Page 8 of Petals for Deadly Power

Raoul slowly dragged his eyesight from the table to the people surrounding it. “I haven’t found a better description for those dreams. I’ve had nightmares before, but these . . .” He inhaled deeply before continuing, “They feel like a personal attack against my mind and my life. There is no escape. The only freedom is waking up.” Raoul swallowed.

Lenna didn’t need to ask why his voice trembled in the last sentence. Raoul had to be absolutely terrified of not waking up again. How could he not? He had been stuck in an unconscious state for months before they rescued him and managed to wake him up.His best description for that time was anunconscious limbo full of blackness and whispers.

He sometimes still said random shit no one understood the meaning of, which was worrying and disconcerting in equal parts. But at least he hadn’t become aggressive again. Not since the first time he opened his eyes after taking one of the multiple drugs Indianna and Sasha had created for him.

According to the people who were there, that had been as scary as the worst panomquake. His pupils had been incredibly dilated, maybe from the drug’s side effects or from his eyes being closed for months, andhe looked manic. Surely Raoul grabbing Nina by the neck and saying something about a Crown of Death rising hadn’t helped with his crazed look.

When Lenna and Jake had moured into the Crystal Clear Safehouse after that, Nina’s bruises were visible around her throat and sore to look at, despite the Healing she had received.

Lenna held her multiple questions about the content of Raoul’s mental attacks for another time. Tonight was about celebrating his improvement and the efforts he had put into making all this progress. She was so freaking proud of him.

“At this pace you’ll be able to join us when we go get the Fifth.” She nudged him gently enough to not make him fall from his seat but strongly enough for him to stop dwelling on his fears and bring him back to reality.

His eyes widened. “Is that what you lot plan on doing?”

Lenna frowned. “I mean, no shame for mundane fugitives, but I’d go up the damned walls if I had to hide here for eternity. Especially because of him.”

Himbeing the father of the man Lenna shared her nights with—Jake.

And the father of the woman who Lenna had seen in full killing action and knew she could become death incarnate if she wanted to—Hope.

Shame the Organ Mandor wouldn’t have much hope against any of them once they got the Fifth Power.

Because, yes, they hated him enough that they were willing to risk their lives to hunt the Fifth Power. The power no one in living history had possessed. The power that, according to Jake’s lessons, was both a blessing and a curse. The power that would allow them to stand a chance against Rhei Coralt and kill him once and for all. Please and fucking thank you.

“So, how do we get the Fifth?” Hope asked, folding her arms.

Jake's silver eyes glittered with amusement. “I have done some research over time.”

“Decadestype of time or last-five-minutes time?” Lenna couldn’t resist grinning at his unashamed self-importance.

“Centuries, more so. Is that good enough for you?” The corner of his lips tugged upwards at the same time as Lenna’s heart skipped a beat.

“Fuck.”

Jake turned his head towards the man with smooth, shoulder-long dark hair that never missed a word. “And so have you, Ciaran. Haven't you?”

“Perhaps.” The index of Ciaran’s metallic hand tapped the ring on his bottom lip distractedly.

“Or perhaps theOrigins of Cardinals and Other Godsand Goddesses disappeared from the library at the West House by accident?” Jake asked, tilting his head.

“I figured it was worth hiding in case the rat who stoleBattle of PetalsandOf Cardinals, Powers and Deathmight want to steal it too.”

“Clever chasing cat,” Jake said, a mischievous side-smile on his lips.

“Is that what you truly did during your discarding visits around Thyria? Steal books?” Lenna asked. “Other than discard beings, I mean.”

Jake purposely ignored the discarding part. “It's called research. For the preservation of the future and the land I was meant to rule if my father ever dies.”

“Oh, hewilldefinitely die.” Hope’s voice was calm and definite. A patient promise of death. “When can we go get the Fifth?”

Okay, maybe it was animpatientpromise of death.

“Remind me why are we wanting to go on a death hunt to get the Fifth Power? Are our four panom powers not enough?” Ayla asked, her green eyes barely visible as she narrowed them.

“Not if you want to get rid of the disgrace of a man that kills innocent beings without remorse or consequence. The man who killed Ciaran’s and Hope’s mothers, who amputated Ciaran’s arm in a failed attempt at removing his courtrade blood, who took my panom powers away and who would kill me if he knew I regained my powers, thanks to you all. And no, our four powers are not enough to kill the man who discarded Hope for existing when she was a baby, and her mother for giving birth to her. The man who is surely planning a slow and painful death for all of us,” Lenna spat, the blood in her veins racing as her rage flourished to the surface. “If you’re happy to be in a country where such a being rules, and don’t mind living in a totally broken and corrupt society, then of course there is no need whatsoever to go on a death hunt. You can totally stay here waiting for him to hunt you to death instead.”

The silence that followed could be cut into pieces. The green eyes of her twin didn’t move from her amber ones.

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