The Seers

  Family. Home.

  For the first time, Nora felt like she had a place where she fit. Her heart felt like it was about to explode.

  Charlotte smiled. “Very true. Henry’s done a fantastic job, which is why I have to take him with me. He’s proven to be quite the expert on our system’s weaknesses, and there’s an emergency planning session. We have to be ready for the Tavian response.”

  “I’ll come back as soon as he’s out of surgery and walk you to your house?” Charlotte offered.

  “Yes. Thank you,” Nora replied with a smile. They said their goodbyes, and Nora sat in the chair, fidgeting. The future couldn’t come soon enough.

  Nora stretched her legs. Even though she’d been sitting for hours, it felt like she’d run a marathon. Tobin’s family had rushed in just after he had been whisked away into surgery. Sophia and Lydia had been kind, but they’d asked so many questions, Nora felt like she was being debriefed. Niko paced the hall, listening but never asking any questions himself. He’d looked her over with a faint smile like he was impressed.

  It was dark—the middle of the night—when Doctor Theron had emerged with the good news. Tobin was out of surgery. He’d still be sleeping for a while, but she’d be able to see him soon. Tobin’s family expressed their gratitude and promised to return the next morning.

  Doctor Theron promised Nora would have at least two hours before he would even think about waking Tobin. That would be plenty of time to clean up.

  “Lead the way,” she said to Charlotte who strolled with her, arm in arm, down the dark steps of the medical facility.

  The scent of magnolias floated in the breeze. Fireflies glowed all around her. There wasn’t a trace of the bloodshed from before. It still felt perfect, but it didn’t feel as ready to reject her. She wasn’t sure how, but she fit here.

  Nios certainly is a strange place.

  Charlotte stopped at the opening of a small square with an ivy-draped monument in the center. Soft street lights lit up the row houses lining the outside. They were white and perfectly maintained, but each was slightly different in the number of windows and the color of the doors. She squinted. Royal blue, lemon yellow, cherry red.

  The hair on her arms rose. She couldn’t take her eyes off the red. White marble steps led to the door, which was framed with a vine of matching red magnolias. Drawn to it, she took a step toward the stairs.

  “You must remember it,” Charlotte said.

  Her mouth dropped open. “Really?”

  Charlotte nodded. “This is your home.”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “I’ll leave you to freshen up, then.” Charlotte released her arm, but her smile never faded. “No one has been in it since Tobin left. Place your palm under the blue light on the side to unlock the door.”

  Nora swallowed hard and climbed the steps. The magnolias fluttered in a gentle breeze. The street lights’ reflections twinkled on the windows.

  A wave of her hand, and the door unlocked. She opened it, half expecting to interrupt some unsuspecting family, but all was quiet. The front room was dark and full of stale air. Dust floated in a beam of light escaping from the curtains.

  A pad like the one outside but without the blue light was by the door. She waved her hand in front of it, and the lamps turned on, filling the room with warm light.

  An oversized, honey-colored leather couch sat alongside two matching chairs with dark wood floors, and a deep red rug stretched out beneath them. Wood beams lined the doorways and ceiling, and a large vase of dead and dried magnolias sat on a table in the center of the room.

  Her eyes filled with tears. She could see herself here. The flowers, the red rug—she’d pick those things. And she saw Tobin’s taste in the wood accents. She covered her mouth as her throat tightened.

  “I love it,” she whispered.

  Her gaze traveled over the deep grain of the wood beams, then the curve in the railing of the staircase.

  The staircase.

  The bedrooms.

  Our room.

  She hurried up the stairs. Three rooms sat along the dim hall, but it was the set of closed double doors at the end that captured her attention. As she opened them, a light turned on, and she found a beautiful wood bed with a red comforter in the center of the room. She sat down, running her hand along the silky sheets. Just like downstairs, high beams lined the ceiling. A door to the side led to the bathroom. Something glinted from the nightstand.

  Something round. A ring.

  It couldn’t be.

  She scooted closer. A gold band, way too small for Tobin.

  A wedding ring. Her wedding ring.

