Everlife (Everlife #3)

All right. Fine. I admit it. I like him.

“Got you a present.” Tenley tosses my ring through the cage bars. The one Shamus stole. I catch it, the sight and feel of it comforting me on a level I don’t quite understand. “Try to take better care of it this time.”

What I think she means: Take better care of my heart.

My guilt magnifies. “I willna thank you.”

Shrug. She removes the wrist cuffs and tosses those through the bars, as well.

I reel. She’s not just releasing me, she’s arming me.

“Go,” she tells the others, her gaze never straying from me. “Work with the Generals. Save Reed.”

Protests erupt as I strap the cuffs in place. Only Biscuit remains silent.

“You guys have to turn your backs on me,” she says. “There’s no other way. Tell the Generals absolutely everything they want to know. The princess will help Raanan cleanse the Abrogates and save Sloan. He’s going to need more Light than I can give him.”

New protests ring out.

“I’ll go with Raanan,” Deacon says. “I’ll watch over Sloan.”

Ten nods. “I’ll free Killian, and we’ll be long gone before they can stop us. Mostly, I’d rather you were as far away from us as possible. If Killian were to hurt one of you—”

“All of you,” I correct.

Her eyes narrow, the first sign of trouble. “I’d have to hurt him, which would in turn hurt me.”

“There’s no way I’ll betray you,” Archer says, lifting his chin. “Not now, not ever.”

“You’re not betraying me,” she replies. “You’re helping me.”

“And now you’re irritating me.”

Their easy camaraderie irritates me. As my wife, she should banter with me, and only me.

Archer rubs the back of his neck. “Killian could evade you and turn his sights to the destruction of the realm.”

“Yes. He’s told me.” She smiles at me slowly, coldly. “But he’s as bound to Troika as he is to me. He might fight the connection, but it’s there. Hurting our realm will weaken him, and he will never purposely weaken himself.”

She isn’t wrong.

Frustration mounts. All right. New plan. Escape without harming Troika. Return to Myriad with Ten. Find a way to break our bond. Give her to Ambrosine. Receive a promotion.

Different pangs raze my chest. First guilt. Then remorse. Finally loss.

Ignore. Focus on the prize. Maybe, when all of this is over, I’ll enjoy my life for once.

Or hate myself more than ever.

“Don’t go,” Deacon says. “You’ll be on your own in Myriad, surrounded by the enemy. I doubt you’ll escape. What are we supposed to tell your brother then, huh?”

I bite my cheek to stifle a snarl. He’s trying to manipulate her. I know, because I’ve often done the same thing to others.

“Someone has to stand in the gap,” she says. “For those who won’t, or can’t. So you’ll tell Jeremy I love him.” Tears fill her eyes, but she blinks them away. “That I died fighting for what I believe in. Peace, and salvation for the damned. You’ll tell him I regret nothing.”

Her words shut down any other protests.

She hugs Clay, Raanan, Dawn and Deacon, then Archer. His hug lasts seconds longer.

I’m grinding my molars all over again. Jealousy has never been part of my playbook, and I’m not sure how to deal. Well, besides killing Archer.

The idea has merit. Should have struck while I had the chance. Ten would never forgive me, of course, so even if I continued to want her, I’d never be able to have her. Two birds, one stone. Or dagger.

Finally, everyone but Ten and Biscuit takes off. The dog hangs back, determined to stick to her side. “Protect my friends while I’m gone.”

“Nope. Sorry. Where you go, I go.” His tone is petulant.

How quickly the dog has bonded to her. I bite my cheek until I taste blood. How quickly I bonded to her.

Frowning, Ten presses a hand against her cheek. “Please,” she says to Biscuit. “I’m begging you.”

I jerk with astonishment. Begging. She’s begging. Has no concept of the damage she’s doing to her pride. I want to close my eyes, cover my ears. For a moment, my chest feels as if acid has been poured inside.

“You’re so strong, Biscuit,” she adds. “You can protect my friends while I’m away. Please. I need them protected.”

A pause. Then a sigh. “Fine. I’ll do it. But you had better return—or I’ll go digging for bones inside your friends.” He presses a paw against her before running out the door.

With a sigh of her own, Ten picks up the General’s severed hand. Steps slow; a bit unsure, she approaches my cage.

“Shall we bargain for my freedom?” I ask before she can speak. She has conditions for my release, no doubt. If I seem eager to participate, she’ll be more likely to believe I’ll keep my word.

“No,” she says with a shake of her head. “I can’t trust you to keep your word.”

Ouch.

She’s not the first to say so, but she’s the first I’m unwilling to charm out of her pique. An action that has always proven necessary in order to win spirits for Myriad. Necessary, and annoying.

Being free to act like myself is, well, freeing.

“You’re right,” I say. “You can’t trust me.”

“Right now, the only things you need to know about me are…I always tell the truth, and I never threaten. I promise.”

“So you’ve told me.”

“I know, but with your memory problems, a girl can’t be too careful. So. Here’s how this is gonna go.”

“Do tell.” I make a sweeping gesture with my hand, a royal prince demanding more information. I like this side of her, bossy and prickly but also vulnerable.

“I’ll let you out. As we travel through Troika, you’ll stick to my side like glue, or I’ll shoot you and drag you to Myriad. There, I’ll prove Many Ends is connected. We’ll kill your Secondking and save…everyone. We’ll find your mother, and my friend Marlowe. We’ll free your friend Erica. Not too long ago, you told me she had been locked in the Kennels.”

Erica Morales. One of my Flankers. She aided me when I asked, putting her eternal future at risk. I owe her.

I gulp as anticipation goes head-to-head with dread. If Ten is right, and Many Ends is connected to Myriad, my mother has been tortured every year of my life. Rescuing her will be priority one. I’ll need Ten’s help.

But helping Ten means betraying my king, a man I greatly admire.

Ambrosine is the epitome of power. Beyond ruthless. Savage when necessary. And yet, he took a chance on me when no others were willing. Every time I’ve won a new soul for our realm, he’s praised me, given me boons. Once I asked for the head of the Myriadian General who tortured me as a child, and made me beg for every scrap of food— even beg for beatings I didn’t want.

My body shudders. It amused him to break my spirit, I suppose.

While the Secondking refused to grant that particular wish, he did grant me time with the General. Time to mete vengeance. He begged me for mercy I refused to show.

I can’t betray my king. Not even to save my mother.

Not even to save Ten.

“What happens if I betray you the moment we’re inside Myriad?” Heed my warning, beautiful girl. It’s the only one I’ll give.

Her shoulders wilt a little. “Let’s deal with one problem at a time.”





TROIKA




From: J_B_3/19.23.4

To: T_L_2/23.43.2

Subject: Do not make me harm your friend Miss Lockwood,

As you know, I have captured Reed Haynesworth. I also have Kayla Brooks in my possession. We had to drag her out of her sickbed, but desperate times…

I assure you, I don’t want to harm the two. Violence is never my first choice. Over the centuries I have learned to make hard choices, and do what needs doing for the good of the people. Mr. Haynesworth and Miss Brooks will be released the moment you turn yourself in. You will stand before a jury of your peers and explain your actions these past few days. You will accept punishment, whatever it is, and help us cleanse the humans infected with—well, there’s no need for me to say the word. You know it.

Until each of my requirements have been met…

I will harm your friends.

Light Brings Sight!

General John Blake





TROIKA