Unchained Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 5)

Then suddenly Kimber’s eyes widen just before Kya’s, as if they’ve realized what I’m saying.

“Oh, that’ll do. So long as you’re right.”

“We’ve never had to do as much surviving as the ones in those rings. Look at Kya,” I say, gesturing to the dark-haired girl dressed like a sex kitten for reasons I’ll never understand. “She dematerialized for her first time on the night they were freed, and managed to follow Slade’s trail at a cold pace. She can dematerialize humans without killing them, which used to be considered impossible. She’s unnervingly instinctive because her life has been survival first.” I pause as if for dramatic effect, when really I’m just catching my breath. “We do the impossible every day. She’s proof.”

Kya’s lips thin when we both just stare at her like she’s been a tiny clue of how strong instinct truly is in our kind. An overlooked detail we’ve taken for granted without acknowledging the ferocity it holds.

“Okay, that’s creeping me out,” Kya finally says, waving her hands in front of her face like she’s uncomfortable.

Kimber looks back at me. “Then that’s the extra boost we’ll need to pull this off,” she says on a long, shaky breath.

“I’m sure shit will be real bad real fast if Hannah gets to walk out of there inside of anyone. Just so we’re clear, I don’t trust Slade to nuke her without accidentally blowing himself up and just releasing her into the world again,” Dice interjects. “He has anger issues. It should be factored into every equation.”

“If he hadn’t been helpful, I’d have already thrown him out of here,” Kimber tells me when I open my mouth and take a step toward him.

“Where’s Leah?” I ask, reigning myself in before I slap Dice.

As if she feels her cue, Leah appears, and we all glance at her as she staggers, still learning the ins and out of dematerializing when her own survival instincts aren’t driving her on.

“I’ve filled her in on most of it,” Kimber says, sitting back as Leah glances around at all our boards.

“I pride myself on being a logical person,” she states as she takes a seat too. Dice crunches on his candy bar, watching like he can’t look away as she continues. “Logically, I’d think monsters needed to die if they threatened all mankind,” Leah goes on, her fingers pausing beside one timeline where she killed both Zee and me. “I just don’t know how they convinced me that all of you were monsters.”

“Because we technically are. You just see things more our way since you had blinders on for your bloodsucker and he turned you into one of us,” Dice points out unhelpfully.

“Slade’s the reason I’m with Zee,” Leah says, laughing under her breath. “I already knew that, since Zee did all he could to push me out to a safe distance until Slade left him with no other alternative but to save my life the only way he could. It was seeing Zee struggle to keep me safe, even after he learned about what I am, that convinced me monsters existed on both sides,” Leah adds.

“It might have taken time to see that if you’d been with them while they hunted some of the worst of us,” I tell her, trying to keep her from looking guilty about things that have never actually happened. “They came for you, and you took over their little tribe.”

“Someone’s logic is a matter of their own personal experiences that creates their individual perspective,” Dice says in a bored drawl. “It’s why both sides of an argument think they’re right. It’s why we argue at all.”

We all blink at him.

“That was oddly insightful,” Leah whispers to me as though she’s worried the apocalypse is here too early.

“I doubt Zee man realized there was an alternate universe where you join the stabby cult and come back to kill all of us as often as you can,” Dice prattles on. “Hashtag, crazy bitch alert.”

“And he’s back,” Kya groans.

“What do you need me to do?” Leah asks, ignoring Dice agai

n now that the moment is over.

“I’m actually sort of asking you for a lot. Because I finally understood the most important variable he created without actually meaning to.”

She shrugs a shoulder. “If it’ll save everyone, I’ll do it. No matter what.”

“Don’t be such a—hashtag—drama llama,” Dice says, shattering the selfless, intense moment for Leah.

Dick.

“You’re not going to die, so long as Dice’s Angels aren’t wrong about this,” he carries on.

“For the last time, stop calling us that,” Kya snaps.

“Fine. Dice’s Devils. Better?” he asks seriously.

Kimber puts us back on topic. “Aside from Dice, we’ve all died in one way or another.”