  It felt like it was staring back at her; a small trinket, but a gigantic piece of her past.

  She picked it up and placed it on her finger as her breath was stolen away. It still fit, but it stood in awful contrast to the blood dried on her hands.

  Now was as good a time as any to freshen up, but she couldn’t part with the ring yet. Relishing the privacy of the moment, she sat in the slate-tiled shower, rinsing away the blood, sweat, and grime of the last few days.

  She repeatedly glanced at the ring, expecting it to have disappeared every time, but it gleamed back at her.

  Back in the bedroom, she dug through the clothes in a dresser along the wall. Her clothes. Many weren’t her style anymore—lots of dresses—but she found a dry-fit zipper-down and some black exercise pants and put them on. She straightened the zipper-down in a mirror. The blood was gone. Her wet hair, hanging to her shoulders, smelled sweet. Her eyes—while tired—were bright. She felt normal; more normal than she had in ages.

  Maybe ever.

  She sat on the bed. Her bed—their bed. The soft folds of the blankets welcomed her.

  Tomorrow would be a new day. Tobin would want to know what happened, how she had triggered the fatality signal. They needed to be ready for the Tavian response. And what was he doing alongside Jasper in the tunnel? There was a lot to discuss.

  But there would be a tomorrow.

  A deep sense of satisfaction spread over her like a warm blanket, and her head bobbed. She jumped from the bed and held her mouth shut to stop a yawn. She was absolutely exhausted, but she’d sleep after she’d seen Tobin.

  Speaking of which.

  She scanned the walls and the nightstands—no clocks. She was sure it hadn’t been two hours, but she didn’t want to take any chances. It was time to head back to the hospital.

  Chapter 41

  Annabel ran a hand over the smooth, cool sheets. The fluffy duvet covering her wasn’t the heavy, silky material of her own.

  Not my bed.

  The breeze, warm and humid, brought hints of gardenia and salt with it.

  Not my room.

  She opened her eyes and pulled back the white bed linens to see she lay in a dark-wood, four-poster bed. A set of gauzy drapes hung off the French doors that led to a balcony. Beyond them, bright yellow light beat off an aqua-blue body of water.

  Not Octavius.

  She jumped from the bed. How had she gotten here? Where was Jasper? What had happened—

  Blinding pain bored through her skull like a drill, and she plopped back on the bed, groaning.

  “You’re awake.” Jasper strolled in through the doors, holding a bottle of water. A clean gray t-shirt hugged his lean frame.

  Not his uniform. Definitely not what he was wearing in the dungeon.

  But he was here—wherever here was.

  She pressed her temples. “This headache, it’s awful.”

  “I know.” He handed her the water and a pair of blue pills. “It’s an effect of the fatality signal, but it should go away soon. Swallow these. Don’t chew them. They’ll make you feel better.”

  Fatality signal? She hadn’t traveled to Nios. How could that be possible? She combed through her murky and fleeting memories of the dungeon. It felt like little more than a dream—glimpses without context. The feel of the cool steel rod she had wrenched between the l
inks of Tobin’s restraints, the sight of Jasper’s pale, clammy face behind bars.

  “You don’t remember, do you?” he asked, sitting beside her.

  “I…” She fought to think through the throbbing pain beating behind her eyes. “One minute, I was in the dungeon, ready to rescue you, and the next…” What had happened? She remembered Tobin spinning on the chain. Jasper’s pleas to release him echoed in her ears. Finally, Jasper standing over Cyrus, who was lying in a pool of blood—his own blood. It was everywhere. She gasped. “He’s dead?”

  “Deep breaths,” Jasper urged. “You’ll make your headache worse—”

  “Cyrus,” she insisted. “Is he dead?”

  He hesitated. Some of the color had returned to his face, but dark circles still surrounded his somber eyes. He searched her face, then nodded.

  She released a breath. She was free. She had lived her whole life in his shadow, been subject to his whims, feared the day when he would finally kill her.

  Not anymore. She had outsmarted him, and he’d never threaten her again.

