Unity

by Jessica Wayne

  “You five, come with us,” Tony ordered a group of Fighters.

  Anastasia, Nix, Tony, and the handful of Fighters stepped through and onto the decimated world.

  All the greenery—trees, grass, everything—was black and withering away before their very eyes, turning into tar and collecting on the ground.

  “Nallia!” Nix yelled, breaking into a run and racing through the devastation.

  Anastasia followed, her heart thudding in her chest as she searched for anyone left.

  “Nallia!” Nix cried out again as they burst into a clearing. A large tree had been split completely in half, its leaves dripping to the ground in an inky black just like the Luxe people she’d seen in Seattle. “No, no, no.” Nix fell to his knees, and Anastasia rushed to him.

  In his arms was Nallia—or what was left of her. Her body had been drained of everything, leaving nothing but a bone-filled husk of skin.

  The horror of it dropped her to her knees. Tears burned her cheeks, and the tightening of her chest was so constricting Anastasia wasn’t sure she could breathe.

  “Go! Search for survivors!” Tony ordered the Fighters, but Anastasia already knew they’d find no one.

  Thames had done to this world what he’d done to the Pickrie world—drained every last drop of life from it and its inhabitants.

  Nix cradled his wife in his arms, holding her close to his chest and rocking as one might do with a frightened child.

  “How did this happen?” he asked Anastasia.

  But she couldn’t answer. What was there to say? She should have gotten here sooner, could’ve warned them about Thames and Dakota, brought them back to Terrenia and kept them safe.

  Now, they were dead.

  Nallia was dead.

  Gone.

  And Anastasia was left standing on yet another bloody battlefield.

  Tony approached, carrying a smaller body in his arms. Jaw tight, he laid it down beside Nallia. The boy was drained just like the woman, but Anastasia recognized him as Henry—Nallia’s younger brother and the next king as soon as he came of age.

  Nix cried out, his grief pouring through the pain-stricken cry as he gripped his wife and the hand of her younger brother.

  “I’m so sorry, Nix.”

  He looked up at her, amethyst eyes full of tears. “When did the Luxe take Dakota?”

  She swallowed hard. “A week ago.”

  “You knew for a week and didn’t tell us?”

  “I’ve been trying to get him back.”

  “You could’ve warned us!” he screamed. “I could’ve kept her safe!”

  Anastasia took a step back. Not out of fear, but because he was right.

  She should have warned them and didn’t. Had she told them Dakota was compromised, that Thames was in control and a bigger threat than Rosabel ever had been, this could have been avoided.

  “This isn’t Anastasia’s fault,” Tony said, stepping up beside her. “She’s been doing everything possible to keep Thames at bay.”

  “Everything except warning us he was a threat to begin with. Last we heard from you, it was a Siren!”

  “It was. Everything with Dakota happened so fast—” she started but stopped. Bottom line was that on some level, she hadn’t wanted to face the fact that Dakota was a real threat because of Thames.

  Hadn’t wanted to risk someone killing him without giving her a chance to save him first.

  She’d chosen Dakota’s life over this world.

  Nix stood, gathering the drained bodies of his wife and brother-in-law. “We will bury them in Terrenia, and I will fight with you. But please know, it is not because of a friendship. As far as I’m concerned, we no longer have one.” Walking past her, Nix carried the bodies and waited for another portal.

  Anastasia got to her feet. Staring out at the destruction, she wiped tears from her eyes.

  “He’s grieving, Anastasia.”

  She shook her head angrily. “He’s not wrong, Tony. This is my fault.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  “Yes, it is.” She turned toward him. “As soon as I knew we couldn’t trust Dakota to be himself, I should have warned everyone so they wouldn’t fall for whatever game Thames planned. They would’ve known Dakota wasn’t himself and been able to escape.”

  “Maybe. But look what Thames did to the Pickries. They knew who he truly was, and he still was able to decimate them.”

  “Because they trusted Thames.” She turned around and studied the bodies of the Jaitu who hadn’t made it through to Terrenia. “Just like the Jaitu trusted Dakota.”

