“Whatever you’re about to say, I won’t believe you,” Alex told him boldly. “I don’t care about incapacitating blood or whatever, because I saw Zain only a few minutes ago. You wouldn’t have had time to attack him and then follow us through the Library.”
Aven smirked at her. “Are you sure it was Zain you saw?”
“Of course it was…” Alex closed her eyes when she realised just how well Aven had played them. “Skyla.”
“Yes, Skyla,” Aven confirmed. “Your friend has an impressive gift. If she wasn’t so simpleminded, I might have considered adding her to my collection.”
Alex quaked at his words, but he continued before she could say anything.
“Even without Claiming her, it wasn’t difficult to convince her to assist us, but she was a painfully slow student. We had to meet with her a number of times so she could learn her script, so to speak. Such a foolish child. But we managed to make her believe she was important enough for your Stealth and Subterfuge teacher to consider taking her on as an apprentice next year. She was under the impression that today’s events were a test to see how well she could remain in character as both Jordan and Zain.”
“Why are you telling me all this?” Alex asked, her heart racing at the rapidly darkening tone of Aven’s words.
“I thought you might appreciate the truth before you could no longer hear it from the source,” he said offhandedly. “The girl performed admirably, but she wasted too much of my time learning her role. And I… Well, my patience with her has reached its limit. Calista?”
It happened in a split second. Alex didn’t notice the command in Aven’s words. All she heard was a whimper and a crack, followed by the sound of Skyla’s lifeless body dropping to the ground.
“No!” Alex gasped, seeing Skyla’s face pressed into the snow, her neck bent at an unnatural angle and her empty eyes staring out into nothing.
All it had taken was one word from Aven and Calista had broken Skyla’s neck without lifting so much as a finger.
Alex glanced fearfully up at D.C. and Bear who were still trapped by Calista’s power. Tears were streaming down D.C.’s face as she stared at the girl on the icy ground, and Bear looked more haggard than Alex had ever seen him.
“Don’t you want to know how I managed to pull all this off?” Aven asked. “Even I, as brilliant as I am, couldn’t have fooled you without help. Aren’t you curious about Jordan’s role in all this?”
No, Alex begged him in her mind, already knowing that whatever he was going to say would bring him great joy and her great pain.
Please.
Don’t.
But Aven couldn’t hear her thoughts, and he continued, almost gleefully, “Aren’t you curious about how long your friend has been in my service?”
Alex felt her entire body stiffen with dread.
No.
“I don’t believe you,” she said. But she couldn’t help dragging her eyes back to Jordan’s scarily blank face.
“Dear, sweet child,” Aven purred. “Didn’t we already decide that denial is unhealthy?”
“You’re a liar, Aven,” she returned heatedly. “I know you. All you do is lie.”
His golden eyes flashed. “Watch your tone, Alexandra.”
She stared at him defiantly. “Make me.”
Alex watched Aven bury his rage beneath a relaxed smirk. “Jordan, tell Alexandra to be quiet.”
Jordan’s empty eyes stared straight through her as he opened his mouth and said, “Alexandra, be quiet.”
Alex felt her breath stutter at the sound of her friend’s dismissive monotone. “Jordan?” she whispered.
Jordan lowered his gaze again, his expression showing no emotion. Alex watched him for a moment before she turned her face up to capture Aven’s triumphant look.
“What have you done to him?” she demanded.
Please, please, let him only be drugged.
Aven tilted his head to the side as he stared at her, and then a smile broke out on his face. It quickly turned into a laugh. It took a full minute for him to calm down enough to gasp out, “Do you truly not know? How can you be so blind?”
She didn’t respond. She didn’t want confirmation of what she feared was true.
“Jordan, show Alexandra your hand so she can see my mark for herself.”
At his words, Alex had the answer to what she’d refused to believe. When Jordan raised his hand, the glowing scar across his palm was all the evidence she needed.
No.