  A warm, humid breeze blew past her from outside, reminding her that they were no longer in Octavius. Other memories fell into place. Nios. The Sacarros. If Cyrus was dead, they must have left for another reason. She eyed Jasper, whose black eyes seemed guarded. “What really happened?”

  He tilted his head as if he were calculating how much he should say. “You came to the dungeon with the box, but Cyrus was right behind you. You tried to weaken Tobin’s restraints in time, but it wasn’t enough. Cyrus almost killed him. You released me just in time, and I killed Cyrus.”

  She nodded, but she couldn’t help but feel empty. “I’m not sorry he’s gone.”

  “Neither am I.” His gaze pierced her until she looked away.

  “Is it wrong that I wanted my plan to work? There was irony in my visions—the visions he’d caused by experimenting on me—leading to his death.”

  “Not at all,” he replied. “And your visions did lead to his death, but not quite the way you’d planned. I did what I needed to do—what I should have done a long time ago. He’d threatened you for far too long.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not sure it would have made a difference. It seems there’s a long line of people ready to kill me.”

  Jasper drew in a breath. “Because you were able to get the box, we have everything we need. We’re pretty hidden here in Aruba. The room was rented with a clean line of credit. No one has to know we’re here. We’re safe.”

  She met his gaze. “How safe can we be with the Niotians in pursuit. And if they don’t get us, the Sacarros might.”

  “The Niotians won’t be coming,” he replied in a steady tone. “Leonora triggered the fatality signal. I’m not sure how, but I’m positive she did it to save Tobin. And they both helped get us to safety.”

  “Saved?” she asked. “By Niotians?”

  Jasper nodded, sunlight lit up his face as he looked out the doors. “Tobin and I came to an understanding. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about him.”

  “That’s a relief, but there’s still the Sacarros.”

  His gaze darted to her, and his eyes darkened. “Let Remy come.”

  He slipped his arms around her, and for the first time it dawned on her, they were alone—really alone. No distractions, or threats of interruptions. Her hands rested on his chest. Her eyes were drawn to his lips.

  “For as long as I’ve known you, I’ve been chased from you. Whether it was my eyes or your status, no one wanted us together.” His gaze intensified, sending shivers down her spine. “I spent so much time trying to balance the threats with being close to you. I nearly lost you. No more. We’ve paid a high price to be together. As long as you want me with you, I’ll be here, and I’ll never let anyone threaten you again.”

  She leaned forward, and he met her halfway, fitting his lips to hers. Pleasure mixed with pain, loss with freedom, until they were both out of breath.

  “So what now?” she asked, breathing deeply. “Is Octavius gone? Can we ever go home?”

  His chest rose and fell with a sigh. “I wish I had that answer, but it’s too early to say. Nothing like this has ever happened before. From what I can gather, people either teleported out or they died. Everyone is scattered. I can’t even contact Brock.”

  It all made sense, but to hear him discuss the aftermath made it more real. Even if they could return, Octavius would never be the same. “What do we do now?”

  “We’ll need to go dark for a little while until we can see the full extent of the fallout. I’m not sure where Remy went, but I’m positive he got out, and he’s only one of your brother’s enemies.”

  Of course. She now had no home, and even in death, Cyrus’s bloodlust would haunt her. She folded her arms. “Nothing’s left.”

  “I wouldn’t say nothing.” He wrapped his arms around her and trailed his lips along her jawbone. “We know Cyrus is dead.” He kissed just below her ear. “We know how the fatality signal was triggered.” His lips trailed down her neck. “I’m not too bad at combat.” He kissed along her collarbone until she sucked in a breath. “And you’re a Seer.”

  She lifted herself into his lap and kissed him. They were a force together. They were safe for now. They’d bide their time, and when the moment was right, they’d make a comeback.

  His confidence, that smile, the faint scent of leather and cedar, the firmness of his mouth against hers—it all gave her strength. They would get through this together. She savored every touch. He was right. They had paid a high price to be together again.

  But it was worth it.

