And those words alone fuel me to do just that.
I charge out of the room to find Chloe there, arms folded across her chest, Marshall’s dress shirt draped around her like a dress.
“I want in on this.” She presses a hand to my chest. “I get to lead the charge. This was my destiny.”
“No, Chloe.” I push her away. “This is my destiny. We were working together until you reverted back to your twisted ways. I gave you an all-access pass to being my equal. And here I thought you had changed. I truly believed it, and then you had to go and get allChloeon me again.”
“Iron sharpens iron, Skyla,” she shoots back. “I couldn’t stand to know that you were the one who fate determined to lead the people thatIlove. You’re so damn weak and sniveling, I felt the need to do something to protect my people from your lunacy. I couldn’t fight fate, but I knew I could fight you. I was molding you, Skyla, to be the woman our people need you to be.”
I huff at the thought. “I don’t need you to get near me, and I certainly don’t need you to mold me into anything you need me to be. My life has been nothing but a hurricane on fire. If I’m coming out of one storm, I’m headed into the next. My own life has molded me into the woman I am today. And yes, I will be enough—I am more than enough to lead my people. You know, I can understand why Gage has made so many asinine decisions. He is the enemy. But you and I are the on the same side. So you can hold up a banner all day long that says you tormented me in so many creative ways over the years for the sake of our people, but I will never believe you. It was nothing more than petty jealousy on your part. Yes, people hurt you far before I ever came into the picture, but you carved out a nice little place at the top of the mean girl totem pole for yourself, despite the fact. And when I showed up on Paragon, and inadvertently toppled everything down, you couldn’t stand it.”
“I was dead. You brought me back.”
“My mother played her card. I would have declared a holiday on the anniversary of the day the Counts buried you at the base of Devil’s Peak. You have her to thank, not me. She brought you to Paragon.” A part of me wants to tell her that I’d like to send her right back to paradise, but I’ve softened. After living inside of Chloe Bishop’s skin, I’m no longer insolent at the sight of her. “Maybe I would have declared a holiday on the anniversary of that horrible day at one point, but I take it back. I don’t feel that way anymore, Chloe.” My eyes sweep over her, top to bottom. “Maybe one day you’ll feel differently about me, too.”
Downstairs, while the others mobilize for battle and Michelle vows to stay right here and cheer us on while sipping on a glass of wine, Logan and I stare one another down. I held his hand and told him about the vision and how it was obtained, and now we’re in this awkward place.
He shakes his head, his amber eyes searching me.
“Skyla,” he says it flatly. “I hold nothing against you. I know where you will be when this shakes out. With me. Besides, you are a stunning sight in that dress.” He offers a pained smile. “I’m still going to have to beat the shit out him.” He sighs. “But this isn’t about us, Skyla. It’s about the greater good of our people, of the world. And above that, do whatever the hell you have to do to get Gage to see the light. I want my brother back.” He leans in, a scalding look on his face. “This is it. No more chances. Do or die. And yes, millions of our people will die in a government-holding cell if this isn’t nipped in the damn bud. You have one moment.”
“No pressure.”
He shakes his head. “You have the weight of the world on your shoulders, Skyla. I am not going to sugarcoat this. Gage is tough as nails. He’s fighting for you—the kids. And you’re fighting for him with the exact same tenacity. Fire against fire.” He cups my face with his hand and brushes his thumb against my cheek. “I love you, Skyla Laurel Oliver.”
I clasp onto his wrist, assuring that he continues to hold my face in this sweet way.
“You are the great love of my life, Logan Oliver.” My heart wrenches with every word. “Gage is coming back to us. I don’t know how, or what I can possibly say to change his mind, but you’re right. This is it, do or die—or our people die.” I glance to the floor. “Or they leave us.”
Logan gives a sober nod. “Once and for all.”
My eyes widen a touch. “Rory locked them into a covenant. If they turn from Celestra, they’re bound to the Fems and can never come back.”
Laken and Coop stride up.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Laken sweeps her eyes over my body. “You look amazing, Skyla.” Her eyes are glassy with tears. “So this is it. Are you ready?”
I look to Cooper. “I’m ready. How about you?” Laken isn’t going out on this adventure. Cooper and Wes implored her not to put herself in danger for the sake of the children. And I suppose since anything can happen to Coop or Wes, it’s a prudent move.
Coop takes a breath and slaps Logan on the shoulder, inadvertently revealing his own wrist, spotted with welts.
“We’ve got this,” he says, looking every bit like Logan’s twin.
“Cooper.” I snatch up his arm and pull his sleeve back, exposing nothing but raw flesh. “Ezrina!” I shout, not waiting for Cooper to say a word. And judging by the fact Laken didn’t so much as let out a gasp, I’m assuming she knows about it all too well.
Laken runs a finger over his bumpy flesh. “You can’t stop him, Skyla. I’ve tried.”
Ezrina crops up and glances at him, nonplused. “I’m aware.” She needles Coop with a look. “What now?”
“Now nothing.” He pulls his sleeve down again. “Skyla, I’m fine. Ezrina is on the cusp of developing a vaccine for those who might be allergic to the serum.”
“Okay.” I take up his hand. “Cooper, if you’re feeling run-down at all, I beg of you to reconsider.”
“I don’t. I’m fine.” He gives my hand a squeeze before letting go. “I promise. In fact, I had Ezrina test my stamina. There is no way I’d want to go out as a weak link—I’ve got my kids to think about, too. If I wasn’t up to it, I wouldn’t do it.”
Ezrina bobs her head. “He is well. Cooper is one of the best. Godspeed.” Her lips lift a notch with the idea of a smile. “You will be a brave warrior today. Tomorrow I’ll draw more samples from you. The surge of adrenaline will do good for them.” She turns her attention my way. “We’ll have the supplemental vaccine available before the weekend. Now fight.”
Everyone around us piles into their cars, and I watch as they take off for Rockaway, armed with spirit swords, armed with their anger. If we can get Gage’s core army of Fems to materialize, I have no doubt they’ll enjoy the idea of getting physical with us. And then we’ll bind them. Logan, Wes, Brody, and Coop will take them to the Tenebrous Woods. And Ingram will hold them there in that desolate abyss.
