Rebel Born (Secondborn #3)(88)

I turn my attention away from Crow and let the barrier between me and Reykin disintegrate. Reykin moves to my side. I frown at Ransom, but it’s Crow in there—I know it.

“How did you find us?” I ask, surprised that my voice doesn’t quiver.

“I’m omnipotent.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I came looking for Gildenzear—for the home of the gods—and look what I found instead!” Crow turns to Clifton. “If it isn’t Clifton Salloway. You’re a very nimble fellow, Clifton. I didn’t expect you to run away so quickly that evening of our coming-out party at the Silver Halo. And abandon your fiancée? Did you even try to help Roselle, or were you too busy scurrying to your airship?”

Clifton doesn’t answer him, but a blush stains his cheeks.

Crow’s attention shifts again, this time toward Reykin. “And here’s another of the failed leaders of the resistance! The Winterstroms are reunited.” Crow chuckles, making Ransom’s face look eerily like Crow’s own. “Firstborn and secondborn living in harmony. One big happy family . . . except you forgot the other two brats in your disgusting tribe. What are their names again? Rettis and Reign?” From Ransom’s mouth come the tormenting pleas of young men’s voices. They beg Reykin to save them. Their chilling voices freeze the marrow in my bones.

A sardonic smirk curves Reykin’s lips. “You don’t have them. You scraped Ransom’s brain for information, but I never told him where they are. It’s just a parlor trick. It shows your weakness, not your strength. You’re afraid of us. We’re set to hunt you into extinction, Agent Crow, because, after all, it’s your turn.”

“I’m immortal. I’ll pluck all your stars from the sky and melt them down—starting with this one.” He throws his head back and his arms wide, indicating Ransom as his intended victim. The knife in Ransom’s hand glints evilly. Cherno and Clifton creep nearer to us. I hold up my hand, signaling them to stay back. Ransom’s posture straightens, and Crow’s voice grates the air: “I may not have your brothers yet, but I will. I’ll kill everyone just to get to them. Who’ll stop me? You?” Ransom eerily seems to delight in Crow’s superiority. “You’re hiding in a bubble, leagues under the sea—afraid to face me. But this time I’m going to rip out Roselle’s heart and show it to her. Just like I’ll rip out his.”

I knew Crow could reach this depth. He just hadn’t known we were here, until now. Spectrum created worlds—it’ll be nothing to infiltrate this vessel now that it’s been located. My mind scans the sea around the sphere. Crow’s submarines encircle New Gildenzear. We don’t have much time before he’s inside.

“I’m coming for you, Roselle.” Crow raises Ransom’s hand and angles the knife toward the technician’s chest. I raise my palm. The downward thrust of the knife almost reaches the fabric of Ransom’s uniform, but within the span of a breath, I yank Ransom’s body to me telekinetically, pull until his forehead reaches my palm, and expel Crow from Ransom’s mind with a brutal pulse.

Ransom convulses. I hold him to me with little effort, but fear turns my own knees weak. His muscles stiffen. Saliva drools from his mouth and courses down his chin and onto my shoulder. His skin takes on a deathly hue before he goes limp in my arms.

“Ransom,” I whisper. Gently, I lower his unconscious body to the floor. On my knees, I lean over him, smoothing the dark hair back from his face. Worry that I might have fried his brain wrinkles my forehead. Reykin kneels, too, saying his little brother’s name over and over.

Finally, Ransom gurgles, coughs, and opens his eyes, gasping for breath. He squints and hisses, touching his forehead with a shaky hand. “What happened?”

“Are you all right?” Reykin asks. The look of relief on his face replaces one of raw fear. Cherno and Clifton stand around us, listening.

“My head feels like someone set it on fire.” Ransom grimaces.

“Crow broke into your mind,” Reykin says, touching his brother’s arm lightly.

Ransom groans. “Did I hurt anyone?”

“No, you did exactly what I asked you to do when we came up with contingency plans for Crow taking possession of you,” I say. “It worked, but unfortunately it means that it’s time for us to go now.” I help Ransom to his feet and glance at Clifton. “Crow’s ships are here. He has docked his vessel, and he’s inside, on the main level above. Are you sure everyone’s gone?”

“I love this place. It’s been my home for a while now.”

I frown. “Clifton, focus. Have you made sure that everyone is gone?”

“Yes. Everyone evacuated to the other spheres weeks ago, and they scattered throughout the sea. My staff left yesterday when you told me you sensed that Crow was close.”

“Good. It’s time to go.”

“You’re sure the transporter device is sound?” Clifton asks, raising his golden eyebrow.

“You’re asking me now?” I can’t help the exasperated smile that crosses my lips. “Isn’t it a little late to question me now, what with Crow storming your temple?”

“I suppose it is,” Clifton says. He gazes at the machine I built for the occasion. Reykin and I worked on it with Clifton’s engineers. Inside the center of the archway’s steel frame, foggy blue air undulates. A cool draft emanates from it. The surface moves in concentric blue waves. I march my volunteers into the transport, where they vanish one by one.