Текст книги "On wings of blood"

Автор книги: Briar Boleyn

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Текущая страница: 32 (всего у книги 36 страниц)

I was astonished. Not least of all at her admission.

I sighed. It was time to take a different approach and stoop to her level. “Well, I can see why he doesn’t want you. Who would want a snide whiny bitch sucking them off?”

Regan screeched like a parrot. “How dare you!” Her eyes narrowed and a slow smile stretched across her face. “This has gone on long enough. Pull that blade from the tree behind you and stick it in your throat. I command it.”

I turned towards the tree trunk, taking in the sight of Gretchen’s throwing knife embedded in the bark.

Slowly, I pulled it out. I looked down at the blade.

Then I tucked it into my pocket.

“Sorry, but that’s not going to work anymore, Regan,” I said calmly, as the thrallweave she was using continued to wash over me, hit the wall I’d built and skim away.

I didn’t feel the compulsion like the last time she’d attacked me. Then it had been unbearable, undeniable. This was a different kind of pressure. Strong and insistent, yes. Pulling at my mind, trying to find a purchase. But I had practiced for this very moment. I’d partitioned my thoughts, dividing them, hiding the core of myself in my mental shadows. So far inside that Regan couldn’t reach, even if she’d had the ability to. And I doubted she did. She wasn't as skilled in thrallweave as I’d once given her credit for. Rodriguez and Blake were much more proficient.

With a smile, I slammed my wall up hard, shutting her out. The sudden snap of mental threads nearly sent her reeling. I laughed at the look of shock on her face.

Gretchen looked back and forth between us, uncertainty on her pretty face. “What’s happening, Regan?”

“The bitch shut me out,” Regan panted. “Someone taught her how to block us.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Who was it? Who taught you? I’ll fucking kill them.”

I smiled slowly. “You could try. But I doubt you’d succeed. You see, Blake and I have enjoyed a lot of time together. He loves getting me alone. To practice.” I wasn't sure what I was doing. Only that seeing the expression on her face made it worth it. “He really enjoys our private tutoring sessions. Why don’t you ask him about them yourself? If you make it back, that is.”

“Blake?” Regan spat. “You’re lying!”

I shrugged, keeping my stance steady. The dagger was in my boot. I could reach for it if I needed to. But it didn’t escape me that I was outnumbered three to one and that Quinn had a bow pointed at me. “Think what you want. I know denial is easier for you.”

I took a step closer towards her, my eyes locked with Regan's. “But you know all you really have to do is ask Blake.”

I lunged forward, reaching for her rapier.

Regan reacted, but she’d lost a few precious seconds. My hand gripped her wrist, twisting hard. My body crashed into hers as we fell to the ground.

The damp earth shifted as we rolled across it, locked in a struggle.

The blood was pulsing in my veins. I felt as if I were filled with power. All of a sudden three against one seemed less of a concern and more of a fun challenge. I could do this. I knew I could.

Regan twisted against me, trying to get the upper hand, but I slammed her arm into the ground, forcing her rapier hand down with all my strength.

Regan growled, fighting me with renewed fury as she tried to roll me off her. I could feel her weight shifting, feel the sheer effort of her desperation to win this fight. She was a highblood. She was stronger, faster. For a split second, doubt crept into my mind.

Then I saw something in Regan’s eyes. The same doubt reflecting back at me.

I gave a ragged laugh, giddy at the sight of it, my grip tightening. “You expected this to be easy, didn’t you? So sorry to disappoint. Any guesses as to why things aren’t going your way?”

“You’re nothing but a blightborn,” she hissed, her beautiful lips curling in disdain as she tried again unsuccessfully to slam me back into the dirt. “I will crush you like the pathetic bug you are.”

I leaned towards her. “I have to admit something, Regan. I have a secret that might make that more difficult than you’re expecting.”

Regan froze. “What?”

I smiled slowly. “Can’t you tell just from looking at me? I can feel him inside me. I would have thought it was written all over my face.” I put my lips to her ear and whispered, “Blake gave me a little taste of something special.”

“You’re lying.” Her eyes widened with fury and disbelief. “You're fucking lying. He wouldn’t.”

I’d hit my mark. For a moment, I wondered if I’d done the right thing. Then my heart hardened.

My strength surged, fueled by the vampire blood coursing through my veins. Blake’s power was amplifying everything–the thrill of the fight, the sight of Regan beneath me, suddenly vulnerable and exposed. The power was intoxicating.

