"He's planning to... steal you?" Rose's voice softened.
"Yeah. Away from you," I confirmed. "He'll probably try to lock me up somewhere. I don't know exactly where, but I'm betting it'll be at their base."
"And you're seriously going to risk that?" she asked, a mix of disbelief and worry creeping into her tone, her eyes scanning my face for any hint of hesitation.
"Well, it seems like the best chance to get a lead on at least one of their bases," I told her, meeting her gaze head-on. "It's a gamble, but it might be our only shot."
"Are you seriously betting everything on a gamble like this? For all we know, you could end up getting killed."
"Oh, are you worried about me?" I shot back, a teasing grin curling my lips.
Her response was a cold, unamused glare that sent a chill down my spine, the kind that said she wasn't in the mood for jokes, and I knew I'd pushed a little too far.
