A pang of sudden loss shudders through my body. I’ve fought down and muted the Bond all this time, but something in me still clings to the idea of what I could have had if I hadn’t fled.
Part of me, I’m ashamed to say, wanted to live happily ever after with those three towering, gorgeous, devoted men.
That’s my heart talking. My heart has always been a fool.
I need to listen to my head. My head tells me that those three Aurelians couldn’t treat me as anything other than a breeding slave and plaything, even if they wanted to.
Reluctantly, I pull out the hilt of Kitos’ Orb-Blade. I’d been planning to sell it – but I figure it’s the only thing on my that could open this door right now.
I fondle the hilt, trying to figure out how to get it to work. There are no buttons, or controls - and I’m too scared to touch the Orb-Shard itself.
Work, dammit! Just work!
Instantly, the blade suddenly appears.
As if summoned by my thought, a long blue-black blade of nothing shimmers into life from the top of the hilt – humming with an otherworldly energy.
It’s terrifying, and I’m trembling as I take the Orb-Blade to the service door and press the shimmering, blue-black blade down against the metal.
It cuts through the door like the sheet steel is nothing more than tissue paper. I cut down the door in seconds, kicking down the broken pieces.
The barrel of a pistol greets me.
I instantly freeze.
It’s Giovanni standing there – the greasy-haired host from the previous night. He’s holding a pistol aimed right at my face.
“Drop the weapon.”
I drop the Orb-Blade, which deactivates the moment it clatters to the ground.
The towering Aurelian who calls himself Torelli strides down the hallway, to take his position behind Giovanni. He looks down at me with incredulous eyes.
“Little one - did you really think that would work? Breaking in here? Did you really think I have no security?”
I instantly feel so, so stupid.
Yes, I’d thought I could sneak in. Yes, I’d thought it would be that simple.
But I hadn’t thought – not really.
The only thought I’d truly had was the overwhelming thought that my sister had to be in there.
I hear a footstep to my left – but before I can turn my head, something hits me hard.
The world instantly goes black.
The last thought I have before I pass out?
Lilac…
24
Allie
My eyes blink open, and then the headache hits me.
Gods! My head feels like I’ve been drinking cheap wine for a week without water.
There’s a slow, steady drip, and something heavy on my head. My mouth has the acrid taste in it, like oil.
I try to talk… but as I’d suspected – there’s something in my mouth.
I can’t feel Daccia, Hadrian, or Kitos. Even when the Bond was muted, I could at least feel something of their aura. Now they’re just… gone.
I weakly lift my head, and find Torelli is standing above me, looking down cruelly.
I take bearing of my surroundings. That’s when I see her.
Lilac.
Oh, Gods! Lilac!
My sister is huddled in the corner, looking barely older than when I’d seen her last, three years earlier.
But she does look different. Her eyes are blank and stretched wide open, like there’s nothing going on inside her mind.
I try to get up, but Torelli gives me a hard shove and I slam against the wall.
"Your little triad can't feel you anymore, slut.” He towers over me. “You think I'm stupid, little child? Those goggles fooled no one! You were obviously Bonded to them – and what does that mean? That you four came here looking for the other woman who shares your DNA. I could smell your shared blood a mile away.”
Torelli takes a menacing step toward me.
“How could you be so stupid? I looked you up, Allie Tabber.”
Oh, Gods… He knows my name!
“You’re Allie Tabber – wanted fugitive. That means they are Law Enforcement, just as I suspected. Although not for very long – since they clearly fucked their prisoner."
I'm gagged, so I can't say anything.
I look weakly over at my sister. She's got blank eyes, like she’s staring ahead but seeing nothing. Like, right now, she’s staring straight at me – but clearly doesn't recognize me.
"Stupid bitch, that one,” Torelli jerks his head towards her. “Hasn't talked in two years. No good to anybody, except as a warm, wet hole to fuck.”
The menacing Aurelian looks down at me.
“You, on the other hand. You’re quite valuable. Valuable enough for me not to want anybody trying to take you away from me.”
Anybody like Daccia, Kitos, and Hadrian. I know they’ll already be searching for me.
As if reading my mind, Torelli snarls:
“Don’t get your hopes up. Your little friends are going to get a surprise visit from Law Enforcement. I told the agency everything. Those three are on the Kill List now.”
Oh, Gods – the Kill List.
One of the Most Wanted lists of fugitives from Aurelian justice. Wanted criminals with the order to shoot-on-sight.
Oh, Gods! I feel so stupid!
I feel so stupid for thinking I could take on a crime-boss all by myself. I feel so stupid for thinking we’d fooled Torelli with our display yesterday – of my triad fucking me, in front of that crowd.
The entire time, Torelli must have been laughing at us – way ahead of our scheme.
I don’t care, though.
If nothing else, I’ve found Lilac – or, what’s left of her.
I’ve been dreaming about finding my sister every day for three years. Now she’s here! Just a few feet away from me!
I crawl towards her, hoping for her to recognize me, but there’s nothing in her eyes.
The blankness breaks my heart.
Torelli laughs. “I expect your triad to come looking for you – but no matter. They’ll have three Reavers from Law Enforcement Orb-Shifting in to take them into custody within the hour – if they don’t just shoot them dead.”
I shudder. My triad! Those three gorgeous, devoted, honorable men.
They’ll be arrested, or killed – because of me.
I know, I
