He has the decency to look ashamed. “There’s no way I can say this without coming out like a jealous, possessive freak.”
That tells me everything. “You liked that you had a way of tracking me.”
He bobs his head. “I’m sorry. It was wrong. I see that now.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, but don’t lie to me again.”
“I won’t. I promise.” He pushes off the table, striding toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To fix this. I’ll be back.”
He slips out of the room before I can utter a word, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My head is drained from all the drama and crawling back into bed is hugely tempting until I spot the open door. My heart rate quickens. On every other occasion, I’ve been locked in this suite, completely at Ax’s mercy.
Not this time.
This time, he’s deliberately left the door open. Intentionally left me unrestrained. Ax isn’t a fool. Now that he’s accepted my choice, he’s also figured out why Logan let me go.
The unlocked door is a signal. A sign that he knows why I came here, and he won’t stand in my way.
Draining my drink, I get up and sneak out into the passageway.
Mercifully, the corridors are empty this time of night, and I stay close to the walls with my head down, hoping to avoid detection. Originally, our plan had been to get Ax on board so that he could flee with us after I’ve taken care of the Tempo and his mother, but, now, I’m unsure how—or if—I’ll manage to get out of here alive. The sense of déjà vu is uncanny. Ax has granted me the only opportunity I might get, and I can’t pass it up. Concerns for myself have to take a back seat—I may not get another chance like this again.
I connect to Logan as I walk, informing him of the new plan and advising him to be on standby.
A couple of Tor boys I recognize come around the corner, and I angle my body away, tucking my chin into my chest, beseeching them not to look any closer. The control room is only about two hundred meters away, and I don’t want to do anything to draw attention to myself.
“Hey, you!”
I don’t even look up. I just pick up my pace.
“It’s her! Get her!”
Goddamnit! I was hoping to avoid this, but there’s no time for an attack of conscience. I turn around and face them. “I’m truly sorry about this. You should’ve kept walking.” It physically pains me to do this, but what choice do I have?
They exchange puzzled looks as I flick my wrist up and discharge a beam of fiery heat in their direction. I don’t stay to watch. With my stomach churning sourly, I race around the corner toward my intended target.
I blast a hole in the door of the control room, and it swings inward with a loud bang. Technicians cry out as I step into the room while a group of twelve soldiers charges toward me, unclipping their weapons. I raise my wrist, moving my arm around in a sweeping motion, leveling every single one of them in one quick brandish. When I turn around, the control room staff has already fled.
The Tempo rests on an elevated platform at the far corner of the room. The massive circular steel ring with three rotating halos gyrates in a counterclockwise direction. Gusts of cool air surround the machine as it gently whirs, distorting the air. A churning smoky black mass swirls in the center. Sparks of electrifying light bounce off the edges like mini flashes of lightning.
I’m ready to unleash hell when the air in front of the device shimmers imperceptibly. I narrow my eyes and focus on the opaque force field protecting the machine.
Damn that woman.
Spinning on my heel, I run toward the control panel, looking for anything connected to the shield, but nothing is labeled. It’s all color-coordinated, and I haven’t a clue what it means.
Think! Think faster, Sadie.
My foot taps restlessly off the floor as the sound of unwelcome visitors making their approach shoots my blood pressure sky high. Stepping back, I destroy the entire control panel in one quick swoop, hoping it’s enough to deactivate the shield.
Warning sirens blare out as the lights fade to black. Flashing red lights skip around the room as a digitized voice declares an emergency. Sharp pins poke at my skull, and I curse under my breath as I attempt to adjust to the darkness. If Griselda is trying to impact my mind, it can only mean one thing. She knows what I’m up to—most likely she was expecting this—and has taken the necessary precautions to halt me this time.
But she doesn’t know I can effectively deflect her mind manipulation or that I have access to my incendio gift.
