It’s an impossible question, one I have no answer for.
—
At some point,I fall into a restless slumber. I only know this because at some point, someone attempts to rouse me, whispering my name and shaking my shoulder, until I slowly crawl out of the numb haze enveloping me.
As soon as I see my sister lying motionless on the cold stone floor, as soon as I remember the look in Callum’s eyes when I told him I don’t love him, as soon as the vision of Dom’s lifeless body floats behind my eyes, I wish I could fall back asleep.
“Fucking hell, Cate, if you don’t wake the fuck up right now I am going to gut you myself.” Tes’s voice is harsh and instantly recognizable.
I sit up, rubbing the sleep and disbelief from my eyes. “Tes? What are you doing here?”
“Saving your ass,” Meri replies from across the room, where she is helping Bianca stand, her muscles cramped from so long on the hard stone.
“I don’t understand.”
Tes scoops her arms under mine, yanking me to standing. “We’re getting you out of here.”
“Who’s we? And why?” I hate that my first instinct is to be suspicious. Of course my friends should want to help me escape the tyrannical woman who’s holding me hostage, but they haven’t exactly been on my team in this battle.
“All of us from the club.” Meri leaves Bianca resting against the wall before going to help Rosa hoist Andra from the floor. Once Rosa has Andra situated in her arms, Meri returns to Bianca’s side. “We don’t have much time.”
Tes tugs me toward the door, but I drag my feet. “Why should we trust you now?”
The three women exchange a look. “We overheard Lady M talking,” Tes finally admits. “We heard her plans to kill Harold.”
I nod, a sad wave of understanding cresting over me. “So you’ll come to his defense, but not mine. Not Andra’s.”
“We didn’t know how bad it had gotten,” Rosa says quietly.
“I tried to warn you.”
“We know,” Tes says harshly. “But would you rather fight over who was right, or get out of here and get some help?”
That question, at least, has an easy answer. I make for the door, leaning on Tes when my limbs start tingling as they awaken.
When we reach the hall, Tes doesn’t move toward the front of the stone fortress, instead making her way in the opposite direction, leading us down halls that echo with silence.
“Where is everyone else?” I whisper when I spot an archway leading to the outdoors.
“We’re staying here,” Tes replies, her voice tight.
I stop in my tracks. “What do you mean you’re staying here? I thought you realized what’s going on.”
“I don’t think you realize what’s going on, Cate. She’s building an army. She’s gathered enough Gifted to be able to wipe out a battalion of seasoned soldiers in mere minutes. She doesn’t know we know her plans, and right now, it makes more sense for us to remain on the inside.”
I lean in the stone archway, gathering my strength. I’m going to have to walk the rest of the way on my own. “Callum is going to come for her. He’s not going to let her get away with this.”
“He will be sorely outnumbered,” Meri warns.
I nod, trying to make sense of the conflicting thoughts whirring through my brain. I need to warn him, but I know it’s highly likely he isn’t going to trust my word. And why should he? I have done nothing but scheme and betray him. I broke his heart and got his sister killed, and yet, as I consider our options, where we might go where Andra will be safe, there is only one place that comes to mind.
If what Callum told me is true, Harold is there, and if Andra’s vision is true, he’s alive.
Rosa deposits Andra on her feet, slinging one of her arms aroundmy neck and the other around Bianca’s. I have no idea how we are going to manage escaping the grounds without being seen.
“We cleared the way for you, but you don’t have much time,” Tes instructs. “Get as far away as you can, as quickly as you can.”
I nod, looking between the three women I consider sisters. “I don’t like leaving you here.”
