Would I use my abilities on the one person I used to trust?
Yes.
After everything he’s put me through, one thousand times over.
“Then how does this work?”
His eyes darken when I don’t deny the idea of using my magic on him, but I don’t bother to mention the likelihood of it actually working right now.
“Get down on your knees, hands behind your head,” he commands, and my gaze drifts to Ocean’s as she shakes her head frantically from side to side.
She doesn’t deserve this.
I said before I left Institute Thirteen that I didn’t want others getting harmed because of me, but I especially meant those I care about. That’s a category she undoubtedly falls into.
I drop to my knees with a thud, keeping my palms up as I move to lace my fingers behind my head, but before I can lean forward as he ordered, Walker snarls.
“You would throw it all away for her?”
I frown in confusion, blinking at him as I freeze in position.
“In a heartbeat.”
His face scrunches in disgust. “You would fall back under Jude’s control to save some random witch you’ve known for two minutes?” he reiterates, clearly not content with my first answer, so I nod.
“Yes.”
“Why?” he snaps, his grip on Ocean somehow tightening, which makes my pulse quicken in my ears.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“You do if you want me to free her instead of taking her back to Jude with us as permanent leverage,” he warns, and I sigh, dipping my head as I try to steady my breathing. When I lift my head back up, I startle to find he’s cut the distance between us, Ocean still in his grasp, but now he’s only a foot or two away.
“Because she doesn’t deserve to be hurt because of me. Not when she’s repeatedly been selfless.”
“Anyone can pretend to be those things,” he snaps back, and I scoff.
“Just because you did, doesn’t mean she’s the same.” I cock a brow at him, which only seems to anger him more.
He looks ready to combust with rage, and I’m eager to tip him over the edge so I can attack. Like hell is he hurting my friend, and he sure as fuck isn’t taking me back to that lunatic.
To my surprise, though, instead of lashing out and attempting to obliterate us, he releases Ocean, shoving her to her knees so she’s on the ground beside me. With my gaze still trained on his, I drop my hands and reach for her, yanking at her t-shirt to shove her behind me.
Ready for his attack, my breath lodges in my throat when he strokes a hand down his neck, letting out a frustrated sigh.
“What are you doing?” I ask when he turns away, stalking back and forth three steps in each direction.
His eyes find mine, emotions I’m not sure I can decipher right now flashing before me as his jaw tics.
“This is your only chance,” he breathes, his words barely more than a whisper.
I frown, locked in position as he pulls out his cell phone, tapping away for a few moments before he slips it back into his pocket and brings his gaze back to mine.
“What are you still doing there? Run.”
Launching to my feet, I wrap my hand around the handle of the sword and blindly reach for Ocean at the same time. I manage two backward steps before he calls my name and I freeze.
“You sacrifice everyone and everything apart from yourself the next time this moment arises. I can’t do this again.”
