Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(96)

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“Oh, but I can do much worse, my dear Alexis.” Livia’s taunt pulled Quinn away from Sasha’s retreating figure and back to the battle.

“Quinn, let’s go. Please.” Santi pulled his hand.

“I can’t leave my family to clean up my mess,” he said, turning to face Livia.

“Liv, don’t do this,” Quinn begged her to end this. “Please. We’ll come back with you.”

“No!” Chloe cried when Livia lunged toward Jin.

Quinn watched as Jin shoved his daughter behind him. Livia’s sword flashed silver in the brilliant moonlight.

No longer Complements? Livia had always kept her own abilities close to the belt. While she knew every nuance of her slaves’ individual gifts, the only thing Quinn knew she could do was hijack another’s gift.

“She’s severed their bond,” he choked. Their Immortality lay within the Complement bond. If that bond no longer existed … what would that mean for Jin and Ming’s mortality?

Gunfire sounded just as Livia’s sword arched toward Jin’s chest. The bullet hit Livia’s shoulder, but it was too late.

At the last moment, Ming Lao jumped in front of her husband. Livia’s sword had sliced right through her heart.

“Momma!” Chloe shrieked, dropping to the ground beside her mother.

“It is best that one of them not survive this, child,” Livia said, ruffling Chloe’s hair. Then she gripped her shoulder where bloodstains bloomed across her white shirt and set off across the orchard.

Chloe’s screams echoed in the sudden stillness of the night.

Quinn lunged to follow Livia.

“No, Quinn!” Santi pulled him back. “Let her go!”

He really wanted to believe in Livia. That she wasn’t the monster she seemed to be. But nothing gave her the right to do what she’d just done. Cornered or not.

Livia joined Selena at the edge of the orchard, but Emma, Ju Long and Lu Li boxed them in. Michael waited for Livia along the orchard path to the gates, but seeing their predicament, he turned tail and ran.

Santi and Quinn’s plan was a success. Livia wouldn’t make it out of here a free woman—but it had cost his grandmother her life.

Quinn followed his mother, ignoring Santi’s pleas as she trailed behind him. He drew his sword, focusing on the woman responsible for all of this.

“Get back, son. She’s mine,” Emma said.

“Listen to mommy,” Livia taunted. “Shall we tell her of all the tortures you’ve experienced since you’ve been with me, Quinn?”

“You’re outnumbered, Liv. Give it up.” He cast a glance at Selena. She was busy with Ju Long and Lu Li. They were keeping her on her toes.

“I don’t give up.” Livia lunged her attack, stalking Emma like prey. But Emma was ready for her, countering her advances like the blade master she was.

Livia and Emma circled each other.

“You’ll never touch another hair on my son’s head,” Emma snarled. “I will soak this ground with your blood and dance on it.”

The two women were well matched. But Livia was young and she surrounded herself with those even younger. Emma had over a thousand years of experience and wisdom on her side. And she fought with the fury only a mother could know. She wasn’t going to lose this fight.

“Get my son out of here!” Emma shouted at Santi. The ground shook with the force of their blows as Emma moved in a blur, chasing Livia through the rows of trees. True to her word, Emma’s sword carved Livia’s flesh, spilling her blood all across the orchard.

“Quinn?” Santi whispered at his side.

“I can’t leave my mother and my great-grandparents to fight on their own.” But just as he turned to help Ju Long, his brand seared hot on his arm, forcing Quinn to drop his weapon. The tug of his leash brought him to his knees. Santi fell beside him as Ryan came to collect them.

Quinn searched the orchard for help. He wouldn’t go back. Not when his plans had led to the death of his grandmother and all of this bloodshed. No. He refused to be a captive any longer.

“You’re coming with me.” Ryan hauled him to his feet.

“No! Let him go.” Santi shoved him, scraping her nails across his face. “Go!” She shoved him again. “Turn tail and run like the coward you are,” Santi sneered, “we’re not coming with you. You’re outnumbered?”

“I’ll pull you back. You belong to Soma.” Ryan watched as Emma fought to bring Livia down. At the same moment, two Coalition joined Selena in her battle with Ju Long and Lu Li.

“No!” Quinn lunged to help his great-grandparents, but Ryan’s held him back. “Please!”

The Coalition thugs had given Selena the opening she needed. With a touch of her gift, she drained Quinn’s great-grandparents of their knowledge, dropping them to the ground when she was done with them. She’d make a fortune selling their priceless secrets.

In an instant, the Coalition moved in for the slaughter. Like the butchers they were, they ripped the Immortal’s hearts from their chests and tossed them into the nearest fire like proud hunters discarding the offal from a fresh kill.

Selena took a step toward Livia, like the well-trained dog she was, but Livia wasn’t her master. Marcus had given Selena enough freedom to make her own choices. With a smirk in Quinn’s direction, she fled the orchard with her Coalition guards.