Everlife (Everlife #3)

1 + 1 = 2. The easiest problem with the simplest solution.

The vibrations we felt inside Many Ends bleed into Myriad, rocking us on our feet. Or perhaps they originated here. Will the entire realm crumble?

In the distance, a storm of darkness approaches. Thick black clouds. Writhing shadows. The echo of a thousand screams. In the center is Ambrosine. Drawing closer and closer. Wind whips at his hair, the strands tangling around his face. He is dressed in black leather and gold armor, many of his medals hanging at odd angles.

“You!” His voice booms like myriad claps of thunder all at once, and it sounds as if there are other voices trapped inside his—each one crying for help.

I cringe as I whip around, but scowl as I meet the narrowed gaze of my once beloved king. Rage and power radiate from him. I feel the first wave of that power as it tries to send me to my knees. Gritting my teeth, I resist.

Archer, Dior, Clay and Reed line up behind Ten in a show of support. I remain at her side, and I dare anyone to try to move me away from her.

“You did this.” Ambrosine extends an accusing finger at me, perhaps Ten. Perhaps both. Violence charges the air. “You, who are nothing. No one. You think you have the power to defeat me? A mistake. The last one you’ll ever make, I assure you. You entered my realm, but you will not leave it.”

Behind him stand Leonard, Victor, Hans, Javier and Zhi, as if they are part of some Varsity All-Star team of evil. A growl reverberates low in my chest. After every terrible thing these men did to Ten, a savage need to lash out invades every muscle in my body. My hands fist, and I brace my legs apart.

There will be a battle today. Nothing can stop it.

I’ll take no prisoners.

Leonard holds a dagger in each hand. Victor is no longer inside a Shell. Somehow, he’s fully healed. Maybe Ambrosine is responsible. The effort could have cost him valuable energy.

Hans is young, fresh in his teens, full of overinflated pride. Zhi is wearing armor, just like his king. As if he hasn’t lost every bit of his battle skill by spending centuries behind a desk.

A grinning Javier stretches out his arms.

Will wipe the floor with that smile!

Shadows spray from his fingertips, like poisoned gas, and coil through the air. Denials screech inside my head as they zoom toward Ten. Must protect my wife, whatever the cost. My beautiful, brave wife. Her life matters more than my own.

Leaping, I move in front of her—

Only to fly backward as I collide with the darkness.

As I crash land, Ten stretches out her arms, and Light explodes around her, bright enough to make my eyes water.

Light and shadow collide, shaking the entire realm. If I’d been standing, I would have fallen like everyone else. Both Javier and Ten flinch, but remain on their feet.

The Light manages to chase away some of the darkness behind the Abrogate—revealing untold men and women, boys and girls climbing to their feet.

Myriad’s brand-new Varsity All-Star team?

“Now,” Javier commands through clenched teeth.

The crowd mimics Javier. Arms stretched. Shadows summoned.

Anger chews me up, but dismay spits me out. The urge to pick up a dagger and just start slashing is fierce. I’d like nothing more than to take out each and every Abrogate. And they are Abrogates. Probably the ones from the warehouses I overheard Ten talk about. This group wasn’t here when we first arrived.

Hurting the people determined to harm your loved ones feels good…for a time.

Wait. Plan. What is best for my team? “I need tae take them out, Ten?” The words are meant as a warning, but they emerge as a question. If I act, death will reign. Exactly what my girl doesn’t want to happen. Is there another way?

A groan of exertion escapes her, and my hands clench. The shadow-wielders might be new and inexperienced, but they are powerful, and they are bombarding Ten with darkness. Clearly! Sweat sheens her face, and strain pulls at her mouth. Her arms tremble.

She’s so strong, so determined. Seeing her weakened like this hurts me. How can I help her? What can I do?

Archer, Clay and Reed surround her, close their eyes and…impart their Light to her? The beams brighten, and the Abrogates waver. Color begins to return to Ten’s cheeks.

Relief threatens to wipe me out. But I can’t take a single moment to bask. The Abrogates must be stopped for good. Before my wife is harmed irreparably.

A war cry brews in my throat as I launch forward once again. I quickly pick up the pace, running. Sprinting. Yes, yes. I can do this. I can help Ten without compromising our goals.

Ours. Not just hers. I’m in it to win it.

Winning = saving those we can.

Light explodes through my veins as I dive at Javier, intending to take him out first. Noticing me, he tosses a shadow in my direction as if it’s a javelin. That shadow nails me in the chest. Pain! My heart stops as I fly backward. Another crash-landing steals the air from my lungs, but I don’t care.

What is pain in the face of victory?

Back on my feet, I start sprinting again. This time, I attack multiple Abrogates from the side. Like pins hit by a bowling ball, rows collapse. Different clinks reach my ears, and I grin a cold grin. I know that sound. Fallen weapons. Where is…there! The glint of a sword.

As my numerous victims lumber to their feet, sheer grit propels me to a sword. I swipe up the weapon, race forward, and fall to my knees—as I slide forward, I start hacking.

Screams of pain mingle with bellows of shock. Bodies pile around me, and Lifeblood pools. I purposely hobble the Abrogates rather than rendering a single death blow.

But mercy sometimes comes with a cost.

They continue reaching out, casting shadows. Hurting my girl.

Rage packs its bags and moves in to my chest, breathing for me. It is a fire that burns. Smoke fills my lungs, my nose, even hazes my vision. My heart wants to jump out from behind my ribcage and rest at Ten’s feet.

I will save her, and if need be, I will not be nice about it. If my hand is forced, I will unleash pain like these Abrogates have never seen.

Mess with Ten, suffer.

Then, a miracle happens. Logic supersedes emotion. I am no longer Myriadian, controlled by what I feel. I am Ten’s man.

My rage cools as logic tells me I do not have to be worked into a foaming-at-the-mouth lather to unleash pain. I gave these Abrogates a chance. They chose to continue harming Ten, as well as others. Now they will be disabled.

Calm but focused, I hurry to my feet. The sword is an extension of my arm as I work my way through the crowd, removing arms, hands and even legs. Painful blows, but if the Abrogates get help in time, not fatal.

A blast of darkness suddenly slams into me. Agony sears me as I’m hurled through the air. I crash land in front of Ambrosine, and skid backward. The sword flies from my vise-grip, and I curse.

Down, but not out. I will prevail.

My former Secondking glides toward me. Bring it.

Biscuit, Deacon and Clementine appear in a blaze of glory, just in front of me, carried on a beam of Light, stopping him.

I grin. Backup has arrived. Now the party can get started right. Biscuit will tear in to anyone who threatens his charge.

Then a Troikan General shoves through the crowd of Abrogates, no one able to stop him. I recognize him. Alejandro Torres. At his side is—I tense. Lina Lockwood. Ten’s killer. My killer.

I don’t know whether to take her out or thank her.

Can we bring home this victory?

My gaze finds Ten, and my heart constricts. She’s on her knees, color gone again; any second she might fall flat on her face, and the realization devastates me.

At least the shadows slither back, as if they, too, are weakening.

Ten’s head bows. Then, she goes still, and I think my heart stops. The shield of Light fades.