Voices filled the room.
What is going on?
It’s the rebels.
“You’re a spy, Emeline,” Collin whispered in my ear. His arm wrapped tightly around my waist. “It is not only your life that relies on it.”
They’ve got the Reaper.
Don’t let the others get away.
I couldn’t breathe. Several people lay on the ground unconscious or worse—I didn’t know. Two members of the Elite Force wrestled one of their own to the ground. Others rushed to help.
A knee slammed into the person’s gut.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t breathe as one of the soldiers removed the helmet.
The world tilted off its axis as my heart hurtled to the ground forever below. Starburst eyes met mine.
“Act,Moonlight,” Collin warned. I sucked in a sharp breath.
I stood paralyzed, my heart no longer in my chest, as they dragged Hal from the room.
CHAPTER FORTY
COLLIN’S ARMS REMAINED WRAPPED TIGHTLY AROUND ME, preventing me from lunging forward. Elite Force swarmed the room. His breath was warm on my neck, but his voice in my ear was emotionless. “You’re a spy, Emeline. I need to let go of you now.”
Numbly, I felt Collin’s arms leave me, and his hand captured mine in a death grip. He pulled me toward the door Hal had been taken through, stopping only briefly in front of Nora.
“Go home and do not leave there,” Collin commanded before he pulled me from the room into a hallway and up a set of stairs.
I heard voices that interrupted my silence. A group of men and women dressed in black and white stood on the landing before a set of double doors. The Illum were always talked about as one entity. It was strange to see varying heights, skin tones, and hair colors. Seeing them as individuals—as humans—felt wrong.
I tried to pull away as I saw Tabitha. Collin’s grip on my hand tightened, tugging me into him.
“Our hero of the evening,” Tabitha stated, looking at us.
I didn’t know if she meant me or Collin. He came to a stop, bowing slightly. I hurried to follow suit. As her gaze found me, she closed her eyes for a fraction too long to be a blink, as if she couldn’t bear to look at a Defect. When she opened her eyes, she looked to Collin. “We shall address the Elite, and then you are to take Emeline to the Capitol so we can discuss our next move.”
“You would like my Mate to join?” Collin asked.
“Oh yes, we have so much to discuss, your Mate and I.” Tabitha smiled, then turned toward the double doors that I hadn’t bothered to notice. “Bring him,” she called.
Terror closed my throat as two Elite Force soldiers dragged Hal forward. His face was bleeding profusely. He didn’t look at me. My heart pounded viciously.
“Come, little lamb,” Tabitha beckoned, reaching out her hand as the double doors opened. “We must tell them of our victory. The rest of you may leave us. Except of course Collin and Charles.” Tabitha watched Collin as she said it. The others in black and white left.
Collin pushed me forward, and I followed Tabitha onto a small balcony above the dance floor. The Elite gathered below. A cold sweat slicked my skin.
“Our dear Elite,” Tabitha began. The room quieted. “I would like to celebrate this moment with you. We have apprehended the Reaper.”
Below they gasped, and my breaths quickened. The soldiers slammed their weapons into the back of Hal’s legs, sending him to his knees before them all. Tabitha turned her head toward me, breathing deeply like she could sense my brokenness.
“There is so much to be thankful for as we restore our peace—to you all for your unwavering dedication. We are thankful. Without your cooperation, the Reaper’s plan for chaos might have been successful, upending our order. Your presence here has shown your allegiance. The same cannot be said to any Elite who declined this offer. They are being eliminated as we speak.
I couldn’t breathe. I stumbled back, colliding with the youngest Illum. Collin’s arm snaked around my middle as his hand sprawled across my stomach, digging into the crystals.
“We elders also thank our youngest Illum for this brilliant plan. As well as his Mate, Emeline. Her unwavering dedication is admirable. In unprecedented times, sometimes unprecedented measures must be taken. Unwavering loyalty is a gift. Before you all, the Illum have decided to do something that has never been done. We grant Emeline full Elite status. Effective immediately.”
