Page 18 of High Stakes

“Enoch?”

His grip on the ledge tightened, along with the lines on his face. “I’ve studied him almost as much as you. He and his siblings are wise. They’ve been tested time and again throughout the centuries of their existence. They are also cruel, vicious, and sadistic when provoked. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Eh, Enoch will make it quick if I piss him off.” I’d told myself that a thousand times, but facing him tomorrow made me wonder if it was true. And then there was the other problem. “What about Victor? Do you trust him?”

He stood up straight and turned toward me, crossing his arms over his chest. “I take it you don’t.”

“No.”

“Trust is a piece of yourself you give away. You should be careful who you give it to.”

“I trust you,” I whispered, trying to smile.

“I trust you, too, but the bond between us wasn’t instant, it was hard-earned. Victor takes credit for your very existence. I’m not sure Kael appreciates that, given his contributions, but neither of those men, or the upgrades, made you who you are, Eve. You did that. You fought to become the warrior you are today.”

I could’ve argued that he had a bigger role than both of them, but he was right. My circumstances, hard work, and resolve brought me here. Others contributed to it, others helped, but I had to decide I wanted it.

I became who I am when I glimpsed the fear in my mother’s eyes as she watched the vampire approach...

When the broadcasts showed vamps invading homes...

When the underground resistance filmed the discarded bodies with vacant stares, lying on the streets...

When Enoch’s snide grin filled the screen...

When Abram tried to pretend I was worse than the vampires...

When Titus teased me...

When Maru believed in me...

And when I believed in myself. All of that made me who I am. Those were the things that taught me what I wanted to be. As brave as my mother. As ruthless as Enoch. As much of a warrior as Maru.

Victor couldn’t take credit for any of that, no matter how many hours he made me train, regardless of the myriad of weapons I learned how to use, no matter how many upgrades Kael forced my body to take. I was the sum of my experiences plus the will of my determination, and I couldn’t wait to show Enoch exactly what I was made of.

Maru put a hand on my shoulder. “My father always told me that those who are wise as serpents can afford to be harmless as a dove. Don’t lose you, Eve. Keep your eyes open. If something goes wrong, you’re smart. Do whatever it takes to survive, but don’t lose yourself in the process. Nothing would be worth that sacrifice.”

I nodded, unable to speak. A knot of emotion formed in the back of my throat.

“If Kael is right, this should be an easy mission,” Maru added. “Like he said: Land, strike, and leave. Come home, and you will be celebrated a hero,” he whispered, bracing his arms on the ledge again.

The stars winked above us, reminding me how small we were in the grand scheme of things. All they had to do was burn. And like them, I could burn, too. I could scorch Enoch with every ounce of hatred I felt for him. When I did, I could come home and finally be free.

“I don’t want to be a hero. I just want out of here,” I voiced, unable to keep the wobble from my voice or tears from welling in my eyes.

“If you manage to kill Enoch, you’ll be able to have whatever you want, Eve. You’re young. If there are no vampires left to kill, you can have a full and happy life ahead of you.”

His words were flat.

He didn’t believe them, either.

“If I fail, there’s no point coming home, is there?” He and I both knew Victor and Kael wouldn’t let us go off to enjoy the rest of our lives if we did manage to make it back. They’d invested too much time, money, and effort. There would always be other missions. We might never be free.

His brows furrowed. “Of course there would be a point,” he argued. “You could always travel to an earlier time and try again. You’ve always been confident. Where is this doubt coming from? Abram?”

“No, I just... I guess I have jitters.”

He studied me for a long moment. “You’re lying.”

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