Chapter Thirty-Eight
Echo
“Rose is missing.” Phillip was pacing when I stepped into the training room where everyone was gearing up.
“They’ve got her at my old house. She’s going to be cut up to be set free.” I walked over to the wall of weapons and grabbed a few knives to stash next to my gun.
“What do you meanset free?” Draco was in my space, and he was beyond furious. Someone had his woman, and I knew he would do anything to get her back.
“God-mandated. It’s a type of serial killer that feels compelled to kill because he believes he’s following God’s orders. That’s what Robert Burke said, and it was right in front of my face this whole time. Nathan Bellmont is my serial killer, and he believes that God is telling him to bleed out the gifted people, to set their souls free. Slits on the forehead for demons, and cuts between the shoulder blades for angels. And he believes Rose is an angel that needs to be free.”
It was all making sense to me now. Robert and Nathan were together in this, I was convinced. I just wish I had the last puzzle piece of his story. Why him? Both men wanted people like us gone from existence.
“So, what’s the plan?” Lilith asked while zipping up her tight jacket, then began lacing up knee-high, badass boots.
“I go get her, and you all keep Seahill from destroying itself. You faced your fears with the drug, and I need you to do it again. Trust that I will protect Rose and get her back safe. I am the dream catcher of this world, and I’ll be damned if evil will take anyone else away from me.” I was focused and angry. They would not get away with this.
I could tell they did not want to do as I asked. They all wanted to rush in with me to save Rose, but the world needed something different.
“Be the heroes you are supposed to be, and keep the world from succumbing to the shadows. I will get her back. Trust me to be the hero you saw me to be,” I begged them, and I saw their acceptance, one by one.
Phillip and Draco were the last to give me a nod saying they understood, even though it was against every fiber in their being to not help me. But the best they could do for Rose right now is give her a city to come back to.
Asher spun me around and gave me no choice but to look into those brown eyes.
“I’m coming with you,” he said, and I shook my head.
“You need to help them. Save my city, Asher.”
He knew how much this city meant to me. It was my home and held everyone I cared about. People were rioting in the streets. People with gifts were lashing out because of fear, and people were reacting because of fear.
“You better come back to me,” he growled, and I knew he would stay despite everything roaring in him to protect his mate.
“The spirit of all the animals on planet earth are with me; I will not fail.” I pulled him down with a tug on his shirt and kissed him.
There were no goodbyes, because I would see them again.
We all believed in the good of mankind, even if it meant protecting them from destroying themselves.
My car waited for me like a badass steed, ready to race to my old home and save the day.
I didn’t know if the house would just contain Nathan, or if Robert was with him, too. But I was prepared for anything.
Punching the pedal to the metal, my car sped off toward the highway, away from my beloved city.
People were fighting and looting as I passed by some shops. Fear was taking over, and I prayed there was still enough time for the Hero Society to fix it. I didn’t know how, but I had faith that they could.
The drive felt like it lasted days instead of the forty-five minutes it took. The reservation was quiet, since it was around 1:30 in the morning. But the lights were on at my house as I parked beside a white Lexus, the car I’d parked next to when Nathan had tapped on my window that day.
Seeing the house did little to calm the restlessness inside me. But I put aside my emotions and walked up the porch and opened the door.
The room smelled like fresh lavender, and there was music drifting from the dining room area, along with the scent of food.
I drew my gun, ready to shoot first and ask questions later, when I came to the dining room table that was occupied by four people.
Rose, who had dried tearstains on her cheeks but was holding her head high. She only faulted in her confident appearance when she saw me walk into the light of the room.
“Ms. Cross. You are just in time. Have a seat.” Nathan gestured to the only open seat, at the head of the table.
