Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“Is that it?” Kat asked.

He nodded.

“The baby,” she said, ushering him toward the door.

She cringed at the sound of a gunfight, but forced herself to remain calm. They carried on down the hallway until they’d almost reached the end. Nicolas stopped in front of a door with no lab number and pointed at it.

“Babyjh.”

Kat touched the knob. She sighed with relief when the door wasn’t locked. Her heart thudded with anticipation as she pushed it open. A young girl sat in a chair next to a crib, clutching a baby wrapped in a yellow blanket to her chest. The only other furniture was a change table with drawers.

Thomas.

Nicolas grabbed the belt of her robe when she entered, shooting a frightened look over his shoulder.

The girl stared at them with wide eyes and wet cheeks. “Who are you?”

“We’re under attack,” Kat said.

“I know that,” the girl bit out.

“Give me the baby. We have to go.”

“I have instructions—”

“Do you want to die?” Kat asked.

The girl didn’t resist as Kat reached for her baby. She wrapped her hands around his small body and pulled him to her chest. For the first time, she stared down at her baby’s face. His eyes were open, still an undefined blue. She saw Lann in every part of his perfect features. His nose was straight, and his lips full. She pushed the baby’s hat away with trembling fingers. His head was covered with soft, blond hair. He lifted a small hand in the air. When she offered her finger, he gripped it tightly. He was perfect. Tears of joy rolled over her cheeks.

“Thomas,” she whispered. “Welcome to the world.”

Nicolas’s frantic voice pulled her from her moment. “Gosj.”

Kat looked up. The girl was already gone.

“Go,” Kat repeated, indicating for Nicolas to lead the way.

At the door, they stopped in their tracks. Adam was blocking the exit, a gun in his hand.

Chapter 20

“Adam,” Kat gasped, “let us go.”

The look in his eyes frightened her. It was one of hopelessness. Kat and Nicolas retreated into the room as Adam stepped forward.

“What’s happening?” Kat asked. “Who’s attacking us?”

Nicolas made keening sounds. He scurried back, but tripped over the chair and sprawled out on the floor, the book falling from his hands and sliding under the change table.

“Let him go,” Kat said.

Nicolas got to his feet with much difficulty.

Adam regarded Nicolas dispassionately. “Go.”

Nicolas looked at Kat.

“Go,” she urged. “Go, Nicolas.” When he didn’t move, she gave him a gentle push. “Go quickly.”

He limped to the door, glancing back at her before disappearing around the frame.

“Even Nicolas is taken with you,” Adam said, pointing the gun at Kat.

“He’s lonely. He just needed a friend,” she said, fear gripping her. “Adam, we have to go.”

“What makes you think I’m letting you go?”

“I don’t. I was just pushing my luck.”

“I can see why he loves you,” he said.

Thomas started crying. She clutched her precious baby tightly to her chest. “What?”

The gunshots echoing around them were becoming louder.

“Dréan,” he said. “I can see why he loves you.”

“Why are you saying this?”

His tone was level. “We’re not getting out of here alive.”

Panic crept into her voice. “What are you talking about?”

“The exits are blocked. We’re trapped. I’ve got to destroy the building.”

The truth hit her like a punch in the gut. He was going to blow up the lab to destroy the evidence, the experiment, and the cure.

“You let Nicolas go,” she said, breathless.

“He’s a freak. They won’t touch him. They’ll think he’s useless.”

Rocking Thomas to soothe him, she said, “Don’t do this.”

“I’m sorry, Kat.” He sounded genuinely regretful. “I don’t have a choice. If I don’t, what they’ll find here will compromise Godfrey.”

“You don’t owe him your life.”

“I owe him much more than my life.”

“You’re his son. No father wants his son dead.”

“You don’t understand half of it. Nicolas is his son, not me.”

Kat took a step back, shaking her head. “You call him Father.”

“I’m his stepson.” He paused, his mind seemingly wandering to some place in the past. “When he married my mother, he took me in and raised me as one of his own. I was the instrument Nicolas couldn’t be.” He laughed softly. “Nicolas had the brains, the genius, but not the disposition to become the son Godfrey wanted. He needed me to run his operations and become the killer Nicolas couldn’t be.” He snorted. “Nicolas couldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Please, you don’t have to kill us. We can make it. We can get out.”

He fixed his attention back on her. “I can’t. I’ve failed him. This operation will make him vulnerable if it’s blown open.” His smile was ironic. “Besides, I’ve let him down in the worst possible way.”

“You haven’t let him down.” She’d say anything to sway him. “You’re under attack.”

“I disobeyed his orders. He told me to deliver you back to your husband, but, you see, I decided to keep you.”