  Anastasia clenched her hands into fists. “I have to warn everyone who’s left.”

  “Tell me what I need to do.”

  Anastasia turned her head up to look at him. “Back me up, because I’m about to really piss off an elder.”

  “I’m always on your side.”

  Nodding, she waved her hand and conjured a portal.

  The moment she was on the other side, she headed straight for Harold’s cabin. The son of a bitch was going to listen to her whether he wanted to or not.

  Tony on her heels, they passed Zarina, who fell into step beside them. Anastasia could hear the mumbling of voices and assumed Tony was filling the other woman in, but she was entirely too pissed off to focus on anything else.

  The Terrenian life core was the only thing that would stand between Thames and the other worlds. The only fucking thing they could use to stop the bastard once and for all.

  And as far as she was concerned, Harold stood in her way.

  No one would stand in her way.

  Not knocking, Anastasia slammed the door open.

  Vincent stood on one end of the cabin, invisible to anyone but her, and Harold looked up from the book he was reading. “Anastasia, how dare you—”

  “No.” She walked to him, stopping just on the other side of his desk. “You fucking listen to me, Harold.”

  “Watch your—”

  Anastasia slammed her hands down on his desk. “Interrupt me again, and I swear I’ll put a hole in this desk.”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “Oh no,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m promising you.”

  “If you kill him, we will never find the core,” Vincent warned. “Although it wouldn’t be completely unjustified. The man is a waste of space.”

  “The Jaitu are dead.”

  Harold’s eyes widened. “What do you mean, dead?”

  “Can I be any clearer?” Anastasia growled. “What the hell do you think dead means? Thames slaughtered them and stole their life core.”

  “That’s unfortunate.”

  Anastasia stared at him, eyes wide. “Unfortunate? Unfortunate! Are you fucking kidding me!” Roaring now, power snapped at her fingertips, and when she slammed her hands back down on the desk, the wood split in two.

  “My desk!”

  “Your fucking desk should be the least of your concerns.”

  “The Jaitu are not my people. While I grieve for them, Terrenia is my focus, as it should be yours.”

  “So, hundreds of innocents die, and they aren’t your concern? You can stop this; you can help me put an end to Thames once and for all. Just tell me where I can find the power core.”

  Harold narrowed his eyes. “If anything, telling you where it is now would be a grave mistake.”

  “Not telling me and letting Thames get it will be the mistake, you jackass,” Zarina said.

  Harold looked past Anastasia and glared at Zarina. “You will pay for that comment.”

  “You had damn well better make the other worlds your problem, Harold. Because I swear to you that if one more race gets slaughtered before I find that life core, I will make you nonexistent in this world.”

  “Listen here, one threat was enough, but two? Do you forget who you’re talking to?”

  “I haven’t forgotten, I just don’t fucking care. Now, where is it?”

  Harold crossed his arms. “I will nev
er tell you.”

  “Last chance.”

  When he didn’t speak, Anastasia conjured a ball of flame and threw it as hard as she could at the wall behind his head. It hit the wood, flaring to life and burning a hole in the wall.

  “You!”

  “You better watch your mouth,” Tony warned.

  “You will all pay!”

  Anastasia straightened. “Once Terrenia hears what I have to say, I doubt it’s me who will pay, you spineless bastard.”

  She turned to leave, and Harold reached for her arm. Power shot through her, sending the old man flying back against the wall. She didn’t even bother to check if he was still alive.

  .Truthfully, she didn’t care. He’d just effectively condemned the worlds to death, so as far as she was concerned, he could burn in hell.

  20

  Luxe

  Dakota

  Dakota winced when he was tossed against the railing of the terrace once again. He was raw—emotionally and physical exhausted—after watching yet another world, one that was full of his friends, perish at the hands of Thames.

  Nallia. Dakota hung his head. The pain and terror on her face would be something he would never forget.

