September Moon (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #8)(62)

“Promise me,” I repeated. In my mind I could still see her hanging limp in Kale’s arms. Seeing the way Arrow had honed in on her weakness, attempting to exploit her, it made me desperate to protect her though I knew well that nobody could be protected from themselves.

“I promise,” she said, her joyous mask replaced with one of sincere intent.

“Thank you.” I did my best to appear apologetic. “Sorry about that, Ky.”

I returned to my seat to find my phone vibrating on the table. With an eye roll and a groan, I went to hit the button to ignore the call. Until I noticed that it was FPA Agent Briggs calling. There were many people I would ignore. He was not one of them.

Holding up a finger to show Jez and Ky I’d be back in a minute, I grabbed the phone and headed outside to take the call.

“Welcome home, Briggs,” I answered. “I see you’ve made it back safe and sound. What do you want?”

He didn’t waste time with fake small talk. Briggs was a man of few words, a likeable trait. “I’m sure your sister has called already. I felt it was only proper to call you myself. I respect you enough to give you fair warning.”

“I haven’t spoken with Juliet tonight. What’s this about?” A prickle of unease traced a path up my spine.

“You haven’t?” Briggs paused, causing my concern to grow. “Look, O’Brien, I’m going to level with you. Juliet told me that you’re to be Shya’s sacrifice. I’m sure you understand that from our perspective the most important thing is to keep Shya from completing his ritual. No matter what it takes.”

I moved further away from the crowd gathered around the door, chattering and smoking. Barely aware of them, I peered into the darkened street in jaw dropped shock.

“And since you can’t find the scroll the next best plan is to get rid of his sacrifice,” I said what he did not. Betrayal settled in to make me nauseous. How could Juliet do this to me? “Are you coming to kill me, Briggs?”

“I’m sorry, O’Brien. There is logic in taking his sacrifice out of play. At least this way your death with be used to save many rather than to condemn them. It will be honorable.”

My heart raced, and a loud ringing echoed in my ears. Perhaps this should not have come as such a shock, but it did. No way in hell was I going to lie down and let the FPA kill me.

“This isn’t your fight, Briggs. I know you think it is, but it’s not. Shya will be stopped. By me. Not like this. You know I will kill anyone you send after me.”

“Shya could find the scroll at any moment. Is that what you want? To risk the lives of so many innocents?”

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. My breath quickened, and a shock of adrenaline made me lightheaded. “Don’t pretend to give a damn about anyone but yourself and your disgusting self-serving organization. You want me? Come get me, Briggs. But you better have the balls to face me yourself.”

His voice was void of emotion when he said, “I’m on my way to do just that.”

Chapter Sixteen

He hung up without giving me a chance to respond. It didn’t matter. There was nothing I could say to that. I couldn’t tell how much time I had until Briggs caught up with me. I assumed he would track my phone; he’d done it before. I could always ditch it somewhere, but that would only prolong this showdown. It was as cowardly as tracking it was. No, I’d keep it. Let them find me.

I listened to Juliet’s message as I rushed back inside. In her frantic message, my sister pleaded for my forgiveness and warned me that Briggs was coming for me. She swore up and down that she hadn’t expected him to react that way. Too late for sorry now, little sister.

“I have to get out of here,” I blurted upon reaching the table where I’d left Ky and Jez. “The FPA know that I’m Shya’s sacrifice. They’re hunting me down.”

“What?” Kylarai was aghast.

Jez nodded and said, “Those sons-a-bitches don’t waste any time, do they?”

“You two should stay here. Watch the band and have a good time. They’re tracking my phone so I have to take off. I’ll lead them back to The Wicked Kiss. I want to do this on my terms.”

I leaned in to give Kylarai a quick hug, but she stopped me by standing up and grabbing her purse. “Let’s go then.”

Jez was already up and waiting. I had never doubted she would want to have my back. But Kylarai could not be endangered.

“Ky, no. You can’t come. Not in your…condition.” It just popped out. When her jaw dropped, I rushed to add, “It’s too dangerous.”

“You know?” She squeaked out. “I just found out. I didn’t want to say anything until more time had passed. Coby doesn’t even know yet.”

“I can feel it in your energy,” I admitted. “It won’t be long before others can scent it or hear the heartbeat. You should be lying low, Kylarai. This is incredible and rare. Don’t take a stupid chance for me.”

Her joyful smile was twisted into a mask of concern. “I can’t just run off home and leave you to be hunted by the government, Lex. I may not be your beta anymore, but I’ll always have your back.”

“I can’t let you do this. Go home.”

“Don’t give me orders. It’s not your place anymore.”