I wish I could say this was all me, I can’t.”
Julian’s grip on his collar tightened and I took a step closer, unsure of what either was capable of at this point.
Commotion outside the window stole my attention. Silas had resorted to physically blocking the steps and, while he was strong, he couldn’t hold them all off for long.
“Might be a good time to bail,” I said under my breath, signaling Julian, but he wasn’t budging. By the second, Roman grew more cantankerous than the moment before.
“Where can we find Jon?” Julian asked next, somehow able to ignore the verbal jab that had just been delivered.
“Now, why on Earth would I tell you that?” Roman seethed.
With one question, it became clear to whom he was most loyal, and it was no longer us. The hatred in his eyes was hard to miss. What I wasn’t sure of was whether it was reserved only for Corina, or if it extended to my brothers and I as well.
“Good luck with your search,” he said with a mocking laugh. “Although, I must admit, whatever fate has befallen that scourge to our dynasty, I don’t imagine it isn’t one she deserves.”
Julian moved, and he was only a blur. The full magnitude of his quadrant’s unmatched strength could not only be seen but heard as his fist careened into the side of Roman’s face. Nearly too stunned to move, I managed to wedge myself between the two, just long enough for Julian to compose himself and step back. He lifted his hands into the air as Roman swiped a trickle of blood from his lip.
The guards finally pushed past Silas, while Julian and I made quick work of disembarking from the jet through the emergency exit. We leapt down, landing on our feet before taking off toward the car. Elle and Silas caught sight of us as we passed and bounded down the steps while the guards checked in on Roman. It would only take seconds for them to notice we fled and begin their pursuit.
Elle didn’t miss a beat, managing to keep up with the three of us, hopping behind the steering wheel with a wide grin set on her face. In that moment, it became clear that, even in her absence, Corina’s tenacity was now a part of us all.
The engine roared and we were headed away from there as fast as Elle could drive us.
“So, where to now?” she practically sang. I wasn’t sure A.I.’s were capable of having adrenaline rushes, but you’d think that was the case based on how excitement flowed through her now.
Julian sat in silence, staring out the passenger-side window, still brimming over with frustration. So, when he failed to answer, I responded to Elle instead.
“Well, seeing as how Roman would have been more than happy to share his and Jon’s involvement, I suppose we can cross them off our list of suspects. Which means we’ve got to think outside the box,” I explain.
“Who else do we know capable of doing this?” Silas asked.
A thought occurred to me, and while it seemed far-fetched with little evidence to support the theory, I couldn’t shake the idea of there being another possibility.
“Hang a left and veer onto the freeway,” I instructed.
“Where are we going, Your Highness?” Elle asked excitedly.
My thoughts darkened as I recalled the time I’d spent in a cell not so long ago. With a sigh, I acknowledged that I’d only return to a place like that for someone I cared for deeply.
“We’re headed to Blackthorn,” I exhaled. “It’s time we pay our friend Aaric a visit.”
Chapter Three
Corina
He hadn’t said a single word as he flew me high above the Capitol, above the storm that had only made capturing me an easier feat. He—this monster whose name I hadn’t dared to utter in weeks—hadn’t even parted his lips to threaten my life or taunt me, like he so loved to do. Instead, he remained completely silent while ripping through the sky like a bullet, keeping my body braced tightly against his.
There was still no explanation given when he brought us down, landing in an open field where we were met by a group of his men. Our physical forms slowly bled into the void where we stood, and soon we were once again visible to the naked eye.
The six who met us stayed completely silent while binding my hands and feet, and then blindfolding me. There were still no answers given to the many questions I asked before