chapter Twenty-Five
JACE SHOT A BOLT of Charge, and Reese ducked, rolling off the bed and bringing me with him. I dropped to the floor, hard. Reese covered me. His body hovered, shielding me as he quickly looked me over. When he was sure I was all right, he bounded to his feet.
Jace grabbed Reese’s leather collar and slammed him against the wall. “Get the hell away from her!”
I forced my corset together and hugged it closed. Jumping to my feet, I snapped a couple of the top clamps and rushed toward them. “Jace, what are you doing?”
“Dez, get out of here. Now!” He punched Reese.
My mind reeled. Shit! Before they could tear each other apart, I wrapped my arms around Jace and tried to pry him away, but he pushed me off.
“Get downstairs,” Jace ordered and attempted to punch Reese again, but Reese blocked it and delivered a hard knock with his free hand.
I backed away, my eyes searching. I couldn’t release my power here like the last time. This was a public building with lots of guests. It was too dangerous. We’d get caught and arrested. Or worse, Reese and I would be discovered. I balled my hands into fists. Why was Jace doing this?
I fell backward on the bed as Reese thrust Jace forward toward the middle of the room. “Jace, man. I’m warning you…” He pushed him against the chest, and Jace staggered. “Don’t do this. Just walk out of this room.”
Jace’s eyes lit with fury. “Not without Dez.” He turned his attention toward me. “He’s not who you think he is, Dez. Trust me. Just leave right now.”
My eyes shot between them, finally landing on Jace. I stood. “What?”
Jace ran his hand through his disheveled hair. “He’s part of the Feyan Army.” He gave Reese an evil sneer. “Oh yeah, I’ve been following you.” He nodded once. “I know about the Feyan. I also know why you’re here—you and your Narco commanders—and what you’re looking for.”
My mouth hung agape. I shook my head lightly, clearing it. “Reese? What’s he talking about?”
Reese’s eyes studied the floor, avoiding me. “Go, Dez,” he muttered under his breath.
Panicked, I turned to Jace. “Tell me now!”
“You and Reese aren’t the only ones of your kind.” He held my eyes. “The Narcos have raised an army of Feyan. That’s what they call your kind—what you are, Dez. And they’ve come to Haven on a mission.” He paused, taking in Reese. “To find the one that will set them free. Then destroy the Shythe when they’re no longer subjected to the curse of our ancestors.”
My knees gave, and I crumbled to the floor. I looked up at Reese. His expression didn’t deny anything Jace had said. “What does this have to do with us?” I asked him desperately. “You knew all along…everything that I thought we were trying to discover together. You knew.” I bit down on my lip. “What does this have to do with us?!” I shouted.
Reese’s eyes met mine—cold and hard. “You’re the one.”
No.
Jace’s hands grasped my arms, and he pulled me to my feet. I couldn’t feel my body. Every nerve, every muscle, limb, part…was numb. He ushered me toward the broken door. My world spun.
“Don’t come near her again,” Jace warned Reese. “And if you or anyone else does, this whole town is going to blow. I’ll destroy every last one of you sonofabitches.”
In an attempt to find something that made sense, I met Reese’s eyes. “Tell me you weren’t going to…” My words trailed. I had no idea what he actually wanted with me. If anything.
Reese took one step forward and halted when Jace stiffened next to me. “Dez, I’m what he says. I’m not who you think.” His face hardened—his eyes glowing deep red. “Just…You were a way for me to move up in rank.” His features were stern, convincing.
“No,” I breathed.
“Yes,” he confirmed. “And one last thing.” His eyes bored into mine. “When they come. Run.”
Jace grabbed my arm, and with his free hand shot a blast of Charge at Reese. I didn’t see if he dodged it. We were through the door and into the hallway, running at full speed before my mind caught up with me. “How did you learn to throw your Charge?”
“That’s what you ask me right now?” Jace glanced over, a smirk sliding across his face.
We flew out the back of the hotel. Jace had his levibike idling, ready to take off. I didn’t understand why. Where were we going to run? Once we were on the road, I finished snapping the top half of my corset. I tied string from my skirt around the busted clamps—my stomach nauseated and weak. I’d been about to…
No. I couldn’t think about that. I couldn’t even understand what had taken place. I had to focus on something, anything else. Reese had told me to run. Why would he say that?
