“Don’t pretend like you’re above disfiguring people, Hadez. I’ve seen you kill. You’re no better a man than my asshole ex.”
“I might have blood on my hands, but not any of my girlfriends’.”
“Lucky them,” Quinn mutters, staring out her window at the small airstrip ahead.
The sight of the family jet tosses me back to my last visit to the Vineyard for Calanthe’s birthday. We’d come here with the family—minus Malachi, who was still wandering the seven continents.
Some people wished upon shooting stars; I’d wished upon my best friend’s celebratory fireworks. I’d bade Gaea and the heavens to make Malachi fall madly in love with me. If my wish had come true, would Reeve still have come into my life?
The backs of my lids flare with scenes from last night. I force them away by picturing the navy sky exploding with glittery color, and Calanthe coming to sit beside me on the swing bench I’d spent the better part of my night warming, a beer bottle clutched in hand.
She and I had discussed everything and nothing until I’d dared mention my wish. Though Calanthe hadn’t grimaced, she also never encouraged my crush. It’s like she knew Malachi and I weren’t destined for one another.
And not because Reeve and I are. Clearly, we’re not. Maybe I’m not destined for anyone. Maybe I’m bound to be an immortal spinster with only my book boyfriends as faithful lovers.
Reeve’s earlier words slam back into me.Wanting you was never one of my lies.Ugh. Hisdeclarationlie stirs my writhing insides until my gut feels more twisted than this situation.
We park at the same time as Gael, but he’s out of the car before we are.
At the sight of him, Quinn gasps and spins her head toward Reeve. Our detainees don’t have to speak for me to understand the panic charging across their minds.
“You’remyhostages, not Gael’s,” I say, as Malachi exits the driver’s side and opens Quinn’s door.
“Is that your way of promising you’ll keep our heads attached to our bodies?” The cynicism in Quinn’s tone is softened by an undercurrent of fear that curls up one side of Malachi’s mouth.
How odd. Though Malachi loathes Holy Hunters as much as the next Atlantean, he’s not the type to get off on people’s distress…unlike so many others among us.
He pops Quinn’s seat belt buckle. “Tarian’s been waiting for Gael to slip, so it’ll make his day if he tries anything.”
I’m aware there’s no love lost between my adoptive family and my biological one. I’m also aware that Gael is somewhat lawless. But what Malachi is alluding to ices the blood in myveins, because Tarian has the power to not only strip my father of his magic but also of his immortality.
Dread forms in the pit of my stomach, and even though Gael and Alexander behave on the plane, barely addressing Quinn and Reeve, my anxiety doesn’t wane. It only festers as we pull into Tarian’s estate and situate our prisoners inside separate quarters down in the basement.
“I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you,” Malachi says as he joins me by the front door of Tarian’s mansion.
I neither nod nor lift my stare off the gleaming SUV flying up the long driveway, spitting decorative pebbles left and right. “What if this is a Trojan Horse?”
“What do you mean?” Malachi leans against the outsized doorframe and crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“What if they didn’t put up a fight because their capture is part of some bigger, elaborate scheme?” I murmur.
“Then I welcome their elaborate scheme—especially if it leads Caruso’s heirs to our doorstep.”
“We’d be outnumbered.”
“They’d be outmagicked.”
“Don’t be cocky, Mal. Holy Hunters aren’t some puny, disorganized rebel group; they have weapons that can neutralize us.” I jump when he touches my shoulder, causing his fingers to slip.
“I realize you’re still raw about Rafferty’s deception, but you aren’t alone in this, Elle. You’ve got me.” The sunset tangles with his blond locks and gilds his soft blue eyes.
A slamming car door drags my gaze off Malachi and onto a hulking male with circles so purple they resemble bruises.
I take a step in Dorian’s direction, but stop when a second person circles the car.
Chapter 50
Electra
