Page 143 of The Art of Exiley

The elevator doors slide open, and the train platform is abandoned and silent as I make my way out to the submarine. I use my Sire glow to illuminate the inky black cove. There’s no sign of the events of a few hours ago. The footprints have been washed away by the sea. So has all the blood. The submarine appears untouched. I suppose the Guard is planning to deal with it later.

The waves are so loud that they drown out all other sound. Which is why I don’t hear the other elevator or the door.

But a reflection in the water alerts me that I’m no longer alone on the beach.

I turn, and Kor is standing behind me with his own Sire glow. Alfie and Roman and the other two men move quickly toward the submarine.

“I thought you were locked up,” I say, my stomach sinking. I’m happy to see that none of them have been harmed, but something’s not right.

“Our other operative did what you failed to do and released us.” A motor growls as the submarine powers up.

“I had a plan. I would have freed you.”

“I believe you,” he says. He steps toward me and takes both my hands in his, our Sire glows blinking out. But we’re close enough that I can see the pleading in his eyes. “I should have believed you earlier. Now that I understand the risks associated with the gas, I see why you had to interfere. I was arrogant and overconfident and should have listened to you when you were in a position to know better than me.”

Dissonant emotions clash within me. I’m tuned to assume Kor is well intentioned, and here he is, apologizing.

But I know that if he has Hilde, none of his words matter.

“You had said you’d found another universal donor Sire. You drank her blood to get your strength back earlier.” When they were in the sub, Grey’s attention couldn’t have stayed focused on Kor the whole time he was rounding up the other men and all the weapons.

Kor nods.

“Is she in the submarine?”

“No, just refrigerated blood pouches.”

Ah. So the dream was more… metaphorical.

“Is she safe? Is she being treated well?”

“Yes, Ada, I swear. She’s agreed to donate willingly and has been very helpful in assisting me with my treatment.”

A small percentage of the tension in my shoulders releases. I don’t like it, but at least I know Hilde is safe for now.

Kor continues. “We need to leave before anyone notices we’ve been released. Are you coming with us?” His hands squeeze mine tightly, possessively. But I’m not his sidekick anymore.

I shake my head.

“Please come.” His voice cracks. “I won’t let anything like this happen again. I trust you; I’ll make sure the Inner Chamber and the Oculus trust you.”

He’s looking at me with the same sad smile that’s broken a million hearts. He fully believes his own performance, but I don’t.

However, if he’s ready to trust me, I can use that trust to get whatIneed.

“No. I think I can be more useful to you here for now.” It’s actually he who will be useful to me. Good thing I’ve had a lot of practice lying.

Movement by the station draws my eye. Someone’s there, but night cloaks them in darkness. A shrieking wind ghosts the shore, and I shudder against the chill.

The shadowy figure steps forward. “Ada?” an all-too-familiar voice asks. I pull my hands from Kor’s, my heart in my stomach.

A torchlight flicks on, revealing Michael’s horror-stricken face. “What are you doing here?” he asks, voice hollow.

He knows what I’m doing. He heard what Kor said. I know he heard; I can tell from the look in his eyes. Disbelief, fear, anger.

Heartbreak.

“Ah,” Kor continues. “You two seem well acquainted.”

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