I shake my head, not daring to open my mouth, because the words might come pouring out, and then how would I live with myself.
He lifts us out of the water and carries me back up the stairs. Right back to where I want to be, but exactly where I shouldn’t be. The air is cold, and I shiver, wanting to go back in the water where it’s warm, where I can scream until it takes me beneath the waves.
“Hey, Lirin!”
Lirin sets me down, his fingers still shackled around my wrist.
Deux is going to come for me. Or them. He will make them suffer if the terms of the agreement aren’t met.
The heat that has been sizzling in my blood blooms into the air around me. Lirin turns, and I can feel the deadly strength, that alpha scent gets richer and deeper.
I step back, pulling my wrist free.
It’s too late. I don’t get to say goodbye.
One chance. One shot.
But I am the only one who has survived him. I can do it again.
It’s going to hurt.
I’ve spent my whole life hurting, if there was anyone who could pull this off, it’s me.
“I wish I could see you,” I say. “Just once, I wish I could see what you looked like.”
“Mei?”
I shake him off, it’s harder than I expect.
“I don’t want to have my heat with you again. Fae,” I spit the words like it’s a slur. “Sirens. Whatever the fuck you are. I don’t want forgotten dragons and cursed fish to knot me. You made a deal with Deux!” I spit. “I will never forgive you.”
I can feel the smoky anger of Lirin’s temper igniting.
“Forgotten dragons?” Leaf says in a quiet voice that thunders like the roar of a distant wave.
“Deux? What does he have to do with this?” Ronit snaps.
“You’re going to trade me to that monster for your freedom? Black bands on the wrist with a knotted, interlocking pattern and a skull? That’s Deux’s mark.”
They are silent, listening, staring, shock, horror.
Slam it home, Healer. Destroy them.
“Yes. Forgotten. You all kidnapped me. You held me captive. No more.”
“Mei,” Stix says in warning.
“Shut up!” I scream at him. “Where wereyou? Wherewereyou?” I scream, and I don’t have to pretend. “I needed you. You were supposed to be the biggest, the baddest. I was too young, how could I have fought him off? Where were you when it could have helped? Why weren’t you there when I ran? For years, one step ahead of him?”
“Healer,” Puppy snarls.
“You could have stopped him,” I say brokenly. “You’re the Grim. Don’t you get it? You could have saved me.”
“It is not our way,” Puppy says, and I think there’s regret there.
“FUCK YOUR WAY! I’m not one of you. I’m not part of anyone.” Power spills out of me, but it’s broken and fractured, just like me.
“You’re an omega queen,” Diablos says in awe. “Mei, stop, we can help you.”
