Page 22

Lily shot her elbow into Neir’s cheek. He recoiled, and while free, she grabbed the neck of his alcohol bottle, slamming it against his head. People gasped and gagged while Lily vaulted over the counter, pulling bottles off the shelves as she ran. Glass smashed to the floor behind her, the smell of the alcohol pungent for even her senses. She leapt over the counter at the bend, forcing her way through the mass of people and past eyes that strayed too long until she was surrounded by those that saw nothing.

Lily was forced to a stop by the wrist. Suspended tightly in space, she cursed, tugging on it as Neir shoved his way into the parting crowd, covering his nose with one hand, the other outstretched.

Shock ceased her fighting. He was the one holding her to the chair.

Two blessings? How was that possible? Souls were only ever allotted one, even after Valen’s conquest.

Neir pulled her slowly toward him, the invisible grip painfully digging deep into her muscles. Nearly back in his clutches, she saw his gaze flick to the side.

Neir dodged Xavier’s first punch but not the second. He uppercut his jaw, knocking him backward. Lily was freed. Screams echoed through the tight room as the club’s patrons scattered from the commotion. Neir grasped at his chin, rotten gaze combing over Xavier.

He won’t survive this. Lily grasped at his arm and tugged him toward the stairs. Xavier didn’t argue, backing away with her.

Neir violently shoved a passing woman into them and latched onto Lily’s shoulder with his invisible hold. She cried out, and Xavier acted. He lunged at Neir, and the connection was broken. Lily moved toward Xavier, who had put himself between Lily and Neir. He looked over his shoulder, panic strewn across his face.

“Get Rey!” he shouted over the noise.

She wavered, gaze falling to Neir calmly realigning himself just beyond the thickening crowd. A wave of fear rippled through her.

Rey… she could handle this. Her and Aarin. Her bag spun through her mind.

The pistol.

Lily bolted for the stairs. She clambered up the slick marble to a narrow hallway. A line of curious onlookers leaned over the edge of the balcony to watch the fight downstairs, Aarin’s servant being one of them. She tore into the room opposite.

Reina was perched on Aarin’s desk. He was relaxed in an arm chair, button-down shirt open at his chest. They both started when she burst in, hopping to their feet. Lily slammed the door with her back pressed against it, combing over the room for—

“Lily?” Reina asked. “What is… Aarin. Wait. Stop!”

Aarin shoved Lily to the ground before thrusting a small ghosted pistol in her direction. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

Aarin’s eyes were a storm—wild as any blue siren soul from the Allay. He was a big man, hovering over Lily with intention to harm. She gritted her teeth until she met Reina’s worried gaze.

“We need to leave!” Lily shouted at her.

“You’re not going anywhere until you give me a damn good reason!” Aarin spat.

Lily turned her attention to him. Despite his temper, he could be reasoned with. “Aarin—”

“I give you permission to step into my territory, and you repay me by making a—”

“There’s a Stalker in the club!” she shouted. Aarin’s soul crashed behind his eyes like a cascading wave, but his posture dropped. “He threatened Reina.”

That did it. “A Stalker? Here?” He frowned, glancing to the floor. “He spoke to you? What’d he say?”

“Damn it, Aarin, let me up! He’s attacking Xavier!”

Reina gasped. “Aarin! Get the damn gun out of her face!”

He glowered at Reina, then lowered it. His auburn hair, normally kept pulled back in a knot, was unravelling with strands dangling loosely in front of his face. Lily scooted toward the back of the room.

She snagged the bag, finding the escence missing and in its place, a second pouch of crescents, and deeper than that, her ghosted pistol.

“Lily.”

Reina was in front of her, the worry in her voice matching what Lily felt in her chest. She quickly examined the room. It was empty save for the table and the lounge opposite it. The only exit was the door Lily came through. Three of the walls were completely bare, the fourth made with frosted glass, and beyond, lay the crowded streets of the Flux.

“I’ll get Xavier,” she said. Lily wanted to leave—was ready to leave—but she couldn’t, knowing he was in danger. She had to help him first. “You find us a way out,” she told Reina. “I think he’s alone, but if he isn’t, let’s assume the entrance isn’t safe.”