Rue lifted his head, his beautiful blue eyes glassy but trying—trying—to focus on me.
“Adelaide…?” His voice was racked with pain.
I lost my breath. This man knew nothing about me. He hadn’t even known my mother was pregnant with me before they were separated.
“Not Adelaide…I’m your daughter… Reverie.” I spoke in a quiet voice, knowing just what a shock this was going to be to him, and frankly, he looked like he’d been through enough.
Trent stood over Rue like a proud magician revealing his final trick. “You see?” he whispered, crouching beside him. “Alive. But not for long unless she comes with me.”
“We don’t have a choice, Reverie.” He turned to Tanya.
She shook her head violently. ‘No, this is wrong—this is?—”
“If you don’t,” Trent said softly, “Rue dies on this floor.’
Rue swayed, wheezing but never taking his eyes off me. “Reverie… my sweet baby—” The look on his face was pure loss and devastation. “My life isn’t worth anything he’s asking of you.”
Trent trailed a finger down Rue’s spine, shadows sparking beneath his touch.
Rue arched with a groan.
“STOP!” I shouted.
Trent grinned and winked at Tanya, “If you don’t do this, I’ll end your men. You know how effortless that would be for me.”
Tanya sobbed, looking between Razor and me with complete sorrow, and I couldn’t stand to see it. “Do it. You can’t lose Razor.”
The green glow began to form in her hand. “I’m sorry…” she whispered as a tear fell down her cheek.
Trent came back around to me and reached out a finger, dissolving my cuffs.
I took the opportunity to call fire to my hands, but when I started to burn him, my ability just fizzled out. It was almost like now that we were bonded, I couldn’t hurt him. I brought up my knee and threw a punch at his throat simultaneously, but neither landed.
He threw back his head and laughed. “I do so love your spirit, little Bellator.” He grabbed me around the waist. “Now, Tanya, I don’t want to wait any longer.”
“Please forgive me.” She raised her hand and closed her eyes. The green glow spread from her palm and enveloped us both.
I felt my heart break, and I knew things would never be the same. Too late, I connected this to the dream I’d had months ago, never realizing it had been a warning from the Ancestors.
A BOOM shook the chamber.
The torches guttered.
The shadows recoiled like something huge had just stepped into the room.
Tanya’s magic flickered out.
Trent went rigid.
The door blasted inward?—
—Ubel Brummond stormed in with six Dark Faction guards behind him, blade drawn and crackling with energy.
“TRENT!” Ubel roared. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”
Right behind him, Selene, pale hair wild, eyes glowing with lethal fury. “If you think we’re letting you undo years of containment of that man—” she hissed, pointing at Rue. “—you’ve finally gone insane.”
Trent straightened, shadows coiling around him like living armor. “Oh,” he smirked in amusement, “I’ve been insane for a very, very long time. His serum saw to that.” He motioned at Rue, who looked horrified at everything taking place. “But no worries, I’ve found my Nexus, and together we’re going to fix everything wrong with our world.”
