Page 113 of Tangled Hearts

“Tell me what I need to know or else he gets infected with Kark,” she said, taking the syringe from the man. “I will flood his system with Kark and you can watch him die in the next couple of days.”

They pulled him to the center of the room.

“Get the fuck away from him,” I snarled.

“Tell me what I want to know,” she snapped, resting the syringe against his neck.

Gray and I locked eyes. He nodded at me like this was ok, but it wasn’t.

“Tell me!” she yelled.

I clenched my jaw knowing how this would end, wishing for it to stop.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Max took her, and I don’t know where.”

“Lies, you know where she is,” she snarled. “Tell me the truth!”

“I don’t fucking know!” I yelled, as she pushed the needle into his neck.

“Last chance,” she threatened.

“I don’t know!” I screamed as she pushed the virus into my brother. “No!”

“Useless fools.” She threw the syringe away. “I’ll give you an hour to find out where she is and then you’re next.”

They pushed Gray back to the wall as they left. Tears fell down my face.

“Gray,” I cried out.

“It’s ok, Soren,” he said softly. “I knew what I was getting into when she left. I’m prepared to die for her… but I’m sorry you had to see that.”

I continued to cry, coming to terms with my fate. This is why we sent her away and Gray was right. We knew what we were getting into. We knew we would have to die for her and if her freedom is the price of my life. I would gladly pay it.

32

ORIA

My eyes were stinging from working for too long. I blinked a few times before my vision cleared, but they were dry, and I was exhausted.

“You should take a break.”

I looked over my shoulder to see Katarina walking into the room.

“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” I asked, getting up from my chair and stretching.

“No, ever since we’ve come home, they pester me with resting and I’m getting ready to lock them in a room until I deliver,” she said, looking over my spell. “I love them, but sometimes they are overbearing, and all these hormones are making me murderous right now.”

I laughed as she rubbed her stomach.

“I’m not pregnant, but I get where you are coming from,” I said with a smile, but it quickly faded. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course, though my sister was the alchemist, not me,” she said sitting on a stool, but her face fell. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to bring up Serena.”

“I don’t mind. He loved her and that’s ok,” I said. “If I remember correctly, they sent you away with Ryder and Soren when they thought there was no hope.”

“They did,” she said.

“How do you get over that betrayal?” I asked. “I know they did it for a good reason, but goddess I hate that they thought they knew better.”

---