Regan thrashed and let out a scream of rage.

“Believe what you want,” I murmured. “But we both know it’s true.”

A flash of silver. Before I could react, the sharp bite of steel sliced into my shoulder. Pain flared. But the wound didn’t paralyze me as it should have. My vision sharpened as I turned and saw Gretchen, her hand still outstretched.

The rage inside of me was rising, burning hotter by the second, the pull in my blood urging me onwards to kill, kill, kill the ones who were trying to hurt me.

Don’t lose yourself, Medra. Focus. My mother’s voice. All you need is to get out of here.

I shut it down, ignoring her.

Bloodlust coursed through me. Urging me to end this, to finish it once and for all. These girls wanted me dead. They were here to kill me.

Why shouldn’t I return the favor?

I yanked the knife from my shoulder, my eyes narrowing with fury, and threw it back at Gretchen with all my strength. The blade hit the highblood girl square in the face, slicing her cheek open. She screamed, clutching at the flap of skin as she stumbled backwards, blood pouring from between her fingers.

“Bitch,” Regan screamed. “You think you’re better at us just because you’ve been sipping from Blake’s cup? You lying little cheat.”

“Cheat?” I glared down at her. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you.”

I grabbed Regan’s wrist, twisting unmercifully and the rapier fell to the ground. I grabbed it and held it over her face. It would be so easy. So easy to let go and finish it. To never have to look at Regan again.

Unbidden, Florence’s face came to my mind. Her calm steady gaze. The kindness of her smile.

I took a deep breath and tossed the rapier far into the trees.

Just as I began to relax, the arrow whistled through the air, striking me in the other shoulder.

I gasped, the force of it knocking me off Regan and onto the ground. My vision blurred for a moment from the pain. But through the haze, I could already feel the wound beginning to heal.

“Not... like... this...” I growled, the blood pounding in my ears.

I yanked the arrow out of my shoulder, ignoring the pain as I cast it aside. Regan was already coming towards me. I moved faster, catching her by the ankle and tossing her to the ground, then leaping atop her. I pulled the dagger from my boot, throwing the sheath onto the ground and held it poised over her face.

I saw the look of terror in her eyes, the raw fear.

You might need her. Think carefully, Orcades’ voice warned.

For a moment, I didn’t care. I wanted to let the bloodlust take me over completely. This rush felt good. I could bury Coregon's dagger in Regan’s evil little heart and be done with it. After all, she deserved it after everything she’d done to me.

I pulled my arm back, then lifted my hand and struck Regan directly under the chin with the heel of my palm. For a moment, her head rocked back and forth. Then her body went limp.

Breathing heavily, I stood up and turned my gaze to Quinn, who still sat up in the tree, her bow drawn.

“I don’t want to kill you,” I called up to her. “But I will if I have to.”

Quinn let the arrow fly.

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CHAPTER 52 – BLAKE

Theo turned towards me. “What did you do?” he hissed.

We could see everything the consorts were experiencing. We couldn’t hear them though.

Still, it wasn’t too hard to figure out what was going on between Pendragon and Regan.

Or to see that something in Pendragon had changed.

She’d started off slow. I’d been terrified for her. Regan had clearly paid someone off because the drugs they gave the consorts weren’t supposed to linger in their systems for that long. Pendragon had nearly missed the first challenge altogether.

When she’d made it across the gorge, I’d breathed a sigh of relief. Thank the fucking Bloodmaiden for Visha. She’d lingered far longer than I thought she would, ignoring Evander’s clear pleas to get going. The girl had a backbone of steel and some serious potential.

I glanced at Theo. He didn’t trust me and while I understood that, it also didn’t make him great right hand material.

Theo was still looking at me expectantly.

I shrugged him off. “I did what I had to.”

“You’re insane,” he whispered. “This could ruin everything. You put her at risk.”

“At risk? I saved her. Regan was going to cheat anyway,” I hissed. My gaze lingered on the images up on the veil, on Pendragon and the way she moved–stronger, faster than she’d ever been before.

Theo’s jaw tightened. “Still, you know this isn’t how it’s supposed to go. They’re supposed to work together. Not...” He gestured helplessly at the projection just as Pendragon pulled the knife out of her boot. Regan might have managed to arrange for a little extra drugging but I’d snuck a surprise in for Pendragon, too. Good thing I had since Regan and her friends had brought their own surprises with them. “Whatever the fuck this is. It’s all falling apart. If Viktor catches wind of it...”

