep this from me, and what happened to Cash?”
    All the light in James’s eyes dies when I ask him about Cash. And then I know: There won’t be a surprise ending or happy reunion. He’s not summoning his bodyguard to fetch a lost prince from another room.
    â€œWhat happened?” I press.
    â€œI went into hiding as soon as the rally started.”
    I remember that day. Every second of it. Including the last time I saw James. Before my last race, he told me not to worry, and swore he had a hundred places to hide, should our escape plans fall apart. I guess I should’ve taken him at his word.
    â€œBenroyal searched your vac,” I say. “It was waiting, but you weren’t there.”
    â€œI’m not stupid. I left it there to throw Benroyal off. He never had me, and he never will.”
    â€œBut Hank said—”
    â€œHank knew nothing. This was my emergency contingency, and I couldn’t risk him or you or anyone else gettinginterrogated. Outside these walls, Grace Yamada is the only other person who knows I’m here. She can be trusted.”
    Miyu shrugs, as if she knows just as little as I do.
    â€œYou should’ve prepared me,” I say to him.
    â€œI did what I had to.”
    And there it is, the default answer for everything. I had to. I was protecting you. Just follow along and do as I say. It’s for your own good. But I don’t say any of this out loud, because I’m tired of our little dance. He keeps secrets and I keep fighting to pry them loose. “You haven’t answered me. What happened to Cash?”
    â€œHonestly?” He sighs, then splays his fingers over the tabletop. “I don’t know.”
    I don’t have any sarcasm left. I have to swallow hard, just