Page 543 of Shadowblood Souls
I don’t know,I admit, thinking back to our brief confrontation.
Nadia definitely used her light-based talent, and one of the kids I don’t know as well must have been responsible for the wind. Devon was able to project heat with his mind—when I was around him before, he could melt very small bits of metal, but that was about it.
Who knows what he’s capable of now.
I grimace to myself before going on.I’m guessing he’s done it to all of the shadowbloods he can. He’s got a lot of work that he wants done. I assume the other kids with you have had their abilities enhanced too?
Yeah. Ajax goes silent for long enough that I start to worry I’ve lost the psychic connection completely.I hope he’s okay. With the others… It hasn’t just improved their talents.
Something about his tone sends an icy finger down my spine.What do you mean?
There’s this thing we get injected with, and also pills we’re supposed to take… I’ve been able to skip some of the pills without being noticed, so maybe that’s why I’m okay. The other kids here have gotten really on edge. Bad tempers. Yelling and getting violent if they’re even a little upset. Even their thoughtsare all jangly and mean. It seems like more than them just being frustrated about what he’s doing to us.
My spirits sink. Yes, it does. It could be that effect explains the aggression I sensed in Nadia’s and the others’ stances when I encountered them in the tunnel.
Were they standing in our way only because Balthazar forced them to? Or has he messed with their heads as well as their powers to make them feel they need to fight anyone in front of them?
I don’t like the sound of that, I say.Keep doing what you’re doing if that’s been saving you from the worst effects.
I’ll try.I get the impression of a rough laugh.Some days I actually miss the guardians. Although maybe they’d have done this too if they’d known how.
I know what he means on both points. There’s nothing I can think of to say that would really comfort him, and a throbbing pain has formed at the top of my spine.
I rub my neck, measuring out my last words, wishing I had more I could offer.I’m sorry. We’ll get to you as soon as we can. I don’t think I can keep talking like this for much longer right now. Do you know where you are?
No idea,Ajax says apologetically.We were unconscious when we got here, and there are no windows. Reach out again if you can. I’ll see if I can find out anything else.
Then his voice fades from my head. I rock back on my butt, my mind reeling.
For what might be one minute or several, I stare blankly at the wall across from me. My cheeks cool, and I touch them to find they’re wet.
Tears are leaking from my eyes. I drag in a breath that’s almost a sob and swipe at them.
I’m not going to give in to the hopelessness. Wearegoing to save the shadowblood kids, no matter how hard it is.
Even if some of them aren’t clear anymore on whether they want to be saved.
I insisted to our shadowkind allies that we had to protect all of the younger ones. What are they going to do if those teens outright attack them in a fit of temper or misguided aggression?
How the hell do I make this right?
As I stew in my frustration, Ajax’s words come back to me.Some days I actually miss the guardians.
No kidding.
A bittersweet smile twists my lips—and inspiration sparks in my head.
I leap to my feet, my heart pounding. Could we really— Is it too crazy?
It’s a chance, an angle we haven’t tried yet, and one Balthazar will never be expecting.
I hurry down the hall to the lounge where I can sense most of my guys have gathered. Their quiet conversation falls away completely when I burst into the room.
Jacob’s eyebrows shoot up. “What’s going on, Wildcat?”
I brace myself. “I’ve got an idea. But I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
Twelve
