Everlife (Everlife #3)

“Die.” I laugh in his face, knowing there’s a fresh coat of Lifeblood on my teeth.

Hissing, he hits with another blast of darkness. Still I laugh. Oh, how I adore making these men shrivel up with frustration. Although, I don’t know how much longer I can hold out. I’m exhausted, utterly drained. Without the shadows, I would have caved already.

“You,” the Secondking says in a chilling tone. He glares at Killian, who is drenched in sweat, cut and bruised, and barely able to hold up his head. “If you want out of your cage, you’ll gather what remains of your strength, break through her barriers and allow my Abrogate entrance. Do this for your realm. Do this for your king.”

Oh, no. No, no, no. Swallowing my panicked pleas, I peer at Killian, beseeching him. I want to shout through our bond, Don’t do this. Please, don’t do this. But I remain silent. Strong or weak, he can use our link to orchestrate my doom.

The shadows laugh, gleeful, as fear squeezes my throat, and air wheezes from my mouth.

Killian’s gaze remains glued to the Secondking. “You lied tae me and locked me up.” His voice is raspy, as broken as mine. “Of course I trust you tae keep yer word now.”

Ambrosine’s features twist with disgust. “Must you sound so…poor when speaking to me?” He lifts his chin. “The end justifies the means. Lies are sometimes necessary to facilitate a desired result. You know this. If you put your realm first, as you once swore to do, you would understand—no, you would welcome the sacrifice I’m asking you to make.”

Terrible silence. Killian flicks me an unreadable glance, and my heart sinks.

—Please, Killian. Don’t do it.—

“Lies,” Killian says, his voice roughened by abuse, “are never necessary. Trust is too important.”

Seconds pass before his meaning clicks. My heart flies. He knows he picked the wrong team. He’s going to fight for me, not against me. Unless this is another trick? Could be.

Must remain guarded at all times, with everyone.

I love him, but trust is another story.

“Enough.” The Secondking’s crown of shadows splits in two and slides down his arms, stretches past his hands and culminates into razor points. “You. Leader,” he says to Zhi. “If your man cannot break Miss Lockwood, then we will kill the humans infected with Penumbra. Those who exhibit the traits of an Abrogate.”

What, does he not know the names of his own people, and yet he knows mine?

“The warehouses are currently surrounded by Troikan armies,” Zhi replies.

“Perfect.” The Secondking smiles. “We’ll use the Abrogates to kill them, too.”

Cursing, Javier drops his hands to his sides. He’s panting, unable to catch his breath.

—Archer! Stop trying to give me Light. Tell our Generals that Ambrosine is sending men to the warehouses to kill the infected so they can try to infiltrate my Grid, harming everyone in Troika.—

—We aren’t giving up, Ten. You…need…Light.— He roars as he continues to push.

Then a gentle voice whispers through my head, startling me. —Love my Ten.—

Jeremy. For one moment, my defenses are down. A ray of Light glides past my shield, along the Grid and rains over me like ice-cold water on a scorching summer day. I jolt. The ray came from my little brother, didn’t it? My infant brother? Not by force, but by love.

I can’t let Javier get to him, and fight with every ounce of my newfound strength to fortify the shield. Must protect Jeremy. If Javier senses any vulnerability inside me…

“What just happened?” Victor demands.

—What just happened?— A demand from Archer.

Javier’s eyes narrow on me. Leaning forward, he sniffs me. “Somehow, she received a bolt of Light.”

“How?” Ambrosine walks a circle around me. He seems to glide, his grace unparalleled. “I have worked hard to ensure there are no sources of Light in this realm.”

He has worked hard…meaning, there were once sources of Light for Myriadians?

“The Grid,” Victor says. “Her friends. They love each other.”

“Impossible,” Zhi replies.

All three males stare at me as if I’m a rat in a lab. Though it strains already strained muscles, I keep my chin lifted high. Not by word or deed will I reveal my inner turmoil. Reveal a weakness, they’ll exploit it—and more!

With the Light came strength, yes, but also knowledge. Knowledge is power. I fought too hard for control of my Secondlife, and I won’t allow my future to fall to ruins at the hands of men who see no value in me, and no worth in anyone willing to break the cycle of darkness and pave a better path for a better future.

How often they disparage Troikans for their rules. Too restricting. All work, no play. But at the heart of those rules: love. Love fellow spirits, love humans, love yourself. While these men tout indulgence and self-love, they punish anyone who dares put themselves before the realm.

Hypocrites.

The Secondking stares at me for a long while, an obvious attempt at intimidation. Fear of any kind cranks his chain. Perhaps even strengthens him.

Shadows, feeding…

When I refuse to cower, he snaps, “Cage her and put her in the town square until our new Abrogates arrive. Let my people witness the weakness of Troika’s strongest soldier.” My cheeks heat with humiliation, but I force myself to laugh, as if he’s just offered me a tropical vacation. “Say goodbye to your PB&J.” At his confused look, I add, “One day I’m going to knock your penis, brain and jaw right off your—”

Slap. Stars wink before my eyes.

Javier gets in my face, his nose pressed against mine. “Give me another crack at her.” Though he’s speaking to his Secondking, he’s glaring at me. “I can get through. I know I can.”

“If that were true, you would have done so already. Instead, you did nothing but waste our time.” Ambrosine wipes an invisible piece of lint from his shoulder. “Admit it. The girl can’t even stand without assistance, and yet she bested you. You should be on your knees begging for your life, not demanding a favor.”

A vein throbs in the center of Javier’s forehead. He pops his jaw, but he says no more.

Zhi clears his throat. “And what would you have me do with Mr. Flynn?”

Victor steps forward, shoulders squared. “I would like to keep him. Consider him a gift from a beloved father to his loyal son.”

I almost shout No! A thousand times no. Victor has a score to settle, and he won’t hesitate to hurt Killian in order to hurt me.

For the third or fourth time, my gaze locks with Killian’s. I’ve lost track—how unlike me. I’m not even sure how many seconds pass as I stare into soulful gold eyes flecked with electric blue; they are filled with hurt, so much hurt, all ingrained. In my mind I see the little boy who desperately craved a family of his own, who faced rejection over and over again. The nightmare of his childhood is being relived here today. Rejected and abandoned by his king, no friend at his back.

I have Archer, Clay and the others. Killian has no one.

He had me, but he threw my trust away.

“You hardly deserve a reward for your most recent failures,” Ambrosine tells Victor. Then he sighs. “However, you did ruin several cities in Troika, so, you may have the caged boy for the rest of the day. Do what you will with him, as long as you do not kill him. He’s still connected to the girl.”

Having delivered his verdict, he glides from the room on a carpet of shadows.

Maybe I’ve been stripped of sanity, because the first thought I have? Drama king. A hysterical laugh bubbles from me.

On a mission, Zhi marches my way. “Do you think you’ve won a reprieve, Miss Lockwood? Is that why you dare to laugh?” He reaches out, clasps my chin in his hand and forces my gaze to meet his. “You, girl, are a fool.”