He will rise up against the usurper, for he is noble. LYDIA AND BARRETT made the return trip in less time, unburdened by backpacks. Lydia seemed distracted, barely talkative, and Barrett sensed a change in their relationship. He slowed his pace to stay even with her, stole glances at her face, and tried to imagine what he had done to disturb her. He’d been living in her house for a couple of months now, ever since his father parked him there and promised to return soon. A hunting trip? A job? A secret mission? Who knew where he and Lydia’s stepfather and another man had gone. The third man had left his two young kids as well and Barrett, after a few days, unwillingly appointed himself as man of the house, though Lydia’s mother tried her best to keep an eye on all of them in addition to working a night shift. For Barrett, working odd jobs, spying, and stealing from the Blues all fell into place and, most importantly, living in the old house put him near Lydia every single day. “Do you think Dalton’s going to make a difference?”
