Gearbreakers (Gearbreakers, #1)

by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Before there’s time to overthink it, I claim the space beside her, lying on my side. “You would have made a good Valkyrie, Eris.” She huffs and flips onto her side, too, facing me. Her shirt drapes over her form, outlining the delicate curve of her hip. “Good? I could’ve been at the top of your unit, easily.” “I was near the top of my unit. You think you could have bested me?” “What is this ‘could have’? I can beat you now.” “In what exactly, Frostbringer? Speed?” “Sure.” “Swordsmanship?” “If I put my mind to it.” “Escaping Godolia?” A hesitation. “I could have done that on my own.” “Really.” “Really,” she says, then shakes her head. “No, that’s a lie. But I’ve thought about it, and you could’ve. Easily. Walked straight out of there in your Windup, hopped out wherever you pleased. So why didn’t you, Glitch? Why did you stay?” I smile slightly. “I needed somewhere to run to. Someone.” “So you’re saying you needed me?” She is teasing me, I know it, but I only look at her and say, “Without a doubt, Eris.”