  Wide-eyed, she’d fought to the very end, and now, a little girl was forced to grow up without her mother. Nix was forced to go on without his wife. The thought of losing Ana and experiencing that pain firsthand was nearly too much to handle.

  Tears burned in the corners of Dakota’s eyes as he knelt, not listening to a damn thing his psychotic half-brother said as he rambled on about sacrifice being necessary to the survival of Luxe.

  Dakota didn’t give a shit about Luxe. He didn’t give a shit about the fact that Thames was attempting to atone for the genocide he’d committed on his home world.

  All Dakota cared about was the loss of more innocents.

  One more world, gone in the blink of an eye.

  Something hit the back of Dakota’s head, and he looked up, not even a little surprised Thames’ hand was still raised.

  “You planning on paying attention?”

  “Not interested.”

  Thames ripped him up by the back of his shirt and slammed his chest into the railing. “You had better get interested. This is your world, too.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  Cursing, Thames held on to his shoulder. “I return another life core to Luxe, along with the heir to the Luxe throne.”

  Once again, the gemstone ripped power from Dakota. Ready for it, he clenched his teeth, refusing to give in to the satisfaction his brother seemed to gain from seeing him in pain. Moments passed in silent agony until the Jaitu power pulsed brightly.

  Thames grinned, victory plain on his face, until the light sputtered and died out just as the Pickrie core had done.

  “Look at that, more innocents slaughtered for nothing.”

  “You think it was for nothing?” Thames ripped him back, throwing him to the ground.

  Dakota didn’t even have the energy to fight back. Hosting all the power was slowly killing him. Too bad it’s not working faster. “Seems like nothing to me. Face it, you broke the world, and there’s no putting it back together again.”

  “You stupid, stupid, pathetic human.” Thames stalked toward him, and Dakota stood on shaking legs. “Those worlds left me to die. No one bothered coming to Luxe to check on us; the Sorceress at the time couldn’t even be bothered to help!”

  “Because you fucking destroyed it! There was no reason this world should have died. The only mistake these people made was not dropping you into a hole at birth.”

  Thames glared at Dakota, nostrils flaring, white eyes narrowed. Cocking his head, Thames slammed his fist into Dakota’s nose.

  Bone split and blood sprayed, the force knocking Dakota back into the wall. He smiled through the pain, grateful for once he’d managed to shake the bastard’s foundation. “You murdered your entire family, your entire race, and you’re paying the price for it.”

  “Am I? Seems to me the only ones paying are those too weak to stop me.”

  “Ana will stop you.”

  “You keep saying that, and yet, where is she?”

  Dakota didn’t answer, just stared through blurry eyes at the monster before him.

  “You need to face it—you’re leashed like the animal you are.” Gripping the iron choker, Dakota gasped for air, Thames’ knuckle temporarily cutting off his supply.

  “Not. For. Long,” he choked out, and Thames tossed him to the side. Dakota coughed, rubbing a hand on his throat. “You and I both know this power will kill me soon enough, then you’ll be screwed.”

  Thames shook his head and looked back out over his world. “It should’ve been enough. I need more. I need Terrenia’s core.”

  Dakota’s eyes widened. “Terrenia will be the same as these others, and you know it. Your best bet is to kill me now and pray Ana doesn’t find a way back here.”

  Thames turned to him. “Terrenia is the most powerful of all the worlds. It’s why the Sorceress is always of Terrenian heritage. Their life core would be more than enough to fuel Luxe’s recovery.”

  “That’s what you thought about the Jaitu, and that didn’t work out. All you’ve done is piss Ana off. A fly buzzing around her head.”

  “Oh, Brother, I’d say I’m more than a fly by now.” He turned back. “But, perhaps you’re right. I’m not even sure where to start looking for Terrenia’s core. I will start with your birth world, then go from there. The essence of billions of people should be more than enough to unlock me from this prison.”

  Panic rose in Dakota’s chest. If Thames went to Seattle, billions would die. Billions of innocent men, women, and children. All of them destroyed.