“Release him, Aven.” Alex’s voice was unrecognisable to her own ears. It was as cold and hard as steel. “Let him go and I’ll allow you to leave this place. You can do whatever you want in Meya and I won’t stop you. I won’t tell anyone you’re here. Just let Jordan go.”
Aven laughed again. “What makes you think I’m keeping him here?”
That made Alex pause. “What are you talking about?”
“Jordan,” Aven said, his voice authoritative, “tell Alexandra how you came to be in my service. Give her every detail, using your own words and emotions.”
Jordan blinked and his blank face cleared of its empty expression. “Alex,” he whispered brokenly, stepping forward to reach out to her.
“Stop,” Aven commanded. “You’ll only speak to her. Nothing more.”
At his order, Jordan froze to the spot, and his anguished face begged her to understand. It was the most expressive he’d been since his return from Chateau Shondelle three weeks earlier.
Wait a second.
Chateau Shondelle.
Jordan’s unusual behaviour.
No.
“Jordan?” Alex breathed, hoping desperately that she was connecting the dots incorrectly.
“I couldn’t say anything,” he told her, his voice pleading with her to understand. “I was ordered to act like normal. There was nothing I could do.”
“Tell her everything, Jordan,” Aven said, his voice firm. “From the beginning.”
Jordan swallowed thickly and whispered, “I had to, Alex.”
No.
“Aven says my brother is alive. He’s going to help me find Luka.”
No. Wrong. All wrong.
“Alex, you have to believe me,” Jordan begged. “It was the only way.”
“Tell her the complete truth,” Aven commanded again. “Tell her how you came to be in my service.”
With emotion-filled eyes, Jordan said, “I went back to the chateau for the weekend because my parents asked me to. I didn’t want to go, especially since I knew you, Dix and Bear were so worried. But they said they had something important to tell me.”
He hesitated for a second before he continued. “When I arrived at the chateau, Aven was there. He and my father are… close. I swear, I had no idea. I tried to escape, but Lena was there too, neutralising my gift so Calista could hold me captive. It was horrible. I was trapped.”
His eyes shadowed at the memory until they brightened again. “But then my father promised me that everything would be okay as long as I listened to Aven. Then they’d let me go. So, I listened. And what I heard—Alex, I don’t know what to say.”
Alex didn’t know what to say either. All she knew was that with every word of his, she felt as if her heart was being ripped out of her chest. Judging by D.C.’s muffled sobs and Bear’s choked expletives, she wasn’t the only one falling apart.
“Aven told me that Luka faked his own death,” Jordan continued. “I didn’t believe him at first. But then he showed me some surveillance footage dated a month ago—a month ago!— where Luka broke into a Techno lab in Mardenia. He’s alive, Alex. Can you believe it?”
No.
“My parents told me they’ve been trying to find him for years,” Jordan said. “Apparently they’ve known all along that his suicide wasn’t real, but they didn’t want to tell me because they knew how upset I’d be. I was so angry with them, but they said that no matter how hard they looked and how close they’d come, they’ve never managed to fi
nd him. I would’ve been devastated if I’d known he was out there and I couldn’t contact him. They did the right thing.”
No. Wrong. Stop.
“But then Aven made me an offer,” Jordan continued. “He said he’d help me find Luka if I did something for him first. I had to help him get to Meya. All I had to do was use my gift to hide him and Calista so we could all slip through the doorway when you opened it. It was almost too easy to orchestrate everything, especially after I suggested we use Skyla’s ability to help us. She took on Zain’s appearance to get you going, and then she made herself look like me to make sure you opened the door and came through. It was perfect.”
Alex struggled to draw breath into her lungs.
“I’m sorry, Alex,” he continued. “I know how important you thought it was to keep him away. But Kyia and Zain and Prince Roka, they all lied to us. It wasn’t Aven who murdered those humans and tried to steal the throne—it was Roka. He framed Aven, making it look like he was innocent, while Aven took the fall and the banishment for his brother’s actions. Aven’s the victim here, Alex.”
Try convincing Skyla of that, she thought.
