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“This is the one,” the Stalker said with a scowl.
Whart hummed, limping toward her on an old aluminum prosthesis. The power he carried radiated off him like an echo of every soul lost by his hand.
“Where is the incarnation?” he asked her.
Lily blinked, surprised. He was looking for Luka too? If the Swarm didn’t have him, then who did?
In her silence, the Stalker moved forward and threw a fist into her gut. Lily crumpled, vision and hearing rolling with the pain, but she was yanked upright with a telekinetic hold.
“What about your men, hm?” Whart asked with a grin. “Where are those rats hiding?”
Lily stayed silent.
A foot slammed into the back of her knee, dropping her to the ground once more. “I’m afraid your body is no longer of need and will not see the sacred grounds of the Failish mountains or taint my hands.” He pulled out a ghosted pistol and thrust the barrel against her temple. “Collect the Wraith and take it back to town hall.”
Lily trembled, defeated, but even with imminent death on her tongue, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of groveling. At least a plasma shot would be less painful than having her soul torn from her body. Tears for Xavier welled thicker. For Luka…
The ignition of Whart’s pistol deafened her ears. She gasped, expecting everything to go black and—
Nothing. The gun sat against her temple, though now Whart was trembling like he was fighting for control over it.
“I wouldn’t kill her yet, if I were you.”
Fear shot straight to her core at the sound of the familiar voice.
Neir.
Whart expelled a heavy breath, the crinkle of his tightening leather gloves filling her ears. “Kill him.”
“Why? I found the incarnation.”
Lily’s stomach twisted with sickened solace. Was Luka here? She resisted the urge to lift her head, afraid they’d kill her if she made any unexpected movements.
The cool of the metal didn’t leave its spot, but Lily could feel Whart shift. “You located their camp?”
“I took it upon myself to accomplish what you could not. A little recognition would be appreciated.”
A growl rumbled within the general. “Disappearing without notice is enough to deem you an insubordinate without mentioning you hid what you discovered from me.”
Neir located Luka without informing Whart. What did he gain from disobeying his leader?
The gun against her head lifted. Lily twisted slightly to see Neir cutting around pieces of the carriage she blew up earlier with Luka glued to his side. A tall Failish woman with copper hair she didn’t recognize stood at his right. He stopped, Luka’s collar tight in his fist.
Lily combed over the boy, noticing him cradling one of his hands, tears staining his cheeks. When he finally found her, she tried to comfort him with her gaze.
Whart thrust a hand forward. His escorts advanced on Neir, who coolly stepped back.
“Hand him over, duplicate,” Whart demanded.
Neir, who up until that point seemed calm and collected despite being disrespectful to his superior, scowled as if Whart insulted him. “I have earned the highest respect by giving up a part of myself so he can remain in such high regard for you immortals. Do not dwindle my existence down to being a copy of Alister.”
“You’re a defective copy,” What snarled. “That’s the only explanation for your betrayal here today. Alister should’ve bled you dry after you let the boy escape the first time.”
“There is no betrayal. All I wish is to hand over Luka personally to make up for my failure in Reave. To serve my Master. If not”—Neir’s hand latched onto Luka’s neck, forcing a cry from the boy—“I can return the Guardian to Caine, but he will be without a reliable source of blood to wield it.”
Terror clawed through Lily so fast spots obscured her vision. “No!” she yelled in time with Whart’s protest.
Neir’s red eyes landed on her, not releasing his grip, even as Luka scratched at his hand. She had no idea what was going on—why Neir was behaving so erratically or why he mentioned Caine or Luka’s blood. All of the information flitted to the back of her mind while her focus remained on Luka’s wellbeing.
