Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(94)

Sasha did a double take when she saw Quinn taking up the fight alongside Livia. Helping her. Fighting against his father and grandmother.

“He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Sasha murmured as Livia disappeared, only to appear again just out of Ming’s reach. She was using Quinn’s gift. The thought that she’d taken it from him—the one gift he was actually proud of—sickened her.

Sasha gripped her Chola blades and jumped from the hayloft, landing in a crouch on the ground below. In that moment she embraced her training, grateful for it. She charged down the rows of trees, mentally erecting a barrier between herself and her emotions. Quinn was coming home tonight whether he wanted to or not. And Livia would be lucky if she didn’t end up scattered across this orchard in pieces.

Sasha ran past clusters of her family working together to fight the enemy. She dodged random strikes, wielding her blades with calculated precision. By the time she reached the end of the orchard, where Quinn and Livia faced Daniel and Ming Lao, her white blades dripped red with blood.

“This isn’t you, son,” Daniel said, trying to talk Quinn down.

“Quinn’s not here.” His eyes flickered with blue fire and his insane laughter chilled Sasha to the bone.

This wasn’t the Quinn she knew, but he was in there somewhere. She could sense him struggling inside this creature that wore his face. If she could just get through to the real Quinn, she knew she could bring him out of this madness. But Sasha stumbled. The din of battle growing faint in her ears. She swayed on her feet, dizzy and confused as her breath came in short gasps. She ducked behind a gnarled apple tree. Her chest tightened, like a fist gripped her heart.

“Quinn?” She could feel the pull of his presence—the real Quinn. She felt it the way she always had, but seeing him again, after everything they’d been through, made it a thousand times stronger.

Her heart raced at the sight of him. Her chest burned and her peripheral vision burnished golden with the flames of the forest around them. She couldn’t draw a breath, overwhelmed by her feelings for the boy she’d loved most of her life. Sasha’s eyes filled with tears. Just when she thought she couldn’t last another moment without a breath, air burst into her lungs, fresh and sweet when it should have been tainted with the smoke of the fires.

The echo of an unfamiliar heartbeat thrummed in her chest, filling her with strength.

~~~





CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR





Quinn: Fall—The New Moon


Rural New York


“Quinnton Greggory Loukas!”

Quinn stirred like a bear waking from a long hibernation.

“Sasha?” He fought to open his eyes, struggling to recall his last memory.

No! This wasn’t our deal! his gift raged.

Quinn felt a surge of strength coming from some outside source.

Sasha. Just the thought of her gave him clarity.

You will have to fight us!

Did you really think I would go quietly? Quinn reached for his power, grasping it by a thread. But it was enough. He wasn’t going to lose this fight now. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. Through all the years of resisting his power, refusing to use his gifts for fear of losing control, he’d given the voice of his madness too much power over him. No more.

We won’t go back! crazy-Quinn screamed.

No! This is my life! Quinn growled. I decide how and when to use my power. Not you. Never again. I am not afraid of you!

You will always fear us! his gift hissed.

I am done letting my fears rule me. Quinn clawed his way back, seizing control of his power and his life. Go back to where you belong.

Quinn took a deep breath to still his racing heart. He didn’t know how it happened, but he was back. He could sense his gift huddling in the dark recesses of his mind, howling and enraged. The madness would be back. It was a part of him and it was time he accepted it.

Strength flooded his limbs. Feeling surged into fingertips he mentally flexed, like he hadn’t thought to use them in a long time. He felt the pull of Sasha. More than just her calling his name … she was calling him. His power. His mind. Everything. She needed him.

He blinked and the world exploded into chaos around him. Screams. Blood. Moonlight. Livia fought beside him, but he only had eyes for Sasha.

She stood at the center of a battlefield, crazy hair on end, blood and dirt on her face with fury in her eyes. She was both a terrifying sight and an image from a dream. He stumbled forward, afraid she was just a figment of his imagination.

“Snap the hell out of it!” Sasha pointed her dagger at him like she would filet him on the spot if he didn’t lower his sword.

My sword? Livia’s never given me a weapon. Livia. She broke him. His last memories crashed into him as he dropped the sword to his side. Unable to tear his eyes away from Sasha, he took another step toward her, ignoring Livia’s order for him to return. The sharp tug of his leash didn’t faze him. He felt stronger than he had in months, but his breath came fast and uneasy. Confusion overwhelmed him. His chest burned, sending his blood pumping through his body like liquid ice in his veins. The world tilted and Quinn feared he would pass out before he could draw his next breath. When his lungs filled with sweet air and his world righted again, everything was different. Sasha was his lifeline and he held onto her. His heart seemed to beat right out of his chest. His pulse raced alongside the gentle echo of another heartbeat. It gave him strength and calmed him in the midst of war.