  Chapter 42

  Nora crept into the quiet hospital room and released a breath when her gaze settled on Tobin sleeping peacefully. A big bandage covered part of his chest and wrapped all the way around to his back. A tube fed into his nose and another into his arm. But his lips were no longer purple, and his breathing was slow and quiet. He really was okay.

  “Nora,” Doctor Theron said from behind her. “I’m glad you’re here. We’d like to wake him to see how he’s doing. Is that all right with you?”

  “Of course,” she replied, rushing to the side of the bed.

  Doctor Theron injected something into the tube in his arm, and Tobin’s eyes started to flutter.

  He groaned.

  “How are you feeling, Tobin?” Doctor Theron asked in a loud voice.

  “Like I got in a fight with a bunch of Tavians and lost.”

  Nora giggled.

  Yep. He’s okay.

  He blinked and searched the room with bleary eyes before seeing Nora, then reached for her. “Were you hurt?”

  Doctor Theron smiled and started to back away. “Well, it looks like your cognitive function didn’t take too much of a hit. I’ll let you two catch up. I can come back later.”

  “Hey, wait,” Tobin said hoarsely. “When can I leave?”

  Nora’s eyebrows shot up, but Doctor Theron shook his head like he wasn’t surprised at all.

  “I’d like you to stay a little longer, but maybe now that Nora’s here, you’ll find the wait a little easier.”

  Tobin scowled, but it melted when he looked at her. “I feel fine.”

  She laughed, shaking her head. “I’m sure you do, but I think you should still listen to your doctor.”

  He rolled his eyes and settled back into the bed.

  “Welcome back, you two,” Doctor Theron called over his shoulder as he left.

  Nora sat down in the chair beside Tobin as he fidgeted with the tubes.

  “Are you in pain?” Nora asked. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  “No. It’s not that. It’s…” His voice trailed off as he stopped fidgeting. His gaze met hers, and his eyes were clouded with concern. “The Tavians will be back. We need to be ready. I couldn’t handle it if they took you again.”

  She sighed. Now was as good a time as any to fill him in on the details. “Cyrus won’t be sending anyone for a while. He
can’t.”

  Tobin let out a short laugh that sounded closer to a bark. “Well, you’re right about that.”

  He heard the fatality signal, but he didn’t understand. This wasn’t a temporary thing. The Tavians didn’t have a place to launch attacks from anymore. “Don’t worry—"

  “Cyrus is dead.”

  “Dead?” she asked, losing her own train of thought. “Are you sure?”

  “He was in the dungeon with us.”

  She drew in a silent breath as his brow furrowed. Was that sorrow in his eyes? She shifted in her seat. It certainly wasn’t her goal to kill anyone, but Cyrus could have killed Tobin—he almost did. And given the chance, he would have probably killed her, too. She hadn’t tried to kill Cyrus, but she certainly didn’t regret it.

  “I did it,” she admitted.

  “Huh?” he asked, returning from his deep thought.

  She sat up a little straighter. “A lot of Niotians died the night they took you. They targeted the Guard. Josephine couldn’t spare anyone for a rescue, and it wasn’t like I could fight my way in. So, Henry and I… we came up with a way to use the fatality signal against them. We locked the Tavians out of Octavius, which allowed me to rescue you.”

  He laughed. “Henry. I should have known. You both would have made great guards. I suppose you were the one to go because you don’t have an implant?”

  She nodded. “They left us with no choice. We knew they’d come back here, and I wasn’t going to abandon you—”

  His gaze darted to her. “You didn’t kill Cyrus.”

  She rolled her eyes. He was splitting hairs. “I may not have done it directly, but I uploaded the program that caused the fatality signal.”

  “That wasn’t what killed him.”

  Her eyebrows pulled together. If that wasn’t what killed him…

  “Did you kill him?”

  He drew in a slow breath before shaking his head. “I would have, but it wasn’t me.”

  Who else could have—

  She gasped. “Jasper?”

  He nodded.

  “On purpose? Why?” she asked.

  That’s why Tobin was helping him. It didn’t make sense, but nothing about this was clear.