There was no way the Jordan they knew and loved would fall for such a fictitious story. And he would never refer to Aven as a ‘victim’, not after everything the Meyarin had done.
Alex turned to look at Aven with hate-filled eyes. “That’s not Jordan talking. My friend would never believe the words coming out of his mouth.”
“Finish your recount, Jordan,” Aven ordered, ignoring Alex.
When she turned back to Jordan, she found him looking at her with eyes full of hurt.
“It is me, Alex,” he whispered. “I’m still me. Aven Claimed me for my own protection. It’ll help him keep me safe while he saves Meya from its evil rulers. And after that, we’re going to search for Luka together. A brother for a brother, that was our agreement.”
Alex couldn’t accept his words.
“Your agreement?” she repeated, despite her better judgement.
“Jordan,” Aven interrupted. “Answer truthfully. Did I offer to Claim you?”
Jordan hesitated, but then he whispered a quiet, “No.”
Alex’s blood turned to ice.
“Did I Claim you against your will?” Aven pressed.
Jordan’s answer was even quieter this time. “No.”
She felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her windpipe.
Aven grinned victoriously and asked his final question. “Then tell us, Jordan, how did you come to be in my service?”
Jordan’s vibrant blue eyes stared straight at Alex when he said, “I asked Aven to Claim me. It was my idea. And I don’t regret it.”
NO!
Alex felt as if the ground had been pulled out from underneath her. “No! NO!” she screamed out loud, adding to the horrified sounds coming from D.C. and Bear. She couldn’t keep the tears from welling in her eyes as she begged, “Tell me it’s not true. Please, Jordan. Tell me it’s not true!”
“It’s for the best, Alex,” he said, his voice anguished. “You’ll see.”
She had to hold back a sob at his brainwashed words. Where was her cocky, overprotective best friend? Where was the Jordan she knew—the one who would never have surrendered to Aven, let alone asked for a life of controlled servitude?
“Jordan,” Alex whimpered, unable to say more.
“Alex,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
His apology broke her. Tears poured down her face, dripping down her cheeks and landing on the snow-covered ground, melting the ice as her blood remained frozen in her veins.
Her grief nearly brought her to her knees, but she knew that she had to keep it together and protect her friends until help arrived. Darrius might not be able to step through the Library into Meya, but she had to hope he’d find another way to summon reinforcements.
“As touching as this is, it’s time for us to leave. I have a rebellion to lead.”
Alex snapped her head up at Aven’s words and croaked out, “Over my dead body.”
He smirked at her. “That’s one thing we agree upon.”
She wiped a shaky hand across her eyes, preparing herself for what she knew would be her final battle with the Meyarin. He no longer needed her, so he would have no problem killing her.
Just like Skyla.
Alex swallowed back fresh tears as the shock of such a pointless murder hit her anew.
Focus, she told herself. Grieve later. Focus now.
“Ready when you are, Aven.”
“You misunderstand me, Alexandra,” he said, his eyes glittering. “I’m not going to fight you.”
She frowned in bewilderment. Didn’t he want her dead?
“You seem confused,” Aven observed. “I have to admit, I do enjoy toying with you.”
At the look she shot him, he sighed mockingly.
“I can see you’re not in the mood for games, so we’ll end this quickly,” Aven said. Then he called, “Jordan?”
Her friend turned to look at Aven, and Alex wished she could run away and hide in the forest for the rest of her life just to avoid the pain she was currently feeling. But she would never leave D.C. and Bear, not when their lives could end like Skyla’s had at one word from Aven. Or two words, as the case may be, since they were the exact words he spoke to Jordan with his next command.
“Kill her.”
No.
of th em.
Twenty-Five
Jordan stepped forward at Aven’s order. Alex had been too focused on his face earlier to notice the cape he wore that concealed a sword belted to his waist. But she could see it clearly now, since Jordan had pulled it free.
“Don’t do this, Jordan,” Alex begged, stepping backwards as he continued to stalk towards her. “I won’t fight you.”
