Page 181 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘Lazorevy is a nickname. What you are is a kind of… mm, a siren. You have power over water, and people are made of water, so you have power over them too. Only humans, though.’

Thoroughly lost, Kade stares at Lachlan.

He’s staring at nothing, very still.

‘You said I was a Brightling.’

‘You… you are. The things that happened in the Estate—’

‘Lock, come on,’ Vasily groans, friendly enough but with genuine frustration. ‘You cannot be so blind.’

‘Messing with electronics and calling storms are Brightling traits!’ Lachlan argues, whirling around.

Vasily sighs.

Kade can’t even begin to piece together what it means.

He’s stuck on one word.

Sway.

‘What does that mean? Power over people?’

‘You control water like the moon. I am not best to explain,’ Vasily admits. ‘Blaire knows everything. You should ask her.’

‘Why does she know?’ Lachlan asks, slightly hoarse.

‘Because she is one.’

‘No. No, no, no, this is bullshit. Silly, you knew Julian. He wasn’t—’

‘Lock, listen.’ The tall man’s voice turns sharp and serious for the first time. ‘Listen now. I know is hard for you, but you are blind to much. Jules is a Sway. He can control people with his voice, his speech. It is called Vox. Vox is the power. Sway is the kind. This is why Jules knew to run, don’t you see? This is why he had to get away. If Alistair possessed his body with his power… the damage such a man could do with that power is too much.’

‘Jules would have told me.’

‘Jules wanted to protect you.’

‘That was my job! My job to protect him and Mimi from anything bad, from harm, from death,’ Lachlan croaks, voice breaking.

Vasily surveys him with no small amount of pity, placing a hand on his shoulder. ‘You did what you could.’

Quietly, Riley says, ‘Some deaths don’t draw blood.’

Lachlan stares at him with wide eyes, lips parted to speak before something in the air shifts and tightens.

Everyone but Vasily looks at Kade’s radio.

‘Someone’s trying to blanket the band,’ Lachlan says, shaking himself.

‘We need to go,’ Vasily says.

‘Is it more Resets?’

‘Probably. We still need to talk.’

‘No, we’re done.’

‘Harker, we must talk. If you will agree to the alliance—’