Everlife (Everlife #3)

I straighten with a jolt. “Do you know where he is, exactly?” When he doesn’t respond right away, I grip his shoulders to shake him. He’s wider than I remember, and more solid. But he’s also weaker, the forced movements causing him to stumble. Ugh.

“Well, do you?” I ask, dropping my arms to my sides. Mental note: Archer has just come back from the dead. He might not be in tip-top shape yet.

“No. I tried to find him, but he’s been expertly hidden.”

Zero!

Frowning, I say, “Why do you want to hurt him? I thought you two were getting along before your death.”

“Hey!” someone shouts, drowning out Archer’s reply. “What’s wrong with our Conduit? Where is her Light?”

—Tenley.—

Killian’s voice suddenly rings inside my head. I jolt, air hissing between my teeth.

“What?” Archer demands.

I hold up one finger, asking for a moment.

I attempt to push my voice at Killian. —Can you hear me? Are you all right? Do you know where you are?— The words glide along the bridge between our Grids. At the same time, my shadows writhe all over again, paining me. No, not my shadows. I won’t claim them. The shadows.

The question I most want to ask, but don’t? Do you remember me?

—I need you. Find me, baby.—

Baby? The same non-endearment he used with Erica? My stomach twists into a thousand little knots, each leaking acid. He never calls me baby, a generic nickname any guy can use with any girl—as he’s proven. What’s more, my Killian never gently, tenderly asks me to find him. He demands I get my butt in gear but also stay safe.

So. Unasked question answered. No, he doesn’t remember me. Now I wonder… Is he hoping to seduce me with this baby crap? Once upon a time, he had a routine he used on every target Myriad assigned to him.

Welcome to my web, said the spider to the fly.

What does Killian hope to gain from this?

The words he spoke to me after our bonding rumble inside my head. Why aren’t you dead?

My stomach does that horrible twisting thing. Does he still want to kill me?

No matter. Whatever his goal, I’ll deal. —I’m on my way.—Once again, for better or worse.

Disappointment chills me when one second bleeds into another, and there’s no response.

“All right. I’ve given you enough time. Tell me what’s going on,” Archer says. “Wait. Never mind. Let’s put a pin in that topic of conversation. Why do the Generals look like they want to murder you?”

“You know I decided who would be Resurrected, right? Half the crowd wanted me to choose Orion, the other half wanted me to choose Levi.”

“They were using common sense,” he mutters.

Man, I’m taking hit after hit today. I could really use your help, Eron.

Luciana leaps to her feet and closes the distance between us. Shamus keeps pace at her side, menace in their every step. Alejandro stops Shamus, but no one makes a play for Luciana.

Either her rage fuels the crowd, or the booers feed off each other, growing more incensed by the second. Soon, they’re going to lose control and rush the dais.

Eron’s words play through my head, and I receive a boost of strength. Show them you are willing to fight for what you believe. Just because you can’t see me, doesn’t mean I’m not there.

“Do we not prize wisdom over emotion?” I call. “Allowing our feelings to direct us will only lead to mistakes.”

Aggression levels spike. Tension thickens the air.

A suspicion lurks… What if I’m responsible for their upset? Not because of the vote, but because the shadows found a way into the Grid?

Raanan, Reed and Clay leap onto the dais to form a protective circle around Archer and me. I hate that they’re in danger, and I do my best to protect them with a beam of Light. Once, I could have used a single beam to carry us to safety. But no longer. Ugh! What little Light I have remains trapped inside me, held hostage by the shadows.

“What should we do?” Clay’s eyes are wild as the crowd stalks closer. “How do we get out of here?”

Good question. Logic failed. I’ve got one other card to play. My exalted position. “Everyone—calm down and be still,” I shout. A command from a Conduit. “Now.”

I’m ignored, the crowds continuing to surge toward us.

“I sent Clementine to the Eye,” Raanan says. He palms two short swords. “If we can keep everyone offstage for three minutes, eighteen seconds, she can get a lock on us and transport us into another city.”

“First, put your weapons away.” We can’t hurt our own people.

Um, we might have to hurt our own people.

The first wave of protestors begin to climb onto the dais.

Oh, wow! The first line is knocked to the ground as a pack of animals leaps forward. A pit bull is at the helm. The one I saw patrolling the area just beyond the Veil of Wings. He still looks like he’s smiling.

“We go now.” His nails click-clack against the dais as he prowls inside the circle. “We go to safety.”

He’s talking to me? “Take my friends to safety. I need to find—”

“Your man. I know.” His dark eyes fill with…admiration? “I also know where he is being held. Had one of my pups follow General Shamus. So we go now?”

“Yes, yes. We’ll go now.”

“Flankers!” he shouts.

In seconds, the pack of dogs, wolves, lions and tigers surrounds us, blocking everyone, including Luciana.

“What the—the animals are helping you now?” Archer gasps out.

“Maybe?” Or we’re about to be mauled. “Eron assigned everyone a guardian.”

“Hop on,” the pit bull says.

Whoa. “Hop on to you?”

“No, silly hooman. Les cavaliers.”

Even as he speaks, a pack of zebras fights through the crowd and jumps on the dais. Six zebras, to be exact.

Six. Three letters. 3 + 3 = 6. Black-and-white beauties, wild yet tame.

“Pony express to the rescue?” Archer mumbles as he mounts the zebra closest to him. “Okay. I’m game.”

Raanan, Clay and Reed each mount a zebra of their own. I’m the only one to hesitate. I’ve ridden a horse—once— but not bareback. Maybe I should—

Zero! Second-guessing this plan of action costs me. The zebras race forward, leaving me behind.

“Wait!” I call.

“I’ve got you.” Archer turns his zebra around, comes up beside me, and hauls me up.

We jump from the dais. The gasping crowd parts, allowing us to land without causing or sustaining injury. The crowd continues to part as we gallop away. No one wants to be mowed down.

Wind in my hair, a friend at my back. What a rescue! In front of us, Clay, Reed and Raanan are sitting atop zebras of their own. One after the other, we blaze through a Stairwell, then a Gate and end up in the Tower of Might, where destruction from the recent attack is rampant.

One of the riderless zebras turns and enters the Gate we just exited.

—I’m on my way, Killian.—

I wait, tense, but no response comes in. Did something happen to him?

The dog keeps pace beside us. “Message your Clementine, tell her to hide us in the Eye. The one who left us, he is erasing our tracks.”

“First things first. Why are you helping us?” Archer asks.

I don’t need a reason. I obey, sending the requested message.

The dog’s tongue is hanging out as he pants, and yet, he looks like he’s smiling again. “The girl. Number ten who should be number one. I’m her guardian.”

He’s mine? Truly?

His gaze flicks to me. “You’re overwhelmed, I know. You accept me. I get it. No need to gush.”

I’m the one smiling this time. “Maybe I can gush a little? It’s clear I got the best of the bunch.”

He preens. “You did, didn’t you?”

“No question,” I say. “What is your name? And how did you get all these other animals to aid us?”

“I’m Biscuit.” He flashes his teeth in the most mischievous expression I’ve ever beheld. “The others volunteered. That’ll teach the citizens to reject us.”

Yes. Yes, it would. “Is it rude of me to ask about your breed? I’m guessing pit bull, but I want to be sure.”

“Why?” he snaps. “So you can tell me I’m too dangerous and—”

“So I can wear the right I heart my dog T-shirt.”