stream, filling me with energy like my blood was on fire. The bear and I charged each other at the same time. I ducked under its first swipe – the razor sharp claws missing me by inches – then grabbed a handful of matted fur and used my momentum to launch myself up onto its back. With my other hand, I retrieved my knife out of its shoulder and jabbed it through the side of its head, twisting the handle until I felt the skull crack and the knife penetrate its brain. It screamed in pain, spinning and bucking to throw me off, but finally sank into the concrete and after a final tremor, lay still. I closed my eyes, laying on top of the warm body, listening to the creature’s heart until it stopped beating.
“That was amazing,” April said. “I’ve never seen anyone move like that. How much elixir did you have?”
“I don’t know. Three or four drops? It’s hard to tell without my device,” I shook my wrist.
“You really are different,” she said.
“Only with elixir,” I said. “Otherwise, I’m just like everyone else. Quickly, we’ve got to go. Something else could have heard the gunshots. We don’t have much time.”
We hurried through the street. I was still buzzing from adrenaline and elixir, which made me paranoid. We should have been quieter. We were reckless. This was a mistake. It was getting dark by the time we found the alley that led into Havoc. I took a deep breath of relief when we found the secret entrance undisturbed.
I boosted April so she could climb up into the hole, then she reached down and helped pull me up to the ledge. I was almost inside, when I felt something grab my ankle and drag me back outside.
13
I hit the ground hard, knocking the air from my lungs. Someone ripped away my mask and I choked on a bitter flake of hot ash as it scorched the back of my throat.
“Emily Sharrow,” a familiar voice whispered in my ear, making me shudder. For a moment, I was right back in the clearing outside Algrave, fighting for my life. Nigel had even brought the same henchman.
The three elite filled the narrow alley, their dark, casually expensive suits and flawless skin stood out in stark contrast with the rubble and twisted metal scraps behind them. I kicked and screamed as Thomas and Bryce held my wrists, pinning me to the ground.
“You’re becoming quite the nuisance,” Nigel continued, unbuttoning his cuff slowly and rolling up his sleeve. “Got everyone talking. After that stunt you pulled in the capital, the king was positively livid. I haven’t seen him that angry in decades.”
“That wasn’t me,” I snarled.
‘Whatever you say,” he smiled. “Though you’ve already been charged guilty. That means, I’m allowed to punish you. And nobody will intervene this time.”
“Bite me,” I spat.
“Oh I will,” Nigel leered. “I told you the prince would get bored with you. I’m finally going to take what’s mine, what’s owed to me.”
“I was never yours,” I panted, as Nigel squeezed my neck with one hand. Then his hand drifted lower, his nails scraping against my skin and slicing through the top button of my shirt. My chest heaved as I struggled to force him off of me.
“You would have been,” he glowered. “I chose you. I would have tasted every inch of you, every drop, if not for some stupid royal loophole. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
He licked his lips and my blood ran cold. My heart was beating, too fast, too strong, but I didn’t feel afraid. I wasn’t the same helpless girl I’d been when he met me. And I was angry. For putting myself at risk. At the poisonous sky that forced the rebels to hide underground. But mostly at entitled assholes who thought they deserved to decide my future for me.
“Nobody is going to own me, ever again.”
I still had the knife I’d used on the bear and elixir was coursing through my system. I kicked Bryce away and lashed out quickly. Nigel dodged, but not before I’d torn a hole in his fine jacket. I followed up with three more strikes, grazing the side of his neck before he slapped me so hard my head spun and I saw stars.
“That’s twice you’ve drawn blood,” he said, dabbing at his neck with a handkerchief. “And worse, you’ve ruined a perfectly good suit. Not bad, for a human. I’m glad Master Svboda’s lessons