She gives me a returning squeeze I choose to interpret as agreement. At my normal volume again, I fake enthusiasm. “Then let's get this show on the road!”
Taking a shaky breath, I close my eyes and focus, reaching deep and pulling on my bonds. Bright, tingly champagne bubbles rush up as I tug on my connection to Myles. Cool, rushing comfort enveloping me with Arson. Ledger's woodsy,steady strength. And Bellamy's electric current, sparking off of the other connections and supercharging them until every breath feels like I'm exhaling a static current.
Gripping the sphere tight, I scream.
Every frustration, every hope, every dream; I pour them all into the metal ball clutched in my hands. When my palms begin to heat, I dig deeper until I'm screaming, muscles trembling as I drop to my knees, throwing everything I have into the damn thing.
As I collapse onto my ass, I suck down several ragged breaths, pulling on the last vestiges of my strength to steal Sophia’s ice abilities.
I just hope it buys us enough time.
Chapter 31
Ever
Dane throws me back in my cell, the door slamming shut behind him. Thank god Skylar has swift reflexes, or I’d have bashed my skull open on the cement floor.
The heavy thud as Ledger throws himself at the transparent wall, spitting threats at my temporary roommate for touching me, is a comfort I was worried I’d never experience again.
“You’re okay.” Tears well in my eyes as I face the four of them in the adjoining cell.
Logically, I knew Dane would keep them alive to force me into complying with his insane demands, but I wasn’t sure what state they’d be in. Seeing them alive and pissed off enough to try and break through a wall to get to me? It’s a massive relief.
“Don’t worry, he’s not interested in me.” I pin Skylar with a look. “Tell them.”
He rolls his eyes, snatching the blanket off his cot and chucking at me before he lowers himself down on it again. “Even I’m not that much of an asshole to go after my best friend’s girl. Besides, I’m wise enough not to get attached to anyone or anything in this place; it’d just be used against me.”
Bellamy demands, “What’d he do to you?” palm slapping against the barrier between us.
I line my fingers up with his, noting the infinitesimal way his shoulders relax at the phantom touch. Filling them in on everything I’ve learned takes a solid ten minutes, and by the end of it, they’re pacing like caged beasts.
“Hey, it’s not so bad. Free drugs and rent; definitely not theworstplace I’ve had to spend the night in.”
The words are barely out of my mouth before I realize I fucked up.
“What do you meandrugs?” Ledger snarls.
My gaze darts to Bellamy and I cringe. “Sorry for thinking you were paranoid.”
His jaw tics. “Let me guess. He spiked your water with a bonding potion and is hoping you’ll claim the phoenix?”
I tap the side of my nose. “See? Your instincts are great, and we all suck for giving you a hard time. People suck.”
He grimaces. “Not that great. It’s how we ended up trapped in here; he drugged our breakfast.”
“Okay cool, so we were all idiots that walked right into the spider’s lair. Good to know it wasn’t just me.”
Shock is still taking its toll on Myles, his face pale and fingers restlessly drumming along his thigh. His gaze falls on Skylar. “Is that how he managed to kidnap you? Why didn’t you call me after you… I mean… do you like, respawn as a baby or something?”
Skylar snorts. “No, when a phoenix shifter dies, we’re reborn in our bird form. Stuck that way for a couple of weeks before our human half is healed and developed enough to shift back. I tried to track you down after that day, make sure you were okay. Side note; fuck you for not letting on you were a myst before then, you dick. Things would have been so much easier if I didn’t have to keep secrets from you.” With a reproachful glare, he continues,“But you vanished without a trace. Nocturne bagged me flying around campus trying to find you and I’ve been here ever since.”
Seeing the guilty look on Myles’s face, I lock eyes with Ledger, silently pleading, and he comes through in spades, cutting through the heaviness of the conversation. Playfully nudging his shoulder, he teases, “A long lost brother, fated mate,andyour best friend back from the grave? What’s it like to be the Fates’ favorite?”
Incredulous, Myles gestures at the walls surrounding us. “I’d agree if we weren’t literally standing in a prison cell right now, cut off from our powers, and at the mercy of a mad man that’s been hunting our mate right under our noses.”
Bellamy continues running his palms along every inch of their cell, specifically, the wall with the door, likely searching for a panel he can pry free to get into the wiring. “At least he only wants Ever for her powers and skills, not romantically. With me also being a mimic, and Myles’s capabilities, we should be able to shift his attention onto us and away from her.”
Arson’s eye twitches as he goes to spin his knife out of habit, forgetting that he was stripped of his weapons before being thrown in his cell. “Screw the long con, I don’t need a weapon to snap his neck. Next time he opens the door, I’ll handle it.”