I inch my way toward the Tempo, half-blind, the only illumination being the intermittent glow from the strobe lights as they flash on and off. I’m reaching out my hand to feel if the shield is down, when a spark of unimaginable pain zips up my spine like lightning. My back arches as spasms rock my body, and I drop to my knees, screaming in agony. My body jerks uncontrollably as the electric pain travels up and down my body, turning my limbs to liquefied Jell-O, rendering me completely helpless. I can barely lift a finger, let alone anything else.
The tappity-tap of heels on the floor confirms her arrival. Griselda looms over me, pointing a slim, silver weapon at my head. “There will be no escape this time.” She lowers the weapon, aiming it at my chest, and presses the lever. Severe pain rattles through me, and my body shudders and judders on the floor. “I’ve never known someone so idiotic,” she states. “I gave you a second chance, you fool. All you had to do was obey orders. Your ability to disappoint me is predictably reassuring.” She kicks me in my side. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
“Screw … you,” I pant out.
Logan is roaring in my mind, and I know he’s seconds away from teleporting here, but I can’t let him do that.
I can’t let him risk his life.
I can’t let her win.
High Elder Jaxa’s teachings resurrect in my mind, and I close my eyes, blanking out her words and the pain, thrusting Logan from my mind, and concentrating on channeling my gift. Fire whips through my tissues, infusing every nerve ending, every cell, cementing my strength and my self-belief. Griselda fires her weapon again, but this time the effect is minimal. A sly smile creeps across my face as I prop myself up on my elbows. Her face pales. She points the weapon at my skull, and I test my shields, delving into that well of inner peace, using it to enhance my gift and protect my body and mind.
Griselda presses the button over and over, and it’s akin to a migraine, at worst. Shrieking, she tosses the weapon aside and lunges at me just as I’m crawling to my feet. My head whacks off the solid floor, and stars burst forth in my eyes. Griselda gains the upper hand, straddling me as her fingers encircle my neck. I twist my head to the side, sliding my arm out and angling my wrist toward the Tempo, preparing to unleash my own personal version of hell. If the shield is still up, we’re toast, but there’s no time to delay. Even if I manage to destroy it, I’ve no idea whether I’ll survive the impact or not.
With no time to spare, I thrust the fiery line from my wrist, aiming for the center of the Tempo, and the red beam flows elegantly and effortlessly across the space directly into the swirling mass.
The Tempo explodes magnificently, sending chunks of debris raining down on us. The floor quakes and buckles underneath me. I’m vaguely aware of Griselda’s raging screams as a powerful wind—a byproduct of the blast—throws me forcefully across the room. I slam against something heavy and solid, and an acute pain rips up my back. I black out instantly.
When I come to, my lungs are rasping for air, and there’s a dead weight on top of me. Griselda is straddling me again, with her hands wringing my neck. Mangled strands of hair are plastered to her blood-soaked face, and her clothing is ripped and torn. Demented eyes meet mine as she tightens her grip on my neck. I’m losing consciousness, and I’m too far gone to focus my mind. My eyes flutter open and shut as I use the last of my strength to try to buck her off, but it’s no use.
My body is limp and useless, and a strange sort of serene acceptance washes over me.
Just as I’ve accepted my impending death, oxygen rushes into my lungs, and I crank out loud edgy breaths, clawing greedily at the air as I try to recalibrate my breathing. Sounds of struggling reach my ears, and I open my eyes, forcing myself to focus. On wobbly limbs, I struggle to my feet, latching onto the nearest surface to steady myself. The floor is ripped apart with broken, jagged pieces jutting up around massive holes in the surface. Smoldering fires simmer, adding an acrid, charcoaled quality to the air. My hair is covering my face like a curtain, and I push it aside, stumbling toward the voices, trying to navigate around the destruction.
“No, Axton. Please.” Griselda’s gravelly tone can’t disguise her fear. “We’ll work something out.”
As my eyesight adjusts, I stagger toward the outline of two bodies. The lights are still out with only the flashing beams irradiating the room one strip at a time. I trip over a mound of rubble, adding another ache to the throbbing mass that is my body. I haul myself back to my feet and limp toward them.