“I’ll handle it, Theo,” I interrupted, forcing myself to remain calm. “Don’t worry about it.”

Consorts weren’t meant to destroy each other like this and the whole thing didn’t exactly reflect well on House Drakharrow. But Regan had set the whole thing in motion as soon as she’d pulled Gretchen and Quinn into her scheming. She’d tried to stack the odds, to sabotage Pendragon from the start. I was just leveling the playing field. Or at least, that’s what I was telling myself.

I risked a glance at where Headmaster Kim was sitting further down the tiers. His eyes were glued to the veil, his face impassive. As far as I could tell, he didn’t look as if he were about to jump up from his seat and call the whole thing off. I doubted he’d interfere.

But as for what came after the Games were over? That was a toss up.

All I knew was, I’d protect Pendragon. No matter what.

Regan was on her own now. It was only a matter of how long it would take her to realize she was out in the cold.

I watched Pendragon deal with Quinn, then stand over Regan.

She wasn’t going to kill her. I knew that. But it took her a moment to come to that realization. My blood was flowing through her, making the urge to violence stronger than it would normally be. It was actually incredible how well she was resisting its pull.

“How goes it, little brother?”

My head jerked up. My brother Marcus stood there, pale blue eyes looking down at me coldly. His mouth curved up in an arrogant smile.

Looking at my older brother was like looking in a mirror in some ways. Standing a few inches shorter than me–something that never failed to drive him crazy, Marcus was stockier and broader, with a physique built for raw strength rather than finesse. His pale, silvery-blond hair was cropped shorter than my own. His jawline had more of a square cut to it, too.

He was an intimidating bastard, I’d give him that. The scars that littered his arms and neck were reminders of his ruthless exploits. I wondered whether the consort he’d murdered had left any marks behind on my brother. I hoped so. She’d certainly earned it.

Viktor loved Marcus’s brutality–as long as he was the one wielding it.

Knowing he had our uncle's favor just made Marcus more dangerous. His smile rarely reached his eyes and when it did, it was usually at someone else’s expense.

Like mine, right now.

Beside me, I felt Theo tense, shrinking into himself. He hated Marcus. I didn’t blame him.

Marcus swaggered down the step and slid into our row, forcing me over.

“Well, well,” he drawled, his eyes moving to the screen. “Your little dragon rider’s doing better than I would have expected, brother. Must be a lot of work keeping those two ladies in line outside of the Games though. You ever need any advice on how to manage them both, you know where to find me.”

I kept my eyes forward.

But Marcus didn’t do well with being ignored.

“What’s up with Theo? He looks as if he’s seen a ghost. What’s got you so nervous, cuz?” Marcus leaned around me to ruffle Theo's hair like he was a child.

Theo flinched but didn’t say a word.

“Leave him alone, Marcus,” I growled.

Marcus smirked. “Relax. I’m just having fun. We’re family for fuck’s sake. Theo knows I’m only playing, don’t you, cousin?” He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “It’s funny though. I’ve always thought it’s pathetic how soft you are with him. You think you’re really doing him a favor by coddling him?”

My fists clenched, but Marcus wasn’t through. His gaze shifted to the veil projection where Pendragon’s figure was moving swiftly through the island terrain.

He whistled, long and low. “Pretty thing, isn’t she? Those long legs. That tight ass. I can see why you’ve bailed on Regan. Really, I can.”

My head snapped towards my brother. I glared at him.

Marcus grinned, clearly relishing my reaction. “Careful, little brother,” he drawled. “She might not stay yours for very long. Uncle Viktor has his eyes on her. Hell, I might just take a liking to her myself. You know I've been looking for a replacement for Allessandra.”

I tried to control my breathing. “You still have Amaris.”

Marcus scowled. “She’s no good by herself. She’s gotten boring.”

I didn’t point out that this was probably because Marcus had killed her twin sister.

There was no way my brother was getting within an inch of Pendragon. I’d fucking die before I let that happen.

Marcus tilted his head towards mine. “I’m sure I could make her scream in a whole new way,” he said, his voice dipping suggestively.

My restraint shattered. I shot to my feet, my muscles coiled. Theo looked up at me in a silent plea for me to stay calm, but I ignored him.

