Page 73 of Shadow's Chosen

"She's in the reactor," he called into the device. Cursing, Elise rushed into the passage and swung out her arm. The Red Blade lifted his gun but wasn't fast enough. Elise struck the side of his wrist, sending red light across one wall then slammed her fist into the exposed part of his neck. Choking, the Red Blade stumbled back, dropping his weapon. Elise put all her weight into a kick to his stomach to send him flying. When his back hit the ground, she closed the distance between them and brought the baton down.

Elise stood for a few seconds, looking down at the unconscious man as she caught her breath. Her eyes turned upward to the end of the passage, and she backed away. Rushing back into the room, she found the pair still working on setting the bomb. "How much longer?" she asked.

"Not much," Meg said. "Lo is setting the charge now. Only another minute." Lo stood beside with her tablet device in hand while Meg made sure the bomb was secure and couldn't be ripped off the panel.

"We are about to have a whole lot of trouble," Elise said. "And I won't be able to take them all."

"We are nearly there. Stand your ground. Just one more minute!"

Elise nodded as her heart hammered in her chest, knowing they might not have even a minute before a whole group of Pyra's men came barreling into the room, guns locked. She stepped back to let them work, turning around to ready herself for the incoming fight, when she let out a sharp inhale of breath and froze.

She locked eyes with twin fires burning around a wicked storm.

Nezka stood as still as night before her. When he finally moved, Elise quickly stepped back, gripping her baton tight. "Don't," she hissed. "Don't come near me."

Nezka stilled once more. His body, as tense as hers, began to relax, his eyes never falling from hers. There was a sadness there, a sort of longing but she refused to believe it was real. "I can't make that promise," he said in a low voice.

"Just like you couldn't make any others. Not to me." Elise stood her ground, blocking the others.

"I know. I should have told you everything. I wanted to." Nezka slowly moved toward her, and Elise shifted away in response.

Elise clenched her jaw as her mouth trembled. "I don't believe you."

"I don't expect you to. Not yet." Nezka stopped. "I was assigned to take you. It was my sole mission to bring you and the others back. That is truth." His expression darkened. "But being with you...has changed things."

Elise shook her head, her face burning. " You're a liar."

"I have lied to you." He moved again and Elise with him. "But not about this, Starling—"

"Don't," Elise snapped. "My name is Stirling, and you are just trying to trick me again. But you can forget it. We are getting out of here, all of my people. We are getting out, and you can't stop us."

"I want that now too," Nezka said softly. "I won't let them take you. But I need you to trust me. Just this last time, Elise. I need you to come with me."

Elise shook her head as she raised her baton a little higher.

Nezka's eyes narrowed. "I won't fight you, Elise. If you come with me, I can get you and the others safely out. You just need to hold a little longer."

Elise let out a huff of bitter laughter. "You said yourself I was a fool to trust you. Well, I won't be fooled twice, Nezka. If you want to take me, you will have to fight me."

Elise caught a glint of some deeply unsettled emotion in Nezka's eyes before he bared his teeth in a hiss. He looked ready to lunge at her, his body tensing for a fight, and Elise prepared herself for his attack.

Then he dropped his stance, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes, and for the first time, Elise saw in him a look of utter defeat.

"Do what you have to do to get out."

Elise lowered her arm. "What?"

"Go. I can give you some time but not much." His eyes flickered over to the women at the reactor. "I'm guessing you're going to blow the power. Once you do, make for the warehouse."

Elise didn't move, uncertain if it was a trick. But he didn't lunge forward to take her. Instead, he stepped away.

"Get to the ships," he said. "I will do what I can to keep them at bay.”

Elise didn't know how to respond. The sounds of men were drawing closer, as they could be heard coming down the stairway. Elise stood in place, watching him in confusion.

"Done!" Meg called. "Elise, fight or flight, we have to go!"

Elise couldn't seem to turn her eyes away from his. She tried to find an inkling of falsehood in his expression but could find none. He was really letting her go.

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