Jace hovered up to the park. It was dark. A half-crescent moon and only a hint of twinkling stars lit the sky. Jace stopped near the entrance, parking his levibike under a dim gas lantern. He turned off the engine, popped off the seat, and offered me his hand. I stared at it, my mind blank. He took me into his arms, pulling me off the seat and clutching me to him.
“I’m sorry,” he said into my ear.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yes it is.” He pulled away. The blue glow of his eyes shimmered, glistening. “I abandoned you. Instead of trying to understand what you were going through all these years, I allowed my stupid prejudice to control me.”
My eyes stung. “Jace, you have nothing to apologize for. I treated you horribly. You had every right to be angry with me. I…” I lowered my eyes from his, breathing in courage. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything. For leading you on, and for just not telling you the truth from the beginning.” I kept my eyes hidden from his—not wanting to see the hurt I knew was there.
Jace’s hand skimmed my cheek, raising my face to meet his. My eyes scanned over his lips—curled up on one side—and his brightly glowing eyes. “I understand why you hid. I get it.” He brushed a stray hair behind my ear, his eyes taking in my features. “And as for you and me”—he raised his eyebrows—“we’re good. Don’t feel bad. And don’t regret what happened.” He smiled. “I don’t.”
I opened my mouth to continue, to make him understand how sorry I was. But I changed my mind, and simply nodded as everything that had happened at the hotel came rushing back to me.
“What’s going on? How did you even find me?” I squeezed my eyes, mentally cursing myself. I kept forgetting about the trace on my stupid communicator. I bowed my head, ashamed.
He led me toward a bench under a gas lantern. “Remember that scroll we found?” he asked. I nodded, patiently waiting for him to fill in the details. “Well, I don’t know how the Narcos got their hands on it, but it’s a text—some kind of prophecy. I had the proofs analyzed by one of my father’s friends. A member of the Shythe Council. I had to take the risk. Dr. Thailow is an historian, and one of the only Kythan that can still read, well, partly read ancient Egyptian.”
“So they know we broke into the airship.” I said, fear lacing in my voice.
“Dez, our council hasn’t completely trusted the Narcos this whole time. They wanted a way to unite the races, fend off war, and save us from extinction. They were willing to chance the Peace Act because the Narco Council promised a way to do just that.”
“But I don’t understand.” I swallowed hard. “Reese called me the ‘one.’ What does…and what the hell is a Feyan Army?”
“You were part of an experiment, right?” Jace studied my face. “One that only the Narcolym actually knew the outcome of. The scroll states that one Kythan will be born with the ultimate power of two races. That only this one Kythan will hold the power to lift the curse, our dependency on the humans for our survival.” He took a deep breath. “Dez, we’ve been lied to all this time. Yes, Kythan were guardians to the pharaohs. Yes, when they died out, we should have ceased with them. But a Narco—way back when—thought by killing the last pharaoh it would set us free. But he didn’t know that the sorcerers had placed a spell. If a Kythan Guardian ever went against their rulers, a curse would befall all the races. One of war and servitude to humans for all time.”
My mind tried to process everything he was telling me. “And the scroll? It tells us how to lift this curse?”
“Yes. Somehow the Narcos got their hands on it and deciphered it. That’s why they didn’t kill us off when they destroyed the Leymak race, only weakened us. They still need one other race, one they can use to unite and find the power to lift the curse.”
“But how is that me? How can you think it’s me?” I threw my hands up. “Jace, Reese is just like me. And according to you, we aren’t the only ones.”
Jace cupped my face. “I saw that power, Dez.” His eyes lingered on my face. “You know that you’re not just like Reese. You have to know how much more powerful you are than him. I’ve heard him say it.”
My chest tightened. “You’ve been spying on us?”
“I’m sorry.” His eyes sought mine, pleading. “But I didn’t have a choice. I had to understand you. And I had to find out what Reese and the rest of the Narcos were up to.”
His words brought my world crashing down around me again. “Reese,” I said. “He’s one of them.”
