Page 182 of The Dark Mirror

‘How the mighty have fallen, Terebell,’ Jaxon drawled. ‘Did you know the windflower grows wild in Italy?’

‘Listen to him, all of you. How do you think Jaxon knows how to restrain Rephs, or their names?’ I demanded. ‘Because he knows as much about Rephs as I do, if not more!’

‘She just called him a traitor,’ Mistry pointed out.

‘Yes, because they’re not the Sargas, as I’m trying to—’

‘Time is short, Underqueen.’ Jaxon rose from his seat. ‘The leader of the Ranthen, or the Rephaite you love. Choose one of them to serve the Council of Kassandra. We’ll destroy the other.’

‘You areobliteratingany chance of an alliance.’

‘We don’t need one with the Rephaim,’ Carter said. ‘We will use them, Paige. As they’ve used us.’

Jaxon pointed an air pistol at Arcturus. The guards blocked me, but somehow, even with the flowers, Terebell threw herself in front of him, taking the dart in her shoulder.

‘Terebell—’ I shoved towards her. ‘Jax, was that pollen?’

‘No.’ Jaxon lowered the gun. ‘Members of the Council, here is the proof of what I have told you all. The danger to which the Underqueen has exposed her subjects in London.’

Not pollen. The dart had been full of alysoplasm, and Arcturus was still weak. Terebell must have known his body might not be able to endure it.

She pulled out the dart, which rolled across the floor. Arcturus spoke to her in Gloss, his tone rough. Nick broke free of the guards. I did the same, and we met beside the Rephs.

‘What does she need?’

‘Salt and aura,’ I said. ‘But, Nick, it’s not what you—’

‘I know, Paige.’ His voice was too low for anyone else to hear. ‘They turn into Buzzers, don’t they?’

I nodded. I should have guessed that he would see it before anyone else.

Nick had faced a Buzzer before. As Terebell started to seize up, he sliced the top of her sleeve with his penknife, revealing the puncture.

‘I need my bag, now,’ I barked at the Council. ‘If you don’t want to end up as a pool of blood on the floor, just do it.’

One of the voyants got up and ran for the doors. Terebell held on to Arcturus, who was still talking to her in Gloss, trying to keep her grounded.

‘Hurry,’ I shouted after the voyant.

He returned with my bag. Working around the handcuffs, I opened my flask of salt water and soaked the wound. Terebell drank the rest. The light waxed back into her eyes. When I gave her a nod of encouragement, she latched on to my aura. I leaned into the pull, rather than resisting.

When the link broke, Terebell sank against Arcturus, racked by shudders. He clasped her to his chest.

‘So you knew,’ Carter finally said, breaking the silence. ‘Jaxon told us the Rephaim can become Buzzers – creatures that eat spirit and flesh. Once again, I had assumed that you were in the dark.’ Her brow crinkled. ‘This is very disappointing from an Irish woman, Paige.’

‘I love Ireland as much as you do.’ I stood, facing her. ‘I have fought Scion tooth and nail for well over a year. My alliance with the Ranthen was to bring them down.’

It stung to be at odds with her like this. Two of the few survivors of the Imbolc Massacre, and we had already come to blows. But I had not taken a stand against Scion to hide who I was, or what I believed to be right.

‘Well, Paige,’ Carter said, ‘you have shown your convictions. We must hold a vote as to whether this proceeds to a full trial. I did hope you would be an ally, to help us reclaim Ireland.’

‘I can be, Antoinette.’

‘That will be a collective decision. Erika, Rohan, please escort the Underqueen back to—’

‘Stop,’ Nick broke in. ‘Jaxon just shot Terebell, knowing full well what would happen. He gambled with all your lives. I can’t stop you judging Paige, but the White Binder isnotfit to be Underlord.’ Jaxon gave him a look so cold it would have put a Reph to shame. ‘He colluded with the Rephaim that hunt us. And I can prove it. Paige can prove it.’

I met his gaze, realising.

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