Ax is crouched over his mother, and her legs are flailing about as the life leaves her body. I kneel down beside him. His eyes are closed, his hands wrapped firmly around her neck as he squeezes the life force from her. I plant my hand on his arm, noting the bloodied scratches marring his skin where Griselda fought back. “Ax, don’t do this. Let me.”
“No, Sadie,” he answers, opening his eyes. “I need to do this. I should’ve done this a long time ago. If she lives, she’ll only keep coming after you, and I’m done with that. Let me do this.”
Gargled sounds travel up her throat, and her face is turning an off-white grayish-blue color. I know why Ax feels the need to do this, but it won’t appease his guilt—it’ll only add to it. I can’t let him carry that.
“I’m sorry,” I say, hitting him firmly in the side of his neck at the precise point of his carotid artery. Ironically, it’s a technique I learned during my training here on Torc. His legs and arms turn floppy as he crashes to the floor, his eyes fluttering open and shut. Griselda is on her back, desperately trying to draw lungsful of air. I haul Ax off to the side until he’s a safe distance away before switching my attention to Griselda.
She is trying to crawl toward the door, but she hasn’t the energy, and the floor resembles a warped obstacle course, so she isn’t making much progress. Standing over her, I feel very little. I thought, when this moment came, that I’d feel vindicated, smug even, that I’d enjoy having superiority for once.
But I feel nothing.
I’m numb.
I just want her reign of terror to be over.
Without ceremony, I lift my wrist and aim it at her. Screaming, she raises her palms in instinctive self-defense mode as a searing hot strip of fire blasts through her, incinerating her to dust in mere seconds.
I stare at the spot, rooted in place, feeling like a stranger in my own skin. Logan is screaming in my head, begging for coordinates so he can come get me.
“Give me a minute.”
Ignoring the litany of curse words he throws at me, I squat down in front of Ax. He’s propped up on his elbows, his eyes fixated on the mound of dust that was once his mother. “I’m not sorry I did that,” I tell him, cupping his cheek. “You didn’t need that on your conscience. Besides, you have enough to explain to the High Council without adding that to the list.”
He sits up, tentatively patting his lap. I fold into him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Will you be okay?” I whisper.
“I’ll be fine.” He pummels a couple of buttons on the comport before removing it and attempting to secure it around my wrist.
“Keep it.” I strap it on his wrist. “This way you can stay in easy contact with me.”
“I’m on my way. Stay safe ‘til I get there,” Logan says in my mind, and my brow puckers in confusion.
“I sent Logan the coordinates,” Ax says, as if he’s the one with open access to my mind. “But I didn’t need to, did I?”
Butterflies flutter to life in my chest. “What?”
He takes my face in both his hands, slowly pulling me toward him as he presses his forehead against mine. “I suspected you had Eterno bonded with him, but I didn’t know for sure. I think I knew deep down but just couldn’t face up to it.” My heart stutters in my chest. “It’s true, though, isn’t it?”
I look everywhere but at him. I’ve called him out for lying when I’m no better.
“Sadie.” He moves my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. “It’s okay. I know you lied to protect me.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you any more than I already had.” I can’t help it—tears cascade down my cheeks.
He pulls me to my feet, reeling me into his strong arms. “I know, Sadie. We’ve both made mistakes trying to save each other. It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is you are finally free. You don’t need to worry about her coming after you or Logan anymore. The Tempo is gone, and I destroyed the blueprint before I got here. It can never be replaced. I will lead Torc into a new era of peace.”
I look up at him through glistening eyes. “Thank you. For everything.”
Revulsion returns to his face. “Don’t thank me!”
The air distorts behind me, distracting me from my reply. A familiar tingle races up and down my spine, and a small groan of contentment slips out of my mouth as I feel Logan’s presence. “Wait a sec.”