  “After that, Terrenia will be next. If only to punish you for the trouble you’ve given me. Don’t worry, though, I have every intention of killing you after you’ve watched everyone you love die.”

  Thames reared his fist back again and slammed it into Dakota’s face. He slipped to the ground, eyes losing focus just before they closed.

  Rolling over, Dakota groaned and pushed up to his knees. Between the throbbing in his head and the pain of his surely broken nose, it took him a few moments to recover long enough to open his swollen eyes.

  Peering out into the room beyond the bars of his prison, he realized night had fallen, casting an eerie glow from the dim Luxe moon over the room.

  He leaned back, pulling his knees up to his chest and resting his hands on top. He really was pathetic. Thames had broken him, completely shattered the strong person he’d always considered himself to be.

  Now, what the hell was left?

  A broken, shell of a man with a death wish.

  Was that a man Ana deserved? She deserved a fighter, someone who’d have managed to escape this hell.

  Tears stung in the corners of his eyes. If he were truly honest with himself, he didn’t see another way out of it. His death was the only thing that would keep Thames out of the other worlds, and if Thames didn’t do it himself, Ana was going to have to put him down.

  And that would kill her.

  Dakota took a deep breath, then another. Positive thoughts… you aren’t dead yet. There was still a way for him to stop Thames, he just had to find it.

  If he could manage to get the damn necklace off the bastard’s neck and get his own binding removed, he could take him out and be back in Terrenia within moments.

  But there was the problem. Anytime he was out of the cage, Thames was using him. A fucking puppeteer pulling his strings. Then there was the fact that Thames was stronger than him physically.

  Which was a damn hard thing to swallow. Ever since he’d decided to become a cop, Dakota worked his ass off to become physically ready for any situation tossed his way. Rough drunk? He handled that with ease. Perp running from him? He’d been faster.

  But now? Thames could snap his neck with a flick of his wrist, and there wasn’t much Dakota could do about it without a blad
e in his hand and the element of surprise.

  “Fuck.” Dakota ran his hands over his face, wincing when a finger brushed his busted nose.

  His stomach growled, reminding him it’d been at least a day since he’d eaten anything. What I would give for some fucking Goldfish® crackers right now.

  The tiny orange snacks wouldn’t stand a chance.

  His argument with Ana over which was better—Nutter Butter’s or Goldfish®—popped into his head and brought a small smile to his face.

  The smile vanished when a door scraped open and Thames walked in, torch in hand.

  “Thought you might be hungry.”

  “You thought wrong.”

  “You do realize, of course, I’ve been inside your head. I know what you’re thinking, Brother.”

  Thames stepped closer to the bars and dropped a hunk of stale bread inside.

  “Gee, thanks,” Dakota responded sarcastically, eyeing it with disgust.

  Stepping back, Thames took a seat on the throne in the center of the room. “So, tell me of your childhood.”

  “No thanks.”

  “You don’t wish to talk? It must be lonely in here.”

  “I don’t care much for my company,” Dakota shot back, glaring at Thames.

  “I’m curious, what is it about the Sorceress that has you so willing to sacrifice your own life for hers?”

  “How about the fact that I love her? I suppose that’s not something you know anything about, though, is it?”

  “I wouldn’t say that. I loved our mother, until she abandoned me.”

  “You murdered your father and brother; can’t say I blame her for leaving.”

  “I had no intention of killing her, too. Not until I discovered she’d left me. Chosen another life over her eldest son.”

  Dakota snorted. “Yeah, because you’re such an awesome expansion of the gene pool.”

  Thames glared at him. “When everyone else ran to Lyrant, so excited for the new heir to the throne, she sat with me. Told me she didn’t understand why the world had chosen him as its next king, but that it meant I was destined for something more than a stuffy throne room.” Thames smiled softly at whatever memory played out in his mind. “It was the first time I remember being angry. Before then, my father would treat me as his future successor. He took me with him to meetings, allowed me to sit beside him during conferences, but once Lyrant was born, all that changed.”