Everlife (Everlife #3)

From: T_L_2/23.43.2

To: J_B_3/19.23.4

Subject: You don’t know me very well

Dear General Blake,

When it comes to saving the humans infected by Penumbra, we’re of the same mind. Although I’m not afraid to say the P-word. Penumbra. PENUMBRA. We are stronger than the disease. Let’s act like it.

BTW. You have a new Conduit in your midst. He can cleanse the Abrogates in the warehouse. Yes, I said he. Raanan Aarons. He’s ready to be of service. The princess can help him the way she once helped me.

And before you wonder if this is really Ten Lockwood talking/typing, don’t. At one time, delegating work would have been the equivalent of stabbing myself in the heart. Now, not so much. I know my people, and they are spectacular.

You can break Reed’s and Kayla’s bodies, but not their spirits. Or mine. Even if you hurt my friends, you will not change my mind. However, you will darken your soul. The concept is found in our Book of the Law. I suggest an immediate reread.

If you harm your own people, you are no better than the Myriadians you fight.

Face it. Your plan has been rendered moot. I’m leaving Troika today, entering Myriad—and Many Ends.

Don’t worry about Killian. He’s going with me. In fact, by the time you read this message, he and I will both be gone.

I’m led by three things, General. Loyalty to my realm, passion for the truth and liberty for all. You will not stop me.

Light Brings Sight!

Conduit and Architect,

Ten Lockwood





TROIKA




From: J_B_3/19.23.4

To: T_L_2/23.43.2

Subject: You put yourself in danger—and all of us Architect? Never heard of it.

As for Mr. Aarons…what you want me to believe is impossible. A Laborer cannot become a Conduit.

Leave this realm, and I will break one bone in one of your friends’ bodies every day that you are gone.

Actions have consequences, Miss Lockwood.

Light Brings Sight!

General John Blake





PART TWO



Myriad





TROIKA




From: A_P_5/23.43.2

To: T_L_2/23.43.2

Subject: Guess what?

Per your orders—when did you become so bossy, anyway?—we told the Generals about your plan to free the spirits in Many Ends. They’re pretty sure you’re going to die, but we have faith in you.

Also, Biscuit rocks. He rallied Reed’s and Kayla’s guardians—a parrot and a mountain lion—and bingo bango,they rescued Reed and Kayla. (Can I keep the dog, Mom? Huh, huh, please, can I?) Everything went down in a matter of minutes. No one knew what hit ‘em.

All the Generals are frenzied. Not about the prisoners they lost, but about Raanan. He returned just long enough to confirm his new Conduit status.

Oh, and you’ll be happy to know the princess has agreed to aid Raanan in his cleansing efforts. Three cheers. The first part of your plan worked. Let’s just hope the next part does as well.

Deacon is determined to get in the warehouse and rescue Sloan, Myriad’s version of a scarecrow, I guess. I’m not sure how much longer we’ll be able to keep him out.

But. You’ll be happier to know we’re all fine, and so is the realm. (I probably should have led with that. My bad.) Stay safe, or I will spank you till you scream for mercy.

←Not a joke. And I know I don’t have to ask you to check on Dior, and keep me updated.

Light Brings Sight!

Archer Prince





chapter twelve



“The best treasure is total domination of your enemies.”

—Myriad

Ten

I’m either the dumbest girl in all the realms…or the second dumbest. If I’m second dumbest, I feel sorry for the ditz ahead of me, because wow. She’s a few clowns short of a circus. Let’s be real. If she had a second brain, it would be lonely, her intellect rivaled only by her garden tools.

I armed a boy who practically guaranteed he’ll betray me, all because I hope that he won’t. Now, I’m going to free him.

See? Dumb. To achieve my goals, I’m willing to risk everything. So maybe I’m actually a genius. I mean, let’s face it. Sometimes the world’s definition of “foolish” is actually wisdom at work.

At least Reed is safe. And Kayla, apparently. All thanks to Biscuit. And, with the princess’s help, Raanan is going to cleanse the humans afflicted with Penumbra.

I don’t know the specific plan of action, or what’s going on with Deacon and Sloan, the “scarecrow.” Not going to the warehouse, not helping my former enemy-turned-friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend-again is tough. Tougher than tough. A little piece of my heart withers.

If anything happens to any of my friends…

It will be okay. It will all be okay. What I’m doing, I’m doing for everyone.

With a sigh, I pick up Shamus’s hand from the floor. The fingers curl inward, like claws. Lifeblood is congealed at the tips of disconnected tendons and arteries.

Gearing for an attack, I press the thumb against the ID pad on Killian’s cage. There’s a whoosh as the lock disengages. Then my husband is free. He stalks toward me, every step measured and precise. He is a predator who’s spotted prey…

Breathing becomes a little more difficult, the air electrified, crackling with awareness. His scent—peat smoke and heather, forbidden fantasies and midnight rain, as dark and mysterious as the boy himself—goes straight to my head, intoxicating me.

I back a step away, then plant my heels into place and still. I’m not weak, and I’m certainly not a coward. I face my problems head-on, whatever—whoever—they might be. And Killian is a problem. A very beautiful, seductive problem. Until he remembers me, I must resist him, my warhorse. Or rather, Myriad’s warhorse. Who will he support in the end? In this, he cannot play both sides.

He’s with me. We charge ahead together.

Loyalty to my realm—our realm. Passion for…Killian. Liberty for all.

My pulse points go crazy, hammering at warp speed. My blood burns as hot as fire, becoming a forge that melts the steel in my spine, remaking the bones into a weapon…of seduction. I tingle and ache.

Finally he stops, only a whisper away. So close our chests brush together every time one of us inhales.

“Are you trying to intimidate me?” I ask, breathing faster. The tingles expand.

“Tryin’?” He laughs, and the deep, husky notes caress me. “If intimidation were my goal, lass, I’d say mission accomplished.”

Perhaps he needs a lesson or three about the girl to whom he pledged his eternal future. I slam my fist into his nose once, twice, thrice—and feel the cartilage in my nose shatter. In unison, we howl in pain.

“I’ll never advocate spousal abuse, but right now, you aren’t my husband, are you?” I raise my chin. “You’re my enemy.” Wait. Hold up. He called me lass.

Suddenly I want to grin. My Killian is in there.

He chuckles. “Shoulda known you would cut off yer nose tae spite yer face.”

Shiver. His accent is back, and oh, do I love it. “I’ll punch you every day for the rest of our lives if it means I get to hear your sexy brogue.”

In a blink, his good humor is gone. He scowls at me. At least our noses heal, the manna I consumed only minutes ago still rushing through my veins.

I reach up, causing Killian to back up a step. But I follow him, determined, and flatten my palms on his chest. His heart is racing in time to mine. Despite his memory loss, he’s still affected by my nearness.

A cool cascade of relief blends with a sizzle of excitement, but I fight to keep my reactions separate from the Grid. I don’t want Killian to know how I feel. Let him wonder. Let wonder turn to obsession.

Whether he’s onboard or not, I’m going to help him.

Pre-Killian, my life was a mess, my heart nothing but jagged pieces. I was dealing with my parent’s abandonment and the fact that they’d paid Dr. Vans to torture me, all in a desperate bid to force me to sign with Myriad. I mourned the friends I’d lost in the asylum, and struggled to make a viable plan for my future. Killian helped me pick up the pieces of my heart and weld them back together. He made me stronger.