Page 60 of The Fate of Eternity

“Leverage?” I repeat, my heart skipping a beat as my pulse thunders in my ears. “What leverage?”

“That will come in due time,” Orenda offers, pulling something from behind his back. “But for now…” His words trail off as he stabs the needle into my neck, earning a grunt from my throat as I feel a burning sensation travel through my veins.

I’m bound, with the soldiers grabbing me as if they were expecting his move, rendering me powerless to his will. “What are you doing to me?”

“Making you as pliant as possible.” He turns without a backward glance, shuffling toward the edge of the room as he places the syringe on the tabletop.

I feel light-headed, my limbs floating as I try to blink through the discomfort.

“After your last capture, resulting in my brother’s untimely death, I felt it was best we take all precautions possible,” Vallie’s uncle states, but I struggle to settle my gaze on him.

“What. Leverage?” I bite, the words still lingering in my head, and even with my blurred vision, I see the sinister smile creep from ear to ear across his face.

“Of course, bring them in,” he orders, and I scoff.

“If you were going to drug me, why get leverage? And are we going to clarify who the fuck you’re tethering me to?” I spit out, aware that there’s a slur to my words but refusing to let it get between me and the answers I need.

“Like I said, Miss Reagan, I didn’t want to end up like my brother. I made sureeveryprecaution was taken.”

Shuffling sounds from behind me, but I’m at the mercy of the soldier holding me in place as I struggle to remain on my feet. I’m practically splayed against him, eager to hit the floor, untilthe sight of two people being dragged into the room forces me to be more alert.

My heart seizes, pain and panic making me even more delirious as I gape at them.

Their leverage is Flora and Arlo.

Flora and Arlo.

Leverage.

29

ADRIANNA

The panic in Flora’s eyes resonates deep in my bones while the rage radiating from Arlo pounds through my veins, pushing me to shake the drugs swarming through my body.

I blink repeatedly, trying to see straight when all I feel is sluggish.

“Flora,” I breathe, my heart clenching at the sight of her watery eyes and red, blotchy face. She’s been crying; even in this state, I can see that.

I feel like I’ve been teleported right back to when it was Nora being leveraged against me, but there’s something different about today. I’m not getting out of this mess like I did then.

“W-whatever they say, Addi. Don’t d-do it. D-don’t do it. You hear me?” Her whimpers twist my gut as her bottom lip trembles. “Promise me, Addi,” she adds, her words firmer as she tries to get me to agree.

I gape at her helplessly before my stare turns to Arlo. I find the same resolution in his eyes. His jaw is tight, his nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed as he nods at me, pushing for me to give Flora the response she wants.

The issue is… I can’t.

I thought we had kept The Council at bay. I thought wrong. I should have realized that their silence only meant they were working harder to try again. I hadn’t scared them off. I hadn’t done anything but give them the time they needed to set this all in motion, then I gave them the perfect opening when I killed Vallie.

The soldiers’ response to the matter was quick. Maybetooquick. Maybe there’s more to that situation than I first thought, but thinking about it now is pointless. It’s not going to save me from what they have planned next.

My gaze flickers back to Flora, but when my lips part, my words aren’t for her. ”What exactly do you want from me?”

“No, Addi. No!” Flora yells, trying to fight out of the hold the soldier has her in. My teeth clench as the soldier kicks her legs out, sending her to her knees with a crash.

“Don’t. Touch. Her,” I bite, my face pulsing with rage as I sneer at the soldier. I’m aware of the slur that still lingers in my voice, but I refuse to let it weaken my words as well as my limbs.

“It’s simple,” Kenner states, stepping in the way of Flora so he has my full attention. “You will agree to become the center of our fated mates.”

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