“No.” Gage pulls my hands forward and clasps his fingers over mine hard as if stopping me from pulling away before I ever try. “They have Laken”—he winces—“Ellis, Tobie, andAngel.”
“Angel,” her name strums from me numbly, and Logan pulls me in by thewaist.
“A handful of others.” Logan glares at the facility behind me. “Last night—Casey wouldn’t answer. Her dreams, they were—gone.” He looks over at Gage and me as if surprised on somelevel.
“You think she’s dead?” My throat constricts at the thought of those monsters hurting a single hair on her head. “God, I never thought they’d be so cruel, so swift with their deranged experimentation.” But a part of me decries the idea. Of course, I did. We expected death. Did we honestly believe they’d let them rot for years in those cages? Yes, a very real part of me did believe justthat.
“I didn’t either.” Logan grimaces. “But there’s not a whole lot we cando.”
Gage gives my hand a tug, demanding that I look at him, a sheepish apology already flirting with hislips.
My eyes sharpen over his as the fury builds in me. “How dare you leave me behind like some helplesskitten.”
“Skyla.” He implores me with that desperate tone. “The boys neededyou.”
“My people needed me. My daughter needed me. The boys slept through the wholeordeal.”
“Because I got you the hell out of there.” He leans in, and I can tell my opposition frustrates the living hell out of him. As his doesmine.
“Let’s get one thing straight.” I pluck my hands free. “You are not my master. You may never incarcerate me against my will no matter what the circumstances. I am the one charged to keep my people safe—one of which is you. You mayneverdefy me again. I absolutely forbidit.”
Logan flinches as if he were suddenly a third wheel. “Hash this out at home, kids. We need a solution right now. No matter what—my daughter is getting outtonight.”
“I agree.” The brief tour with Demetri runs through my mind. “And that’s why we’re going to take care of this right this fucking minute.” I look up at my husband. “We’re going toTenebrous.”
“Tenebrous?” Gage steps back, the storm clouds already brewing in hiseyes.
“We’re feeding the feds the Videns.” I look to Logan. “You and I will free therest.”
Logan searches the vicinity as if seeking out an answer. “I’m in. I’m willing to storm Raven’s Eye, but how the hell are we getting those cells to open up? I’m not sure if our strength will be enough. They know what we’re capable of, and I’m sure they’ve takenprecautions.”
“Stop.” Gage cuts the air with his hands. “Nobody is touching theVidens.”
“I am,” I’m quick to inform. “They feel nothing. My people feel pain. They’re virtually indestructible. They’ll occupy the government for years and fill ten facilities the size of Raven’s Eye. We’ll flood them with hundreds, two for each of the dead, and then we’ll slowly feed them the rest. If this works, we can keep the government off our asses for decades. It’s an easy and necessary fix.” My breathing is labored, my nostrils flaring with every other word because everything in me knows this will be anything but easy. Gage is the Videns’ leader. Of course, there will be some resistance, but he has to agree. I’m right on everycount.
“No.” He pulls me in gently. “Skyla”—those dark brows of his knot with worry—“I’ve promised their families I’d keep them safe, that I’d get Ezrina to work onrestoration.”
“She can’t restore them. She’s tried. She’s not capable. Not yet, anyway. It’s not happening. Gage we need them. They’re our onlyhope.”
The cords in his neck distend as he tries to digest this. “Let the volunteers finish theirassignment.”
“No!” both Logan and I say inunison.
His eyes sharpen over mine in a manner I never want to grow accustomedto.
“Why are you glaring at me?” My voice is curt and tight as I step in close to my husband as if I were about to deck him, and I’m tempted ashell.
“Because those are my people and you’re trying to undercutme.”
A stillness rises between us, nothing but the heavy sound of ourbreathing.
“You are my subject, Gage. You are my people. I am the one in authority around here, and I need to do what is best.” Our eyes remain locked in an incredulous stare with neither of us backing down—the both of us in disbelief. “Look”—I cup my palm over his cheek—“I know this is hard for you. And I’m sorry you’ve promised your people their loved ones back, but they belong to the Barricade. This istheirgame, Gage. And in this round,theylose.”
“No—not the Spectators, Skyla. You can’t have them.” His eyes widen withhorror.
Logan holds a hand out between us as if I were about to throw a fist at my husband, and Imight.
“Gage”—my voice comes out husky and anguished—“I’m sorry, but this ishappening.”
