Taryn starts crying in piteous little mewls.
“I could hear them screaming. Fern held her hand over my mouth so tight I could hardly breathe. As soon as it was clear, she shoved Sophie and carried me out of the school. We just ran. But they must have heard us.”
Her fingers tighten on mine.
“It’s okay, Taryn. It’s over, and you’re with us.” I don’t lie to her and tell her she’s safe; that would be ridiculous right now.
“Sophie tripped and injured her ankle. Fern shoved her into a basement. It happened so quickly. We just left her there. I don’t know if she’s okay or not. I couldn’t stop Fern; she carried me and shoved me into this building.”
Taryn shudders, her whole body trembling.
“What happened to Fern?” Mia asks.
“She said it wasn’t my time to die. Not yet. She said that she had to save me and that it was her honour.”
“I don’t understand,” I whisper.
Taryn shakes her head, gripping my hands and holding them tight. “She’s dead. She ran up the road, but not long after they came back, the Warden was riding his massive horse, and they were dragging her body through the streets.”
I sit back, disgusted. Every person we lose is precious; every loss is an ache and notches up the desperation. Have we reached the tipping point yet of no return?
Mordecai curses, but Legion gets up and walks to the window, standing in the shadows and watching the world outside.
Cat’s yowl and fight over the dead, and the caw of crows fill the night. I don’t hear the drums, but I don’t expect to.
“They’re drawing this out. Like a performance, one they are savoring. One last victory,” I muse. “It will be the most talked about year in the history of Foreen. The year they rounded up the last of the alphas and omegas and brought us here to end it all.”
I shift so I can lean against the wall; Jarek slides in on my other side. His deadly gaze focused on the window.
“Some performance,” he mutters.
“I’m going to go back for Sophie,” Legion announces.
“What? No!” Mia says and half-stands, reaching out as if to stop him. I see it then, her feelings for him. He gives her a polite smile but doesn’t respond to her in a way that would indicate he feels the same. Legion is a when it comes to his emotions.
“Someone has to go, and I know this place better than anyone. Plus, one person can escape easier than two.”
Cadel cocks his head to the side. “Don’t go alone.”
Jarek looks at me and grips my leg above the knee, squeezing slightly.
“Jarek,” I warn.
He shrugs and smiles wide. “Let me be a hero this once. Sophie needs us. If she can’t walk, she’s going to need to be carried.”
I growl and reach for him, but he dances out of my way.
“No!”
“If we aren’t back by tomorrow, we’ll meet you at the next one. Mordecai, do not stay here. Promise me,” Jarek demands.
“No, wait, you can’t go,” Mia says almost in a panic.
Taryn just looks up at Legion with pain-soaked eyes.
“I’ll see you soon, Kaida Keres. There isn’t a single beta on this planet that could stop me,” Jarek sings and blows me a kiss.
I open my mouth, but he’s already gone. Legion murmurs something in Mia’s ear. She nods once, resigned, and when he steps back, he gives me and Mordecai a long look.