“You think you could handle her, Marcus?” I hissed, my voice low and deadly. “She’s stronger than she looks. You’re not taking anything from me. Especially not Pendragon. Our bond’s nearly complete, and you know what that means.”

My older brother’s grin faltered, a hint of uncertainty betraying his bullshit bravado. “Is that so?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. “Uncle Viktor didn’t think you’d gotten far.”

“I was planning on surprising him with the news,” I lied. “He told me to keep her controlled and soon she’ll be mine. Fully bonded. And there won't be anything you or Viktor or anyone else can do about it.”

Marcus's lips curled in annoyance. “We’ll see about that,” he said, rising to his feet, his playful tone gone.

I stabbed him in the chest with my finger. “Why don’t you scurry back to Uncle Viktor like a good little fucking lap dog and tell him I have everything under control?”

Marcus’s body went tense. If we weren't in the middle of a crowd of people, I knew he’d have decked me one.

“This isn’t over, little brother,” he muttered, as he moved into the aisle.

I sat back down, trying to calm the fire inside of me.

“You shouldn’t have said that,” Theo groaned. “Now he’ll come after her for sure.”

I knew Theo was right. Still, “Let them try,” I muttered.

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CHAPTER 53 – MEDRA

Instinct kicked in. Highblood instinct. Blake’s instinct.

Before I even had time to think my hand had shot out and with a sharp, audible snap, I caught the arrow mid-flight.

I stared down at it in disbelief, my palm wrapped around the shaft.

Above me, Quinn froze, her eyes wide.

For a long moment, we simply stared at each other.

Then something stirred inside me. A savage urge rising to the surface, too powerful to resist.

Blake’s blood had flipped a switch in me, igniting something dark and wild.

My muscles tensed with inhuman power, Blake’s blood and my rider’s body meshing together in a ferocious combination.

I lunged towards the tree and before Quinn could even blink, I’d scaled the trunk, clambering from branch to branch with skill not fully my own.

I landed beside Quinn on the tree limb where she sat, my feet hardly making a sound.

She let out a strangled gasp and scrambled backwards.

But there was nowhere she could go.

I moved towards her and this time, I didn’t stop. I didn’t hold back.

I drove the arrow into her side, ignoring the sickening sound of flesh tearing. Quinn gasped, her eyes widening with shock as the force of the strike pushed her out of the tree.

Her body crashed through the branches as it plummeted down before hitting the ground with a thud.

I dropped down to the forest floor beside her, landing lightly on my feet.

For a moment, I stood there, looking at my fallen opponents.

Regan’s unconscious body was still sprawled in the dirt. Now Quinn lay gasping in pain beside her.

I felt nothing. Certainly not guilt.

I turned and walked out of the clearing, Blake’s blood still pulsing in my ears.

I stood at the top of a hill, looking down at the scene in front of me.

A domed stone building lay in the distance, silhouetted against the sea. A dock lay behind it with small boats tied up. I assumed this was how they were getting us home. Those of us who made it that far, anyhow.

Below, I could see Visha and Evander waiting near the entrance. They weren’t alone. There was a line of other consorts ahead of them. All anxiously awaiting their turn.

As I came down the hill, Visha rushed up. “Have you seen Regan?”

I blinked. “You told me to avoid her.”

Still, the guilt must have shown on my face.

Visha’s eyes narrowed. “But you didn’t, did you?”

“I had no choice,” I admitted. “She ambushed me. Gretchen and Quinn were with her.”

The hint of a smile crossed Visha’s face. “Gretchen limped down here a while ago, looking a little worse for wear. Her consort is furious at her.” She tilted her head. “But Regan? You didn’t kill her, did you? I sure hope not, because you're going to need her.”

My eyes widened. “What? Please tell me you’re joking. I thought you said you or Evander would help me.”

“Is she dead or not?”

“No, but I knocked her out. I left her back there.” I gestured to the forest behind me. “Way back there.”

Visha cast a quick glance at the line of consorts. “Well, you’d better go get her. You need your consort for the next test and a substitute won’t cut it. Both of you need to spill a drop of blood into some bowl before you’re allowed to enter the dome. And once you enter, you don’t come out again. If you can’t find Regan, you’re both going to be screwed. Evander and I can’t help you." She had the decency to look sympathetic but that wasn’t much consolation.

