Page 352 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

‘I already explained.’

‘It’s either bogus or you’re stalling.’

‘Why don’t you try torturing me? That might make you feel better. Or you could just kill me. End the connection, cut your losses after searching for me for so long. Four days until the moment of truth, little one,’ he says to Vasily. ‘Can you wait that long? Can you hold on tight for the return of your long-lost big brother?’ He laughs again, his fingers flexing. ‘Brother, brother. It’s always brothers, isn’t it? Do you not see that you are living out his shadows, replaying them through time? Silly little pieces on a custom board.’

‘You’re a shadow too, then?’

Roman’s gaze sharpens instantly. ‘I am his echo.’

‘You’re a mind-controlled subject,’ Lachlan informs him, ‘and in four days, we’ll get the real Roman back.’

‘Four days is a long time. What number sits under your skin, Lock?’

Lachlan hesitates only a beat before lifting his shirt.

The moon holds a single numeral. I.

Tomorrow night is the full moon.

But they have the page now.

Blaire is helping.

Kade won’t let this ritual take him.

He won’t.

‘I do not think you will be around to see your Ro again. He would have loved to tell you it wasn’t your fault, that he admired you, looked up to you, that you made him want to be brave. Such a shame, because Echo One can only give you facts, and the facts are that you let him die rather than risk a single scratch on your precious boy, who, by the way, was too young, too naïve and vulnerable to any act of kindness or attention. Your romance was trauma bonding, and Roman Sorrenko died for it. Those are the facts.’

‘Tell us some more, then,’ Kade invites.

‘Such as?’

‘Did Penhalyx always know what Julian was?’

‘Of course he did.’

Lachlan asks, ‘Why doesn’t he just come and get him?’

‘The geomantic anomaly above and around Varrow City. You cannot leave, but he cannot enter. There has been no way to get you to him, nor him to you. He cannot come inside. You could not be dragged out, and as I said,’ he adds slyly, looking Kade up and down, ‘there are other complications.’

‘Such as?’

‘The Greater Alchemy requires patience.’

‘Are you referring to magic?’

‘Being that I am not a child, yes.’

‘What does he need to be patient for?’

Roman smiles to himself.

‘A little usable chaos to reset the energy.’

‘You even speak like him,’ Lachlan observes with disgust.

‘The strings of fate are crossing. Syzygy moves in the deep dark above. Many things are about to coincide.’