Ax has moved to step back, but I grab onto him, holding him closer. I tug on his shirt pulling his head down toward mine. Pressing my lips to his ear, I whisper so the moment is private. “Forgive yourself, please. Dwelling on the past has brought us nothing but grief. Let’s look to the future now.” I kiss his cheek. “I want you to know that I’ll always love you, Ax. I will always care about you. I won’t ever forget what you did for me. And I am here for you whenever you need me. I understand that it might take some time, but I truly hope we can be friends again. We were friends for years before our relationship changed, and I miss that. I’ll miss you so much.” He moves to straighten up, his eyes flitting nervously in Logan’s direction, but I keep my hand fisted in his shirt. “I know things are strained between you two now, but he’s your brother. You are the only family each other has besides me, and you can’t throw that away. Think on it. Try to find a way of letting him in. You need each other. I—”
Logan’s scent overpowers me as he hauls me out of Ax’s embrace, wrapping his arm firmly around my waist. “I think that’s quite enough, and it’s time to leave.” His tone is icy cold.
Ax runs a hand nervously through his hair as he takes a step forward.
Logan holds up a hand. “Stop, unless you want me to beat your ass. Sadie may have forgiven you, but I will never ever forgive you for what you did to her.”
Ax moves toward us. “Do it. Knock yourself out. I’d actually welcome it.”
Logan releases me, stepping chest to chest with Ax. I jump in between them as Haydn moves to Logan’s side and Izzy steps over alongside Ax. I’m pleasantly surprised to see her here, and we share a somber smile. “Stop it, both of you. No one is fighting.”
“I know what she said to you,” Logan admits, “and I don’t agree with any of it. But that’s not my choice to make. It’s Sadie’s decision, and while I don’t like it, I won’t stop her. But she was wrong about the last part. You’re no brother of mine, and I will never want anything to do with you.”
My heart squeezes in my chest as Ax speaks up. “I understand and I would feel the same if I were in your position. For what it’s worth, I will never forgive myself for what went on in that room back there. All I ever wanted was to keep her safe, and yet I turned out to be the biggest threat of all. I don’t deserve her forgiveness, and I would never have asked for it, but she’s offered it, and I’m not turning it down. She’s too important to me. I don’t know if you and I can ever overcome the animosity between us, but I’m willing to park that for now, for Sadie, and in th
e interests of peace in the galaxy.”
“We should go, Logan,” Haydn murmurs, uncomfortable as he hears the telltale sound of approaching footsteps.
“He’s right,” Ax says. “Go now. Get her out of here. I may not be able to protect her.”
Logan stabs some buttons on his comport, securing his grip on me.
“You’re staying?” I ask Izzy.
She nods. “This is my home, and Ax is my friend. I want to be here for him.” She grips his hand and smiles up at him. Warmth suffuses every inch of me, and I wish there was time to hug Izzy to death.
“Stay in touch,” I tell them, as the air starts to shift. “Both of you.”
Her image is fading out as I mouth “Thank you,” and I can only hope that she understands how very grateful I am that she is staying to support him.
CHAPTER 11
Sadie
We land back in the lobby of the Saven palace, and Logan holds me steady as I sway in his arms. Brushing locks of hair back off my face, he frowns as his fingers trace the multitude of scrapes and cuts lining my skin. My legs tremble, almost giving out from under me. Logan sweeps me up, cradling me to his chest. “Organize to send one of the medical staff to our chambers, please,” he instructs Haydn as Rylan comes bounding toward us.
“Is she okay? What happened?”
“She’s fine,” I say with a yawn, lifting my head to face him. He draws in a sharp gasp. “Looks worse than it is.”
“Liar.” Logan calls me out on it as he strides along the corridor. Every Saven we meet bows respectfully at their king, but I draw barely a hint of interest. Most would probably have been happy to see him carrying my corpse.
He shudders. “Cut that out, Sadie. I can’t even bear to joke about something like that.”
“Sorry. Only trying to ease the tension.” In part.
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