Ender appears beside me. I didn’t see him walk here. I didn’t see him arrive.
“Ender, make it stop,” I cry. “Help her.”
Chaos surrounds us as the Gifted and the rebels fight with their powers, shattering chairs and destroying the glass baubles and bouquets.
Mercy isn’t smiling or looking at me. My other half is not responding, and I don’t know how to fix it.
Everything hurts. It’s happening again. Someone I love is dying, and I can’t stop it.
“Ender, you have to save her.” I sob. “I can’t lose her. I can’t do this. Not again. Not again. Not again.”
I swore I would protect her, that I would keep her safe. I failed her just like I failed my mother. Why did I not use mypowers to stop this? What is the use of them if I cannot save the ones I love?”
My heart is splintering. I can’t breathe. I think I’m dying, but it doesn’t matter. Death is preferable to losing the one person whose been with me from the start.
Ender cups my face, thumbs swiping away my tears.
“I’ll make it stop,” Ender promises. “I can’t do this to you. I can’t hurt you.”
My eyes shoot open, and I’m in the drill hall. Panic slices through me. The medic rushes to me and plunges a needle into my arm. My breathing eases, and the dizziness fades. The numbing feeling is gone, and I can move my limbs again.
“Where’s my sister?” I ask hoarsely. “Where is she?”
“You’re fine, Warrick,” Ender calls from above. “Return to your seat.”
“Pass,” Orion calls.
He looks suspicious that I survived.
I sit down beside Flint, confused.
“What happened?”
“You went under like everyone else. There was a moment where you started seizing like Rigel, we thought you were going to die,” Flint whispers. “And then you just woke up.”
I blink, entirely confused.
“My sister, she…she was dead. I felt it.”
“Vale’s mind games.” Rei squeezes my shoulder. “It wasn’t real.”
Flint is called up next, and I give him a shaky smile.
I didn’t resist his illusions. I didn’t even realize anything was wrong. I failed that test. I wasn’t supposed to wake up from it.
Ender’s eyes are focused on Flint. We need to talk when this ends. I need to know why he saved me.
My mind drifts to that kiss. A shock of desire slices through me. Why did he show me that? Why did he make mefeelthat?
I hate that a part of me knows what it is like to be wanted by Ender Vale. To be the source of his rabid hunger.
It felt wicked and divine, all at the same time.
Everyone’s eyes are haunted after the test. Flint looks terrible, and Rei hasn’t spoken a word since she woke up from the trance.
I wait patiently, arms folded across my chest, as everyone filters out of the room. I give my friends a tight-lipped smile, promising to catch up with them later.
Ender takes his time coming down the stairs, fingers running through his hair. His biceps strain with the movement. I remember the weight of his body against mine, feel the ghost of his fingers digging into my flesh, and his teeth sinking into my throat. I absently touch the spot where his mouth just lay.