“Fuck,” I swore. “I can’t believe this.”

Visha chewed her lip. “I’d help you go and get her if I could. But Evander...”

The tall, silver-haired boy was standing at the end of the line, watching Visha and I.

I nodded. “I understand. It’s not fair to him.” Just like being paired with Regan had never been fair to me. I glanced over at the domed building. “What’s waiting for us in there anyhow?”

Visha hesitated. For a moment, the fierce, unshakeable girl looked uncertain. “I don’t know exactly.” But something in her voice told me she did know. She just didn’t want to tell me. “But I have a bad feeling about it.”

I ran a hand over my hair, brushing loose tendrils off my forehead. “Great. Fantastic.”

I turned away, my boots digging into the dirt as I started my trek back up the hill.

“What are you going to do?” Visha called.

“Get Regan,” I shouted from over my shoulder. “I’ll drag her back here if I have to.”

But when I arrived at the clearing, it was empty.

Regan and Quinn were gone.

I cursed under my breath, eyes narrowing as I scanned the ground.

Broken twigs. Flattened earth. Quinn’s blood on the grass.

I crouched down, touching the spot where I’d knocked Regan out. If only I’d made her bleed a little. Would dried blood count for the next challenge? Quinn had left plenty but it wasn’t hers I needed.

I took a deep breath, inhaling, my senses prickling with clarity.

There it was. Regan’s scent. Sweat mixed with dirt. The hint of lavender and musk. Apparently Regan had managed a spritz of perfume, even in the jungle.

Quinn’s scent hung in the air, too. The tang of her blood mixed with fear and dirt and sweat.

I sniffed in one direction, then another.

They’d split up. Regan had gone one way and Quinn another. Why hadn’t they stayed together?

How did I even know any of this?

There was more to it than Blake’s blood. My mind flashed to Rodriguez’s cryptic words about my rider’s heritage. Was this what he’d meant? Could I activate some instinctive ancient training?

I had no dragon, but the instincts of a rider were in my bones. Blake’s blood must have been intensifying them somehow, stirring up senses I had no idea I’d even possessed.

I was born to do this, I told myself, trying to channel tranquility. Sure, the effects wouldn’t last. But they were useful for now.

I took another deep breath, letting my senses guide me, honing in on Regan’s scent while ignoring the alluring aroma of Quinn’s fresh blood. I wasn’t a highblood. I didn’t need blood. I needed Regan Pansera.

I could feel her pull now, faint but present.

I turned in the direction she’d gone.

Dodging low-hanging vines and branches, I moved as quickly as I dared. Each step felt purposeful. My body knew where it was going. My blood was guiding me.

All right, so a little of Blake’s was in the mix, too.

Regan’s scent grew stronger, sharper, as I ran through the dense foliage.

I leaped over fallen logs, my steps light, all trace of dizziness and grogginess gone. I’d never felt so attuned to my surroundings. So powerful.

Suddenly, the scent faded.

I slowed my pace, heart pounding with anticipation.

I felt like a predator. A hunter.

Was this how Blake felt all the time? With me?

Regan was close. I could almost taste her. When I found her, I knew I’d have to control myself. Control that part of me that was Blake, the part of him that wanted to kill, wanted to feed. I suddenly wondered how he managed to keep himself in check at Bloodwing. Was this how he felt when he was near me? Was this how all highbloods felt all of the time? It was an uncomfortable idea.

A new thought came to me. I slid Coregon’s dagger down my palm, then began to turn in a slow circle, holding the knife outwards slightly.

It’s your turn to shine, I muttered to Orcades. Time to step up.

Dear girl, I thought you’d never ask, came my mother's voice. But do try not to kill Regan when you do catch her. From what Visha told you, it sounds as if you need her alive.

I’ll do my best to resist, I said grudgingly. But she started it.

Orcades laughed. She’s in the trees. Get ready.

Taking a page from Quinn’s playbook, is she? I grumbled. Where?

Jump to the left, Orcades snapped. Now.

I did as she said, tumbling to the side then springing back to my feet.

Regan hit the ground with a grunt of shock. She’d expected me to be her landing pad but I’d denied her that.

I walked up, sorely tempted to kick her in the ribs.

Instead, with a sigh, I offered her my hand.

