“The Feyans’ mission was pretty simple. The Peace Act, for all intents and purposes, was legit. The Narcos wanted to unite the races in order to start a full on breeding gone wild. They were gettin
g desperate to find the prophecy child.” He paused, his eyebrows knitted together. “The Feyan were on search and find—discover the escaped subject and find out if she harbored the ultimate power.” He shook his head. “They were to gain the subject’s trust. Manipulate her into believing the Narcos were here for a good purpose. For some reason, it was vital that Reese gain your trust.” He cleared his throat. “If it was reported back that the missing subject couldn’t be found, was dead, or that she didn’t hold the power, then the plan to unite the races would continue in order to produce the ‘one.’”
My stomach churned, threatening to make me lose its contents right there. I hugged my midsection, rocking. “That bastard.”
Jace pulled me into his arms and rested his chin on top of my head. “Want me to kill him?”
“Yes.” I clamped my eyes shut, urging the stinging tears back. “No. I don’t know.”
His breath caressed my hair as he breathed out heavily. “At least you found out the truth before it was too late.” His body stiffened. I’d almost been with Reese. My soul flooded with guilt at the thought of Jace walking in and seeing us together.
“Jace…I’m—”
“It’s okay. You didn’t know.” He held me tighter. “I’m just sorry I couldn’t work faster and figure it out way before now.”
I pushed the thought from my head, blocking out the ache in my chest. “So, now that Reese knows that we know…” I bowed my head against his arm.
“I have a feeling since I botched his mission, that yeah, they’ll come for you—try to take you any way they can.” Jace pressed his lips to my head. “But they won’t. I won’t let them. And whatever your power is…whatever reason they want you so badly, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
He finally released me, and I fell slack. I sat back on the palms of my hands, staring blankly out into the darkness. Jace stood and moved toward the door. “You know I’m here if you need me,” he said. “I’m going back in. Have to try and figure this out before they attack.”
Before the door shut, I spun my head toward him. “Jace, don’t worry about Reese.” I paused a beat, taking in his confused expression. “I’ll kill him.”
I looked toward the woods and heard the door close behind me. There was nothing to think about anymore. Reese was part of some Feyan Army that had been ordered to get close to me, manipulate me, turn me against the race that had raised me. Somehow, they planned to use my power to their benefit.
Why didn’t Reese just take me right when he discovered my power? I despised him for all the hoops he’d made me jump through. Whatever the reason, he was really good at his job.
I stood and brushed the back of my pants legs. Turning to go join them inside, I froze as I heard a snap behind me. Ice hit my bloodstream. Before I was able to run, a blinding pain splintered through my head, and the world around me went blacker than the night sky.
Chapter Twenty-Six
MY EYES CRACKED OPEN, and my surroundings rocked. I was in a dimly lit room with mahogany paneled walls—walls and furniture I’d seen before. The swaying of the room and familiar scenery jarred my memory. I was on the Narcolym Council’s airship.
I touched the back of my pounding head. A tender knot bloomed beneath my fingertips. Panicked, I dug for my communicator, but my pockets were empty. Damn.
I glanced around me. There were no windows. Only one door. I jumped off the small cot and stumbled toward it. Grasping the brass handle, I twisted, my hands slipping around the knob. Locked. Of course. I slumped against the cool wood.
I pressed my ear to the door. Footsteps echoed in the hallway just outside the room. I backed away from the door. Crap. I didn’t have any kind of weapon. Quickly, I scanned the room. The only thing here was that stupid cot and a desk with a chair. A chair!
I ran to the desk, balanced myself, and raised the chair above my head. I threw it against the floor. It didn’t break. I did it again and this time a leg came loose. I knelt and pried it from the seat. I heard a click and the door began opening. I stood my ground, my wooden stake held out in front of me.
“Put that away,” a Narco said. “I’m not a vampire.” He sauntered toward the center of the room. His black hair was slicked back, and his pale, unearthly features hard. He was the Narco Council member I’d seen the day of my test. “Wouldn’t want you to poke one of those precious violet eyes out now, would we?” He motioned for me to take a seat on the cot.
I shook my head. “Whatever you have planned,” I said, sizing him up, “I’ll die first.”
He tsked me, waggling a finger. “You should have never been raised Shythe. Your attitude would have been far more accommodating if you were brought up Narcolym.” He studied me a moment. “I have to admit, though. You were the last one I suspected. That was an amazing performance you gave.” He leaned against the desk. “You even managed to fool one of my best soldiers.”
I relaxed my grip on the weapon and squinted. Did he mean I’d fooled Reese? If Reese didn’t report me…My mind drifted. I sat down on the cot. I didn’t feel I was in immediate danger. He still needed me, after all.
I glared at him. “Then how did you find me?”
He crossed one ankle over the other. “Hair sample,” he deadpanned. “I became bored waiting for my soldiers to locate you. And with today’s amazing advancements, there was really no need to wait any longer to discover if you were alive and here in Haven Falls.” He grinned.
I felt the back of my head, remembering my hair being yanked before I began my performance. “The blindfold.”
“I see that the Shythe haven’t raised a complete fool.” He uncrossed his legs and took a step toward me. “Although, it would have been much better for you to have come to me first. We could have avoided this whole painful process. That was my intention, of course. I didn’t want to force you to hand over you power.”
I studied him. I could take him. Maybe he felt me considering it, because he halted mid-step.