Page 116 of Beg the Night

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let her get hurt. Not again.”

When they dragged Margaret into the room and dropped her bloodied body on the ground between us, I cried out.

“The two of you will follow every direction I give,” Director said. “Or precious, precious Margaret will pay the price for your disobedience.”

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.How the hell had they found her? They must have had another jumper, someone who knew where we’d been.

“I’m so sorry,” Margaret whispered.

“Don’t,” Sinner interrupted. “Don’t apologize.”

She sobbed, her body shaking. “I’m sorry, Sinner.”

Director skirted around Margaret, sauntering right up to Sinner, and, without warning, stabbed him in the thigh.

It was like she had stabbed me instead. His cry of pain was enough to crack my chest wide open.

Margaret screamed, too. Tied up and on the floor, all she could do was watch as her brother writhed in pain.

THIRTY-THREE

sinner

Despite the agony coursing through me, I pulled at Athena’s power. She wouldn’t use it. Not when she thought that imposter on the floor was my sister.

It took a moment for me to understand. I’d run through it time and again, wondering how they could have found Mags and gotten her here so quickly.

But then she called me Sinner, and it clicked.

My sister never, ever called me Sinner. She despised the name.

This wasn’t Mags. It was all a trick.

A moment after I’d begun to pull on the source of power from Athena, though, I was cut off.

Heart thundering, I blinked at Athena, silently begging her to look at me.

Director was rambling on about victory and justice.

The pain in my thigh was excruciating. It only worsened as the knife was yanked out, then plunged right back in.

Fuck. They really held a grudge, didn’t they?

I yelled out again, unable to keep the pain locked inside.

Director raised her hand again.

Then froze.

Athena froze, too. Her magic surrounded us, filled the room. It was invisible, imperceptible. To everyone but me. Now she was unleashed. Uncontrolled. She was really doing it. She was wielding her magic.

My phantoms purred inside my chest.

Not only had she stopped Director from stabbing me a third time, but she’d gained control over the four guards standing behind her. Each was frozen mid-move, their eyes wide.

“Drop the knife,” Athena ordered.

Director obeyed instantly, and the blade hit the floor with a clatter.

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