Lifeblood (Everlife #2)(48)

“I don’t trust you,” I tell her gently. “But I want peace between our realms.” One by one... “Let it start here, with us. I’ll stay out of your way, and you’ll stay out of mine.” I offer her my hand, intending to shake. “Deal?”

Killian steps between us. “You’re right, Ten.” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, making me shiver all over again. “You can’t trust her.”

What is he—

Comprehension dawns. Now he’s playing a part.

“Can I trust you?” I say to him for Sloan’s benefit. “You’ll need to prove your good intentions and return Gingerbread to Dior.”

The corners of his mouth quirk up. He reaches out to pinch a strand of my hair, the darkness perfectly contrasting with the flawless bronzed beauty of his Shell. “I knew you’d demand the dog’s return, which is why I’ve already made arrangements.”

Sweet Killian. I barely contain the urge to throw myself back in his arms.

Stiffening, Sloan swivels around to inspect the line of trees. “I think someone’s coming.” She closes her eyes, her expression taut as she concentrates. “Six MLs. I sense they’re angry and heavily armed.”

She’s that connected to Myriad’s version of the Grid? Zero! She’s a step ahead of me.

Killian curses and unsheathes a gun—a gun he aims at me.

I frown, certain I’m misreading the situation. “Hey. What are you—”

“You can’t stay here. I’m sorry, lass, but this might sting a bit.” He squeezes the trigger, nailing me between the eyes.





chapter eleven



* * *



“Mercy and correction forever walk hand in hand.”

—Troika

Zero!

He did it. He actually did it. Killian Flynn shot me.

Yes, you can shoot a Shell in a specific spot, destroying the outer casing while ejecting the spirit, unharmed. The spirit returns home in a split second. There are also ways to destroy the Shell while injuring the spirit, as well as ways to trap a spirit inside a Shell, causing the spirit to hemorrhage to death.

Killian went with option A.

My Shell explodes, every nerve in my body hit with a sudden blast of heat. For a moment, I’m in limbo, Shell-less but trapped in a vacuum of air I can’t escape.

My mind whirls. In the past, Killian did everything in his power to protect me, and that kind of vigilance can give a girl certain expectations. Like, he wants to kiss me and not he wants to blow me to smithereens.

I know, I know. By shooting me, he prevented a battle between me and the MLs headed our way. He protected the image he’s worked so hard to cultivate: a dedicated Myriadian willing to turn on me whenever necessary.

I can’t throw a hissy fit over this, can I? On the flip side, I might have to award him a gold star of excellence.

The vacuum tightens until I feel as if I’m being expelled from a birth canal, sliding into the welcome arms of...the Veil of Wings.

I rush through the crimson water and, to my absolute delight, the fires cool and every lingering ache leaves me. I intend to find Meredith or Levi. Someone to send me back.

I have to go back. Not for Killian, not this time, but for Dior. I promised to deliver Gingerbread, and I will.

I come out the other side and discover Kayla waiting for me, a Shell standing beside her. A new Shell for me, with new Whells attached. This one is a replica of the first, with only one major difference. There are two zits on her chin.

Hilarious, Levi. Simply hilarious.

“How did Meredith know I’d need a new one?” I step inside the Shell and anchor.

“She didn’t. She suspected. As soon as she gave you permission to lead the mission. Oh!” Kayla says. “I’m supposed to tell you Gingerbread is tied to the pecan tree near the spot where you met with Killian and Sloan. The dog was hidden by a Myriad shield, but that shield has since been removed.”

He did it. He really did it. Warm honey spills over my heart. “How do you—never mind. I can guess. The Eye.”

I kiss her cheek and rush through the Veil—

I end up where I started: in front of the farmhouse door. Clay, Victor and Elizabeth pace the porch, arguing about me while typing into their keyboards.

Elizabeth spots me first and scowls. “I told you. I told you he’d choose his realm over you. You are now what his breed of slimeball likes to call nothing special.”

Her venom misses its target—my heart—and doesn’t even rouse my anger. I know she’s wrong. Besides, we’re teammates, she and I, and we’ve got to find a way to get along...which means someone has to make the first move.

Together we’ll stand or one by one we’ll fall.

The ground quakes with greater force, and dust plumes the air. Obviously the battle still rages in the sky, the damage spilling into the Land of the Harvest.

Clay pulls me close for a hug. “Thank the Firstking you’re all right.”

“Yeah, well, my job isn’t over. Kayla told me Gingerbread is just beyond the wall.” Is Killian still there? Is Sloan? Looking between Clay and Victor I say, “Back me up?” Just in case the MLs haven’t moved on.

“Of course.” Victor nods.

“Now you want my help?” Clay quips.