Blood Lands (Savage Lands #5)(52)

“Brexley!” I heard Istvan bark from his hiding spot. “Stop this!”

No. I snarled in my head, the energy vibrating through me. I didn’t want to stop. The power was addicting. Thrilling. Like being free. I wanted more.

The spirits whizzed near me in excitement. Another bolt of lightning speared the room, slicing down a row of water tanks, followed by another.

CRAAAAACK!

Every tank shattered. Thousands of gallons of liquid burst out, crashing into the room, a tsunami knocking people off their feet, burning out the equipment, and slamming anything loose into the walls and guards.

Screams and cries bounced around me, but nothing sounded close.

“Kovacs!”

It was the only sound that penetrated. Turning my head, my gaze latched on aqua eyes. He was still strapped to the table, soaking wet, blood tricking out of his nostrils. I was snapped out of my trance in an instant, darting over to him. My fingers unlatched his binds, helping him sit up. I felt no buzz between us. The link burned out. But I no longer feared it wouldn’t come back.

“You okay?” Lights spurted and fizzed overhead; just a few on the far wall still lit the room enough to see. The place was quiet of voices, which twisted my gut, but I didn’t have time to think about it.

“Had better days,” he grunted, sliding off the table, his arm around me, legs dipping when he tried to put his weight on them. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

“Yeah...” I took one step, my focus taking in the object only feet away, laying in the debris, the water retreating down a drain.

“Caden!” I ran for the body, falling down next to him, water going up to my hips, panic thundering my pulse in my ears. “Oh, gods. Be okay... be okay.” I pressed my fingers into his neck.

Did I do this? Did I kill him?

“Caden, come on.” My arms shook as I leaned over him, trying to feel any breath. I didn’t hesitate, starting CPR, my hands pressing into his chest, my mouth covering his, blowing air into his lungs.

“Please...” Panic quaked my voice and tears burning my lids before slipping down my face. I recalled so many key memories with my best friend. “You can’t leave me.” I pumped harder, trying to give him life. Once again, my magic was gone when I needed it the most—to save someone I cared about.

“Brex...” Warwick’s tone said everything, his hand reaching out for mine over Caden’s chest. The moment Warwick’s hand touched him, a wheezing gasp heaved Caden upright, his eyes bursting open wide. And I swear I saw his eyes glow, as if fire was burning behind the brown, before he blinked, and they were normal again.

“Oh my gods, Caden!” A cry broke free, my arms wrapping around him. Pulling back, I peered at him. He looked confused and disoriented.

“What the fuck happened? How...?” He looked around.

The shouts of soldiers heading our way from other parts of the underground building volleyed into the room.

“Come on!” Warwick got to his feet as I helped Caden up. “We’ve got to go now.”

Caden was weak, dazed, but alive.

“Do you think you can make it?” I held on to my friend as he swayed on his feet, barely keeping upright.

“No, I don’t think I can.” Caden whispered, his voice rough and scratchy.

A hacking cough and groan came from behind us, spinning me to the noise.

Istvan was stirring awake.

“Go, Brex.” Caden’s gaze went from him to me. In that moment, I saw the love he still had for me. The part of him that would always choose me over his father.

“I won’t leave you.”

“You have to.” He touched my face. “Just know, the moment I went back to HDF—I had to act as though I was with him.”

“Act?”

“I was never against you.” He dropped his hand away. “Now go!” His attention went to Warwick; a pointed expression passed between them. Warwick dipped his chin, answering Caden’s unspoken words.

Warwick moved to me, grabbing my arms.

“No!” I tried to fight him.

“Brexley, go.” Caden helped push me. “I can’t leave her.”

“Leave who?” I asked, while Warwick was leading me toward the exit. “I don’t understand. Come with us!”

“I can’t.” Sorrow flickered over Caden’s face. “I won’t leave my mother.”

My mother.

“Wha-what?” I sputtered in shock. “Your mother?” The pieces were clicking into place—the woman in the back cage before the door shut. The image of her huddled on the floor, her eyes meeting mine briefly. Nothing about her would be recognizable as the elegant, graceful perfection of the woman I grew up with—the one who could be a queen. This woman was dirty, gaunt, beaten, scared, and in filthy rags.

Except for the eyes. Her son’s eyes.

“Oh, my gods...” My hand went to my mouth, the realization knocking like a drum. “Rebeka.” She was here. This is where Istvan had hidden his wife. Was he using her as a lab experiment?

Yells from guards, followed by a groan from Istvan, captured Caden’s attention.

“Go,” he ordered again.

“No, I won’t leave either of you.”

“You don’t have time, Brex.” Caden wheezed, his throat raw, his legs still unstable. “He will kill you. He’ll kill both of you.”