Hal’s eyes ran over me in disbelief. “What do you mean byout?”
“Bri knocked her out,” Kane stated plainly.
“She what?” Hal bit out, turning toward them.
“So, you see, what happened—”
“Barrett, I’m not in the mood for your damn word games at the moment.”
Kane chuckled darkly. “Only certain games. It appears the two of you know each other. Why don’t you inform all of us how you know the Illum’s pet. We arealldying to know.”
Hal turned toward Kane. “I don’t know why that is any of your business.”
“Is that so?” Kane said, walking toward us. I held on to Hal’s arm. A vein in Kane’s neck pulsed as he stared at my hand, before turning all that rage toward Hal. “You met her by chance?”
“My actions don’t concern you,” Hal snapped.
“So she’s off-limits to everyone but you,” Kane stated coldly.
“Does anyone care about whatshehas to say,” I growled, and Kane glanced at me in surprise. As did Hal.
“We don’t have time for this,” Gerald interrupted. “We need to get her back to the surface. The quicker, the better. What did you want to tell us?”
“The Illum is planning retribution for the attacks. They want to send the Reaper”—I glanced at Hal—“a message. In two days, they said, they are going to ambush the Underworld community. I wanted you all to know. So you can prepare or run.”
“No one’s running,” Kane said darkly.
“You were at the dinner last night?” Barrett asked, pushing off the wall.
I nodded. I could feel Hal looking at me, but I couldn’t meet his gaze, not as the memories of last night pelted me.
“So you saw Christopher die,” Barrett stated. “Did he suffer?”
I saw the man fall to his knees, gasping for air as his blood sprayed. I shook it away. “They used the MIND to kill him. I’m sorry. They are saying that I helped them, that his death is my fault, but—”
“But what?” Bri sneered, her eyes angry slits. “You’re saying it isn’t? You didn’t run to your Mate about him?”
“I didn’t run to him. It’s difficult.” I stepped toward her.
“Oh, it’s difficult,” Bri taunted, her hand coming to rest on the handle of one of her weapons. “Difficult for you, going to dinners and balls. Dressed up like some pathetic prize. I can see why a fucking whistle scared you.”
“Briana, their women are only taught to be a vessel,” Gerald told her. “You know this. That is not Emeline’s fault. They don’t give them any other option.”
“Right, and how many people have we lost because they don’t know any better? I’m tired of this. I’m happy I knocked you out,” Bri spat at me.
Hal brushed past me. “Say that again.”
“Guys, come on, is this how we welcome guests?” Barrett joked, edging his way between Hal and Bri. “She’s going to believe all the horrible lies about us. I swear, we are usually much more welcoming.”
“We all know the risk of this rebellion. This isn’t news. We already know about their plans,” Kane stated dryly.
“They have maps of everything. All the tunnels,” I told them as Barrett pushed Hal lightly as he walked backward, taking Bri with him.
Kane sighed. “We know your little Mate’s plans. I’m afraid if that’s the only reason you came down here, you wasted your time.”
“The entrance I used, it was circled on the map,” I told them. They exchanged a look.
“Come on.” Hal’s hand found mine, but my feet stayed rooted to the spot. Gerald looked at our joined hands.
