Chapter 3

Back underground, my partner, Arthur Lowe, hurried over the moment he saw me, worry written across his face.

"Naomi, what are you doing down here? Isn't Susan on shift today? Your body can't take this. You need to rest." He grabbed my arm, already pulling me toward the exit. "Come on, I'll take you back up."

I laughed, hollow. "Captain's orders. Susan wanted to go watch the northern lights, so I'm covering her night shift."

Arthur's face darkened. "Is she here to work or here on vacation? And you're in this state and he still—is he blind, or does he only have eyes for Susan?"

I caught his arm and shook my head. "Forget it. He's completely convinced Susan's too delicate and made himself her personal knight. He's not going to listen to you."

Arthur slammed his fist into the wall. "What about your rotation home? Has he set a date yet?"

My throat tightened. "That went to Susan too."

His jaw dropped. I'd already pushed myself past my limit, and everything went black.

When I came to, only my teammates were around me. I lowered my eyes to hide my disappointment. "Where is he?"

One of them rolled their eyes, annoyed on my behalf. "Worry about yourself for once. Forget that heartless man." He pulled up a recording and played it. Carl's voice, ice-cold, came through the speaker.

"The wind's too strong up top. Susan can't handle it, so I need to stay with her. Tell Naomi to stop being so difficult—she's fine."

My hands fisted around the sheets until my knuckles went white. "Arthur. Bring me a pen and paper."

That was when Carl walked in with Susan trailing behind him.

"See, she's completely fine," he said. "Just like Susan said."

Arthur rounded on him, furious. "Do you not see how swollen her limbs are? Do you not see how pale she's gone?"

Susan's eyes flicked back and forth, and she cut in before Arthur could say more. "Naomi's probably just on her period. Some swelling is totally normal then. Don't worry, I'll go make you some ginger tea in a bit." Then she added, with a knowing little smile, "Arthur is a man, after all—he wouldn't really understand a woman's body. Something this personal really isn't his place to help with."

Carl's eyes went cold, like the suggestion had planted a seed of doubt. "Naomi!"

I looked at him without a flicker of emotion, took the pen and paper from Arthur's hand, and wrote out a divorce agreement without hesitation.

The moment Carl saw those words, his expression twisted. He snatched the paper and tore it to shreds.

"Susan was right. You—"

I cut him off. "Susan says, Susan says. There's no room in your head for anyone but Susan. So tell me, aren't I doing you a favor by setting you free?"

His face went dark. Susan burst into sudden tears.

"Naomi, I only ever thought of the captain as an older brother! Are you accusing me of coming between you two?"

She fled the room in tears, and Carl's expression shifted before he chased after her.

"Naomi, I'll deal with you when I get back," he said, then shot Arthur a sharp look. "I'm not agreeing to a divorce."

Once they were both gone, I broke into a coughing fit so violent it felt like my chest was tearing apart. Arthur looked at me, full of sympathy. "Naomi."

I shook my spinning head and forced a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Just tired. I want to rest." I lay down and closed my eyes.

After Arthur left, I opened them again and stared blankly at the ceiling.