Jace clasped my hands. “I’m sorry we couldn’t decipher the scroll faster.” He bowed his head and shook it. “But right now, we have to get you somewhere safe. I can explain more later.” His eyes searched my face. “But, Dez…I need to know first. Are you all right?” I managed one nod before he continued. “We haven’t finished decoding the rest of the scroll, and we need to hurry and do that before the fighting starts.”
“Fighting?”
Jace ushered me toward his levibike. “You don’t think Reese is going to let you get away now, do you?” He started the engine. “Now that his plans have been ruined, I’m sure the Narcos will try and take you by force.”
Reese’s warning echoed in my mind, adding to the fear in Jace’s voice.
Run.
Jace took us to his house. For now, there was no going back to the Academy. When I walked through the door, Lana wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Oh, my God,” she said. “I was so worried. When Dr. Thailow finally deciphered the part about…well, Jace figured out it was you.” Her eyes shone, gleaming with tears. “I wanted to come with him, but he wouldn’t let me.”
I hugged her again. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want you in danger, Lane.”
Her eyes trailed over my busted corset, and she pinched her eyebrows together. “Did Reese hurt—”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m fine.”
She clasped my hand, pulling me behind her as she moved toward the stairs. “Come on. Let’s get you a change of clothes.”
Once I was in her bedroom, she closed the door and left to join the others downstairs. I needed a moment alone. I didn’t want to face all those knowing eyes just yet. My secret was out. They knew who I was, and they weren’t attacking me. I shook my head in confusion.
My mom had hidden me all these years from our own Council, but they weren’t locking me up or trying to kill me. Well, yet, I realized. I tried to clear my lungs with a shuddering breath, and then went to Lana’s closet. I grabbed a pair of leather pants and a loose fitting blouse. Then I balled up my bustle and tattered corset and tossed it in her waste basket.
I made my way down the steps and braced myself for the interrogation I was sure I was going to get. As I entered the dining room, I saw the Tuners’ table littered with proofs of the scroll, documents, and maps. Four members of the Shythe Council sat around the table. I assumed the man hunched over a notebook, scribbling away was Dr. Thailow. I glanced around, and noticed Mr. Tuner in the kitchen. I gave him a weak smile. He only nodded, his eyes heavy with his thoughts.
He neared the table and pressed his palms flat against it, staring at the other members of the Shythe Council and his family. “We may only have hours before an attack comes. The scroll can wait.” He eyed Dr. Thailow. “We have what the Narcos want, so we must plan strategy now.”
Jace stepped forward. “The barrier spell,” he said. “We need to reverse it. The Narcos’ airships are docked in our harbor. We can infiltrate the ships, take them over, and push them and the rest of the army beyond the barrier.” He glanced at each serious face in the room. “We’ve snuck on the airships before. It’s not that—”
“Which was the stupidest thing you’ve ever done, Jace,” Mr. Tuner interrupted.
Jace’s eyes shot toward him, angry. “We have the scroll now. Don’t we? And we have Dez.” He looked to me for a moment. “We might only have a short time to try and force their army through the barrier. If we can reverse their spell, I think we can fight them back.”
Dr. Thailow stood. “That’s a fine plan, Jace, but our army is no match for the Feyan. Even if we somehow manage to put the original barrier back up, I don’t know how we’re to defeat an army of super Kythan and Narco guards. It’ll be a massacre.”
The room went still. Then Nick spoke. “Regardless, we have to try.” His eyes scanned our faces. “If we don’t fight, they’ll storm every house, every unit, looking for Dez. And after they take her, they’ll destroy us.” He lifted his shoulders, shrugging. “The way I see it, we don’t have a choice.”
“What about the magics?” Lana piped up. “Is there some kind of spell that we could cast on the Narcos? Make them leave?”
Dr. Thailow shook his head. “Those are long lost, my dear. I’ve no idea how the Narco Council managed to remove the humans.” He rubbed his forehead. “They must have a powerful leader in order to cast a spell like that.”
Mr. Tuner released an exasperated breath. “Let’s get our focus back on the barrier spell.”
“No, let’s decide once and for all that we’re going to call our troops,” Jace told him.
The Council members began debating whether or not to summon their guards before or after the barrier was reversed. Jace and Nick argued their side, and the room broke into shouts.
