There’s a standoff, neither of us moving. But then he stomps his foot down, causing the ground to shake and creating a crack between me and the bag. He bolts toward it, his arms outstretched, commanding vines to wrap around the handle.
But I’m faster.
I throw three shadows in his direction. One wraps around his legs, tripping him, and I relish in the sickening crunch his nose makes when he lands. Another makes quick work at tearing the vines off the bag, and the last snags the handle, carrying it safely over to me.
“Callum?”My eyes blow wide. Kallie’s cautious voice soothes all the wounds too deep to see.
“Yes, Princess?”While I wait for her response, I secure the bag and drag 306 high in the air by his ankles.
“Nefarium,”is all she whispers. But I want more. More of her voice, more of her words, moretime.But that is all I get. Not even a chance to say goodbye.
I drop 306, uncaring what he does now that I have the serums. As he rises, he releases a manic laughter that causes my hackles to rise.
“You almost had me,” he says, shaking his head. “You don’t give me enough credit.” My eyebrows pull together with confusion, but in an instant, he vanishes out of thin air. Shadows take their mark, ready to attack when he shows his face. There isn’t even a shift in the air as he appears behind me, and I only know he’s there once the needle pricks me in the side of my neck.
I catch sight of the liquid in the tube before it’s all gone. Blue. “What is that?” I snarl, dropping the bag and ripping the syringe out of my flesh.
“A contingency plan. You don’t think I was stupid enough to keep all of them in a bag, do you?”
“Yes, actually.” Whatever he gave me acts fast, but not nearly as fast as the green.
He takes a few steps closer, and I try to fight off the poison. “Where are we headed next?”
I manage to push out a choked laugh. “Why would I tell you?”
“Because I asked so nicely.”
“I’m not telling you anyth—”
“Where are we headed next?” he repeats, cutting me off.
The word almost slips out, but I hold it in. He repeats himself over and over again, chipping away at the barrier. “I’m not—”
“Where are we headed next?” For some unknown reason, that’s the one that breaks me. Maybe it was exhaustion fanning, the working of the serum he served me, but I come undone at his question, my tongue loose, freely giving out information.
I mutter the one word I knew would destroy her, the one that would obliterate any remaining trust to bits. But it was against my will, not of my choosing, and I pray that she’ll understand. Pray that she’ll forgive.
“Nefarium.”
THIRTY-TWO
Kallie
Traveling has grown tiresome. The constant back and forth, never settling or being able to relax for even a day, is starting to weigh me down. Mentally and physically. I’m stuck in fight-or-flight, and if I’m not careful, sometime in the very near future, my body is going to drop from shock.
Out in the distance, it’s barely visible, but when the light hits it just right, the shimmering iridescent barrier comes into view. My shoulders slump, and dread quickly fills me because I’m almost out of time.
Focus on the task at hand,Voraxis says softly, clearly listening to my thoughts.
What exactly is the task?When he doesn’t respond, all the resentment I’ve been harboring bubbles to the surface.What are we even fighting for?
It’s simple, Firebird. It may not seem like it, but at the foundation, the choices are clear. And know I will support youin whatever decision you make.
This is off to a great start.
The hard truth is, you’re fighting for your life. For the lives of everyone in Siderium. I understand it’s heavy. Everything fell onto your shoulders in the span of a short time. But trust me when I say, if you want to leave and never come back, that’s what we’ll do.Tears brim my eyes at his confession.Where you go, I go. No questions asked. Even if I don’t agree, I’m always on your side.
Sniffling back the snot caused by all his sappy words, I soak them in and reflect. Written between the lines of everything he said…it’s about morals. Morally I can’t abandon the people of Siderium, leave them basically defenseless when I have the power to stop it.
