Page 87 of Fated to be Enemies

With my vision obscured on one side, I looked to Ysa. She held up my bloody eye, the optic nerve and extrinsic muscles attached and hanging down.

It was done.

Blood from my empty eye socket dripped down my face, and I nodded to Kieran. He got off me, holding out a hand so he could help me. I took it, bringing myself to a standing position, then walked to Ysa.

I held my hand out, and she placed my severed eye into my palm. We said nothing. No words were needed. Turning to Seraphina, I awaited her command.

After several moments, she inclined her chin, and I dropped my offering into the magic basin. Seraphina’s chanting became louder, and her eyes glowed as she continued with her spell.

Ysa came to wait beside me. She handed me a clean cloth, and I wrapped the makeshift bandage around my face, covering the gaping hole, and tying it at the back of my head. The gash on my arm was already healing, but the eye would take time to grow back. Pulling a flask from her jacket, she offered it to me, and I accepted, taking several long swigs of the blood and whiskey mixture.

“Now we wait,” she said quietly. I scoffed. “I know. Patience isn’t your virtue.”

“I don’t have any virtues, Ysa.” As I watched the flames grow and the clouds form overhead, the madness I held inside me roiled. “If anything happens to her, the world will know the extent of my wrath, and there isn’t a being on this planet that will stop me.”

CHAPTER 25

Dannika

Iparked a mile away, taking the rest of the journey on foot. I didn’t want to draw attention to myself if someone recognized Ysa’s truck while I cruised up to the bar. Who knew if someone from Blood and Beryl was in Portland tonight, hiding in the dark corners of No Man’s Land? If someone was willing to overlook my presence, they sure as hell weren’t going to overlook the fact that I had Ysa’s vehicle when she was nowhere to be found.

The hoodie I wore was pulled up, covering my hair, my backpack over both shoulders and filled to the brim.

I wasn’t going back, and I’d packed everything I would need.

It was Earth and Emerald, or Gold and Garnet. I bit my lip as Nova and I walked, wondering if Elias would be pissed off—if for no other reason than I’d backed out of our deal and it could make him look like a fool. I didn’t care if he said he’d rejected me, or if I’d rejected him. Whatever he felt made him look better was fine. If he was livid, though, that meant those Houses could refuse me in fear of his retaliation. Maybe I could just find a boat and live on the water. I wrinkled my nose at the idea of never roaming in the woods again. Nova would be miserable too. I couldn’t think like that. Adora and I would come up with a plan. It would work out. It always did.

I slowed my steps, hearing the faint sound of an engine coming from the forest trail. Nova paused, lifting her nose into the air, her ears twitching as well.

“You heard it too?” I whispered to her, and she met my gaze. “Go check it out, okay?”

She glanced to the woods in the distance, then looked behind me toward the concrete sidewalks and dimly lit streets. She let out a small whine, unsure. Running my fingers through the fur on her neck, I spoke to her quietly. “It’s okay. I need you to lie low. I’m just going to grab Adora, then head back here. The river is that way,” I said, nodding my head in its direction. “Go see what that was and make sure we aren’t being followed. I’ll be back here in ten minutes, then we’ll go.” I pressed my forehead to hers, and she huffed, turning and heading back to the forest we’d driven out of.

I stuck to the shadows, not attracting the attention of any passersby, though I realized there weren’t many out and about. It was close to three in the morning, and most of the streets were quiet.

The clouds overhead drifted in wispy puffs, letting bits of the crescent moon peek through. Its Cheshire Cat grin smiled down on me, making me feel like maybe this once it would be on my side. Maybe my curse would be lifted if I just got away from this part of the world.

The Salty Siren came into view, its wooden sign swinging in a gentle breeze, making the hinges creak eerily. Glancing over my shoulder, I double-checked that I was alone and then ducked into the alley next to the pub.

I set my backpack on the ground and waited, counting the seconds.

Adora should have been here by now. It was less than an hour’s drive for her, and even accounting for the time she’d need to sneak out, it didn’t make sense. An uneasiness filtered through me—a warning—but I brushed it aside. I had to. I wasn’t leaving without my sister.

My mind started to play tricks on me, and my thoughts ran wild. What if she was captured? Or hurt? What if our moms woke up and she couldn’t leave yet? I’d have to find a place for Nova and me to hide while we waited for her. A sound at the end of the alley reached my ears, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Adora,” I whispered, taking light steps toward her. “You were freaking me out?—”

I stopped dead in my tracks. Three forms stepped out from the shadows, and I gasped, my heart jumping to my throat.

Andreas stood, his arm wrapped around Adora’s chest, holding a revolver to her head. A thin, red line on her neck dribbled blood, nothing more than a flesh wound and likely from her struggle. Her bound hands held his arm as she moved carefully in our direction. A small knife was embedded in her shoulder, the wound bleeding and soaking into her shirt.

The left side of her face was bruised and swollen, its angry purple color a stark contrast to the white cloth they’d gagged her with. Even wounded and held hostage, her eyes didn’t have a lick of fear. What I saw there was pure hatred, and my stomach twisted. That look. She reserved it for only one, and he was here.

Mathis walked around them, tutting as he sauntered slowly toward me. “I told your family they weren’t to have contact with you. I warned them what I would do.” He gestured to my sister. “But I counted on your sister to fuck up. I knew it was only a matter of time.”

Adrenaline rushed through every vein and my heartbeat pounded, while it felt like blood boiled on my insides. My nails dug into my palm as I clenched my fists. “Let her go. You can have me,” I said through gritted teeth. Adora’s brows furrowed at me, and she released a small grunt in frustration. Pressing the revolver harder against her head, Andreas pulled the trigger, and a small, terrifying click sounded. My breath hitched.

But no shot rang out.

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