“Fuck off, bitch,” she groaned gracelessly. She had a hand to her head. I guess I’d hurt her more than I’d realized when I knocked her out. But she was still walking and talking, so it must not have been that bad. “And give you a chance to stab me with that dagger? I don’t think so.”

So she was unarmed. She hadn’t found her rapier in the bushes. Good. I’d wondered about that.

I sheathed the dagger, tucked it back into my boot, and held up my hands. “I'm not going to stab you, Regan.”

“Why’d you come back?” she asked sulkily.

“The real question is, why are you still here?” I said, shaking my head as I looked at her wobbling on her feet. “Why didn’t you head to the other side of the island?”

“I got lost,” she admitted. “Quinn left me. No thanks to you.”

I snorted. “Right. I’m so sorry your two pals got hurt trying to kill me. They got what they deserved.”

“And now you’re here to finish me off while they’re not around,” she hissed.

I rolled my eyes. “Tempting though that idea is, it turns out I need you.”

I took a step towards her. “Let me rephrase that. We need each other. If you want to get out of this place. Unless you’d rather live up in the trees for the rest of your days.”

“Blake helped you,” she spat. “He gave you his blood. He obviously doesn’t care if I live or die here.”

We had to hurry. There wasn’t much time left. I thought of the line of consorts. We’d be the last ones to arrive if this kept up. I wondered how long it took each pair to get through whatever challenge they had to face in the dome.

“Can we speed this up or do you have a long self-pitying monologue planned?” I said, waving my hand. “You can hash things out with your boyfriend when we get back.”

“He’s not my fucking boyfriend and you know it. He hasn’t let me into his room in months. Not since you got here.”

I hadn’t actually known that. Theo had suggested it, yes.

I must have been shallower than I thought though because a warm feeling of relief flowed through me.

“Not my problem,” I lied. “Tell someone who cares. What matters is that we’re both stuck with him for now. So let’s just get out of here.”

I took another step towards her. “You can hardly stand. Don’t make this harder for yourself. If I have to, I’ll tie you up and carry you.”

Regan lifted her eyes upwards as if we were being watched.

Which, I suddenly realized, we were. We were a spectacle for the entire school. Just like Blake had been that day in the arena when he’d had to kill Coregon.

“Can they hear us, too?” I asked her, suddenly curious.

She shook her head. “No, thank the fucking Bloodmaid.”

Good. So they hadn’t heard what I’d told Regan about Blake helping me with his blood. I felt oddly relieved. I didn’t want him to get into trouble, not when what he’d done for me had actually worked.

“What’s the point?” Regan whined. “I’m probably going to get kicked out of the triad, kicked out of Bloodwing. I’ll be a laughingstock.” She kicked at a rock, her pretty face petulant.

I really doubted I’d be that lucky. But I bit my tongue.

“Get a grip, Regan. If you don’t get out, what’ll happen? We’ll live on this island together forever? I can think of a long list of people I’d rather be stranded with.”

“Live?” Regan laughed nastily. “Oh, no, we won’t live. They’ll kill us both. But knowing I took you down with me might make it worth it.” She tilted her head as if considering the option.

I clenched my jaw. “Or you can live another day and plot your revenge.”

She eyed me thoughtfully. “Appealing. Slightly more appealing.”

“Good. Then let’s get going,” I snapped, losing patience with her. “Everyone was already there. Except you and Quinn. We’re going to be the last.”

I started striding back through the jungle, praying she’d follow and I wouldn’t have to do what I’d threatened and actually carry her. I felt powerful enough to manage it, but she’d severely slow me down.

Within a minute, I heard the snap of twigs and rustle of grass as she trailed after me.

“What exactly do you need me for?” she asked after a few minutes had passed. “What’s the next challenge?”

“All I know is they need some of each of our blood. We have to enter a domed building together. No one seems to know what’s inside.” Well, Visha might have had a pretty good idea. Though she hadn’t wanted to tell me.

“Did Visha tell you that?” Regan guessed. “That traitorous bitch. How dare she take Blake’s side.”

“Yes, you seem to have a lot of traitors in your life,” I quipped. “Once we’re out of here, you might want to do some soul-searching about why that is.”

“I think I’d rather drink a few thralls and fix my broken nails instead, thanks.” She sighed and I didn’t have to turn my head to know she was looking at her hands. “Fuck. They’ll never be the same.”

I held back the comments that were on the tip of my tongue and instead continued leading the way back to the dome.

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