Uprising (Alternate Earth Series, Book 2) by S.J. West Page B

isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind having a steady relationship for once. You guys and my parents are all the family I have.”
    “And Horace,” I remind him.
    Chandler grins. “Yeah, Uncle Horace, too. Which reminds me…have they found his counterpart here yet?”
    I shake my head. “Not that I know of, but I need to ask about that. Though, finding him and King Solomon’s tomb is only half the battle. We still don’t know what we need to look for there.”
    “Jered and Tristan have been going to that cemetery in Lakewood for the past couple of weeks,” Gabe informs me. “They saw Tara once, but she didn’t leave anything at the gravesite to help us out. I guess she hasn’t learned anything new yet.”
    I sigh in disappointment. I was hoping we would be further along in discovering what Project T-7 was all about by now, but, with this news, it appears we aren’t any closer to uncovering what the princes are looking for.
    Mason phases into the attic, instantly finding me with his gaze. From the look on his face, I know I won’t like what he has to say.
    “What’s wrong?” I ask, going to him.
    “Peyton has requested that we help in Dillon’s kidnapping,” Mason informs me.
    “I know that already,” I say before what he said completely sinks in. “Wait. Are you saying she wants you and me to help?”
    Mason nods his head.
    “Why?” I ask, not seeing the point.
    “We’re wanted by Ravan, which makes us the perfect candidates to lure Dillon away. Peyton knows that if Dillon sees us, she’ll do whatever it takes to bring us to her father like a prize.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say in exasperation.
    “I wish I were,” Mason replies, not liking the plan either.
    “I suppose they have a scheme set into place?”
    “Yes.”
    I hang my head, because it’s the last thing I want to do. Just when I was able to relax and share a little normalcy with my friends, this has to happen.
    “When?” I ask tersely, not mad at Mason, but mad at the ruse Peyton is forcing us to play a part in.
    “Tonight,” Mason answers. “Today is Dillon’s birthday. Peyton’s throwing her a party to celebrate.”
    “How are we supposed to go to a party unnoticed?”
    “Apparently, it’s a costume party,” Mason tells me. “Brand said he would find us some costumes that will conceal our identities.”
    “I don’t like this, Mason,” I say, my heart dropping at the thought of what we are about to put Dillon through. I may not know her, but I can empathize with what is about to be done to her. We are about to take away a fundamental part of who she is. It was comparable to someone pulling my arms or legs from their sockets, and I hated being used in such a manner.
    “None of us likes it,” Mason tells me, “but the alternative isn’t any better, Jess. We’ll just have to hope that this actually helps more than it hurts her in the long run.”
    I couldn’t see how it would help anyone’s soul, much less Dillon’s. But I had to place my faith in Brand’s decision. He knew this world and its Watchers better than I did. I just hoped he understood the consequences of what he was about to do.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    It’s decided that Tristan will attend the party with us. Sophia still wants him to talk to Logan about leaving Robert and joining her. Originally, Tristan was going to speak with Sophia’s estranged daughter at a concert Dillon was going to give, but, after the opening of the fourth seal, that plan fell through. It was a sure thing that Logan would be attending her half-sister’s birthday bash. It was the perfect opportunity for Tristan to speak with her in person, and it would also help keep her distracted while Mason and I played our part in Dillon’s abduction.
    Just thinking about what we were about to do made me sick to my stomach, but I didn’t have a better alternative to the plan. I wish I did.
    When Brand gives us our costumes, I have to ask,