The ruckus made my head hurt. Members of the Shythe Council argued, Lana and Nick debated whether or not to inform Devon of something, and I just needed…air.
I slipped out the backdoor, shutting it silently behind me. The chilled, night air cloaked me, and I settled on the Tuners’ back porch, staring into the dark sky. My first thought was that if there was going to be a fight, I had to warn my mom. But I didn’t know how to do that without freaking her out. I couldn’t scare her right now. She finally believed I was safe. I buried my face in my hands. But she wasn’t safe. If the Narcos thought I was the “one”—whatever that was—then they’d look for me at home.
I pulled out my communicator, but halted typing when I heard the door squeak behind me. “Dez?” Jace said.
“Yeah, I just needed a moment. I have to contact my mom.”
Jace sat down beside me. “We already have. Well, we didn’t fill her in on the specifics, but there are guards watching her house.”
“Thank you.” I released a heavy breath, running my hands over my face. “You said there are others. A Feyan Army?”
“From what I’ve learned, there was an experiment to find, or create, this prophesized Kythan that could break the curse. But they supposedly disposed of the failed attempts.”
I nodded. “Yeah, my mom escaped when she found out they were killing them.”
“Well, they weren’t.” He ran his hand along my back. “They told the parents that, but secretly raised an army. I mean, why dispose of power that great when you can manipulate it into a force to use for your own gain?”
It made sense. My chest burned as I thought about Reese being part of this army. He had been raised to kill. He’d lied about his mother and her escape. He’d lied about everything. But I couldn’t wrap my mind around what his intentions had been for me.
I looked into Jace’s glowing eyes. “What did you overhear? What did you learn?”
“The Feyans’ mission was pretty simple. The Peace Act, for all intents and purposes, was legit. The Narcos wanted to unite the races in order to start a full on breeding gone wild. They were getting desperate to find the prophecy child.” He paused, his eyebrows knitted together. “The Feyan were on search and find—discover the escaped subject and find out if she harbored the ultimate power.” He shook his head. “They were to gain the subject’s trust. Manipulate her into believing the Narcos were here for a good purpose. For some reason, it was vital that Reese gain your trust.” He cleared his throat. “If it was reported back that the missing subject couldn’t be found, was dead, or that she didn’t hold the power, then the plan to unite the races would continue in order to produce the ‘one.’”
My stomach churned, threatening to make me lose its contents right there. I hugged my midsection, rocking. “That bastard.”
Jace pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on top of my head. “Want me to kill him?”
“Yes.” I clamped my eyes shut, urging the stinging tears back. “No. I don’t know.”
His breath caressed my hair as he breathed out heavily. “At least you found out the truth before it was too late.” His body stiffened. I’d almost been with Reese. My soul flooded with guilt at the thought of Jace walking in and seeing us together.
“Jace…I’m—”
“It’s okay. You didn’t know.” He held me tighter. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t work faster and figure it out way before now.”
I pushed the thought from my head, blocking out the ache in my chest. “So, now that Reese knows that we know…” I bowed my head against his arm.
“I have a feeling since I botched his mission, that yeah, they’ll come for you—try to take you any way they can.” Jace pressed his lips to my head. “But they won’t. I won’t let them. And whatever your power is…whatever reason they want you so badly, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
He finally released me, and I fell slack. I sat back on the palms of my hands, staring blankly out into the darkness. Jace stood and moved toward the door. “You know I’m here if you need me,” he said. “I’m going back in. Have to try and figure this out before they attack.”
Before the door shut, I spun my head toward him. “Jace, don’t worry about Reese.” I paused a beat, taking in his confused expression. “I’ll kill him.”
I looked toward the woods and heard the door close behind me. There was nothing to think about anymore. Reese was part of some Feyan Army that had been ordered to get close to me, manipulate me, turn me against the race that had raised me. Somehow, they planned to use my power to their benefit.
Why didn’t Reese just take me right when he discovered my power? I despised him for all the hoops he’d made me jump through. Whatever the reason, he was really good at his job.
I stood and brushed the back of my pants legs. Turning to go join them inside, I froze as I heard a snap behind me. Ice hit my bloodstream. Before I was able to run, a blinding pain splintered through my head, and the world around me went blacker than the night sky.