My smirk is immediate. That’s the first time Yemi’s fiery side has made such an appearance and I’m here for it. Her eyes may still be all weird and tender, but her fear is also potent, and she’s done being the sweet patient one.
He stares at her. Hard. I can’t tell if he’s furious or impressed, but I see the wheels in his mind turning.
“I have a do-not-kill order on me. Decree of my father. He can’t have his little clone dying unless he’s doing the killing. I’m to fight every week, but that’s purely for entertainment. I only get two teammates because of the pain I can inflict. It levels the fighting field. If I’m severely injured, I’m to be healed. If my team were to win, they can go free, but I’m to remain. I’m not here by choice. This is my punishment for my crimes. My do not kill order was lifted. When they announce us in the ring, they’re announcing that as well.”
I’m stunned frozen and my mouth gapes open.
The fathers of the Abandon are pieces of shits and absolutely brutal.
“Well, that’s incredibly fucked up and I’m sorry you have a dickhead for a father. And not to sound insensitive to what you just said, but what does that have to do with us?”
“It doesn’t strike you as strange that I’ve been here for years, trapped in this hell, fighting for other people’s lives, and the day you two show up—drugged apparently—for a fight, the do not kill order is lifted. He’s always sworn this is where I’d be stuck if I didn’t swear my allegiance and rejoin the Abandon. I’vedone no such thing. Opposite actually. Last week after the fight, I vowed to kill him if I ever saw him again.”
Shit. Yeah, something’s adding up. I just don’t know what.
I have my suspicions the God of Obliteration has something to do with this because who else would pull some shit like this, but I don’t know. That doesn’t entirely make sense to me either. Why jeopardize my life now when he has plans for me and the guys if we fail to retrieve the Binding?
My head shakes as I focus on Sevryn. “I don’t have an explanation for you. At least not one that will make sense. It could be completely coincidental that this happened to you because of your threat and to us because of the shit we’ve got going on outside of here, but I don’t know. All I know is, we have to survive long enough for my Valtrue to show up, so any helpful advice would be appreciated.”
I slam my eyes shut as light blinds me in every direction. Yemi’s forehead bashes into mine when we turn into one another and grip each other to hold ourselves steady.
At first, it’s bright but silent aside from our hissing and groaning, then noise erupts. It becomes so loud, I wince from the sudden onslaught.
“Shit, that happened faster than I thought,” Sevryn growls as he spins around and steps back until he’s nearly pressing us into the brick wall.
“Damn it, Thayla, you nearly knocked me out.”
“Um, same. You turned into me as well, you know?”
“Are you okay?” he asks, peering over his shoulder at Yemi. I shoot them both a glare as they stare at one another.
“I’m fine, thank you,” she says sweetly, and I scoff. “Sorry, are you okay as well?”
“Brilliant. This is the best date of my life. I really appreciate the two of you including me.”
She gives me a saucy-ass smirk that I don’t appreciate as she leans in. “I want to preface this by saying, you’re looking too much into this because I’m being nice, but just so you know, this is how I feel when it’s only you, me, and Kyzen.”
My face falls and my throat closes at his flirty smile and energetic laugh that rings in my ears. The phantom caress of his fingers skimming across my bare chest as we lie in my bed makes my heart feel like it’s being squeezed to death.
We’re really in Hell.
I’m about to have to fight for our lives and I won’t die as long as they find me. When and if they find me. But what about Yemi?
If there’s one thing I’ve perfected over the years, it’s the ability to shove shit to the back of my mind and fake it however I need to, to be okay. Right now, I’m finding that to be impossible as the noise continues to get louder.
Up until this point, isolated in our quiet bubble, I’ve been able to think clearly. I could focus on whatever came out of Sevryn’s mouth. The reality of the situation we’ve found ourselves in is becoming too real. The thoughts of them and Yemi are only making it worse.
What if I can’t protect her while we wait?
What if the guys don’t get here in time?
What if my soul can’t pull them all the way here? What if V can’t hear me even past the barrier, so he won’t be able to warn them?
What if I never hear Kyzen’s laugh again, feel Amick’s lips on my forehead, better yet, our first real kiss? More than that.
What if I never get to tell Creed I know the truth and I don’t fear him? I’ll never fear him or judge him for whatever he’s had to do.
What if I never get to tell Riven that I know he plays this back-and-forth shit with me because he’s scared of both rejection and commitment, but I’ll never reject or try to change him?
