I thought about never seeing my mother again. She’d never know what happened to me. And I’d never see Jace, Lana, or Nick, either. Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t allow Drevan to think I was weak.
I still didn’t understand how my power was the key to the curse. And I was sure he wasn’t going to let me know just yet. He was smarter than to monologue like the bad guy and give away all his secrets right before a daring rescue.
Except, for me, there wasn’t going to be a daring rescue. I’d been careless, feeling sorry for myself over Reese, and allowed myself to be taken. I didn’t want to believe I was the one they wanted, that all these things could be true. I wasn’t ready to give up, but I didn’t see any other way to save my family and friends. My only option was to leave in order to protect them.
Right now, they were down there waging a war. I knew Jace was trying to fight his way up here, but that wouldn’t happen. They outnumbered us by many. Not only that, the Narcos had an army of Feyan, with super powers that would obliterate the Shythe soon. I paced my cell, wishing the airship would take off so the fighting would hurry up and end.
I sat back down on the cot and buried my face in my hands. I was terrified. Before I allowed the first tears to fall, I heard a click. My head shot up, and I rushed toward the door, anxious to hear that I needed to buckle up or strap in. Whatever they did on airships when it was time to go. But I was shocked to see it wasn’t Drevan or one of his Narco minions.
Reese stood in the doorway. “Dez, listen close—”
His words broke off as I slapped him across his face. “Why did they send you? Huh? To torture me more?” My hand stung, and I pumped it a couple times before pushing him away. I turned my back to him and marched toward my cot. “You can go to hell, Reese. Get out.”
“Dez!” he whisper-shouted.
“What!” I faced him.
“Shut up.” He rubbed his face, then stormed over to me and placed his grappler into my hand. “They didn’t send me, and you don’t have much time.” He went back to the door and peeked out. “It’s clear. Most of the guards are fighting, but we only have a short window before Drevan raises the barrier spell again. He’s about to move the airships out. So you have to get off the ship now.” He looked into my eyes—his wide and worried. “I’m sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.”
I turned the cool brass device around in my hand. “Why are you doing this?”
“I love you.”
His words seared into me hotter than any flame could. His eyes gleamed, begging me to believe him. I clamped my eyes shut, ordering my pounding heart to steady, before I looked at him again. “I don’t trust you.”
“I know.” He dipped his head. “And there’s nothing I can say to change that.” He took a cautious step toward me. “Just hear this first. The only thing I withheld was the full truth of where I came from, how I was raised.” He sucked in a breath. “I didn’t want you to know that part of me. I didn’t even know my mom.” He pressed his lips together. “I thought if I protected you and kept the Narcos from discovering you, they’d stop searching and carry on with their secondary plan. They’d never find you, and no matter how long they bred the races, they’d never find the one. And that would even prevent a war.”
I huffed. I had to admit, it was a good plan. “I can’t believe you.” I ground my jaw stubbornly. Good plan or not, I was still upset. But my chest tightened as I thought about what he must have gone through in Drevan’s army.
Reese grabbed my arms. “Do you think if all I wanted from you was to move up in rank, I’d be here now?”
“You said as much.” I yanked back, but he held me firm.
“I said that at the hotel to make you run, Dez. To stay away from all Narcos. I was willing to let you go if it meant keeping you safe from them.”
His words hit me again, splintering my defenses. I opened my