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“Pathetic human, I see the pain in your eyes. You allowed your hunger for power to overtake you,” Kai says, holding her still.

“N-no, I— I l-l-lost everything…” she stutters, trailing off.

“You want power?” Kai says, his eyes darkening. “Then you need to pay.”

“I’ll pay it! I’ll pay you anything, just please let me live whatever the cost.”

“Power, my dear. Always comes at a price. Like so many before you, the cost will be your life.” He speaks calmly as he crushes her neck, the crack loud enough to feel as he tosses her body to the side.

I kneel down, untying the gag from Calli’s mouth while Kai unties her binds. Calli reels back and slaps him. Kai catches her right before her head hits the ground.

“Get away from me,” she says, her voice hoarse and lazy.

Kai reaches for her hand and she pulls away.

“I’m sorry.” His gaze is warm as he backs away from her. “I just had to make sure you were safe.”

I want to feel relief, but instead, all I feel is numb. As Kai tries to break down Calli’s walls, their voices are replaced in my head with a distant whispering. I search the room and my eyes land on Kai’s duffel with the grimoire sticking out.

“I don’t like you right now.” Calli’s voice brings me back to the present moment. “Can you take this thing off? It’s doing stuff.” Her words are almost slurred as she tugs at the black collar adorning her neck. That fucking thing. I remember it well. One of the many fucked-up ways our parents tried to control her.

“Get that fucking thing off her,” I growl.

Kai grips it and leans down, biting the collar off. I watch as Calli’s face relaxes.

“That’s better.” She sighs before looking back to Kai, expressionless. “Still mad though.”

“Where is Gen?” I ask.

“I dunno. They fucking drugged me.”

“Did you get her? Is she safe?” I hear Jack muffled in my ear.

Looking over at Calli, I see Kai opening his arms and inviting her in. With tears in her eyes, she melts into his chest, still barely holding on to consciousness.

“Yeah. We got her, no sign of Gen though, and Ben is gone.” I breathe a sigh when I scan the room for Alok.

“Where is Alok?” I ask apprehensively.

“I thought he stayed back in case we needed backup, but I don’t know,” Kai answers as he pulls Calli deeper in his hold.

“That’s— That is not good.”

CHAPTER 39 CADE

We don’t know where Gen is, Ben is dead, and Alok is missing. But we need to get the hell out of here.

“We have to find Gen,” Calli says, attempting to sit up.

I grip the pendulum around my neck, trying to find comfort. Wanting to feel the comfort you bring, I find none. The whispering continues, but it cuts off when a sharp clap reverberates around the room.

“Kai, who is that—” Calli points as all our eyes turn to the sharp sound.

No.

“Well done! You’re all here!” the man says with glee. Tall and lanky with pin-straight blond hair. Small horn protruding from his head, and glowing eyes…

Gregor.