Her words meant nothing to him. His eyes were unfocused and his body obediently followed Aven’s orders. Alex knew exactly what that felt like—having no control, but being able to witness everything that was happening. More tears leaked out of her eyes at the thought of her friend trapped in his own mind while his body prepared to fight her, maybe even kill her.
“Do it now, Jordan,” Aven ordered louder. “I don’t have all day.”
“No, Jordan,” Alex said. “Don’t listen to him. Fight him!”
But her words were useless. Jordan’s eyes narrowed as he raised his sword a fraction and lunged towards her.
“No!” she cried, jumping out of the way. “Don’t!”
He came at her again, swiping his blade at her torso, and again she jumped away.
“I won’t fight you!” she repeated. “I won’t!”
“Then you’ll die quickly,” Jordan said, his voice devoid of emotion as he swung his weapon towards her neck.
It might have been his words, or the strength she could see behind his attack, but something within Alex shifted and a fierce resolve came over her. If she could make it out of Raelia alive, then she might be able to find a way to help him. Anything was possible; she was living proof of that. So, rather than avoiding his attack, Alex needed to disable him—hopefully without causing too much damage in the process.
“A’enara!” she yelled instinctively, and the glowing weapon appeared in her hand before she’d even finished calling its name. The ice-coloured blade—which was again the length of a sword—intercepted Jordan’s blow, with blue sparks flying furiously between them.
Alex barely heard Aven’s enraged growl as she focused on defending against Jordan’s next strike.
Her friend was rated Delta in Combat. That was only one level down from Alex, and he’d been taking the class for years. He was more than capable with his blade. But he now also had Aven’s Claim on him, supplementing his strength, speed and skill. It also didn’t help that, while half of Alex’s mind was concentrating on staying alive, the other half was trying to come up with a plan to get Jordan out of there in one piece. So far, both halves were at a loss for ideas.
?
??Stop playing around, Jordan,” Aven ordered. “Finish her.”
Alex frowned at the Meyarin’s words. But then she jerked in surprise when Jordan disappeared, using his gift to make himself—and his weapon—invisible. Only a deep-rooted survival instinct caused Alex to raise A’enara in time to intercept Jordan’s sword when she sensed his attempt to slice her in two.
Definitely not good.
“That’s more like it,” Aven called out smugly.
Concentrate, Alex told herself. Concentrate or you’ll die. Concentrate or Bear and D.C. will die, too. Concentrate or you won’t be able to help Jordan.
Remembering her blindfolded fight with Roka, Alex closed her eyes and let go of everything else to focus on the power within her. It was waiting for her, just under the surface, welcoming her acceptance like a warm embrace.
She opened her eyes again when she felt the air move around her and she raised her weapon, blocking Jordan’s invisible attack. Again he lunged at her, and again she defended. She jumped when she felt his leg swing out to trip her, and she kicked out towards where she thought his torso was while he was undefended. Her foot landed hard and she heard him stumble backwards with an “ooof” sound.
When he came at her again, she was ready for him. But rather than letting him continue to attack her, she made the first move, beginning a quick series of swipes and lunges for him to defend against. The problem was that she didn’t want to hurt him, which severely restricted her ability to incapacitate him. Unlike when she’d fought Roka, Jordan was human. It was difficult to injure or kill a Meyarin, but humans were much more vulnerable.
That was why having the upper hand in the fight didn’t turn out so well for Alex. The moment her blade skimmed lightly across where she thought Jordan’s forearm was and he hissed in pain, Alex hesitated. Her sword stilled in the air when Jordan became visible again, clutching at his bleeding arm.
“You wounded me,” he panted, exhausted from the fight as well as having to maintain his transcended state. “For that you will die.”
“Listen to yourself!” Alex cried. “That’s not you speaking, it’s Aven! Resist him!”
“Enough!” Aven roared, striding over to where they stood. His infuriated glare could have set the snow on fire. “How are you are able to fight an invisible opponent?”