direct attack on our kingdom, that cannot stand. We will wait here, for weeks, months if we need to. But the longer you make us wait, the hungrier we will become. And if you do not send out the traitor, rest assured we will dig through solid stone, we will drench your fortress in your own blood, we will slaughter every last one of you. The choice is yours. I’ll give you a minute to think it over.”
“He’s bluffing,” Jacob said. “They can’t get inside past our security measures. They’ll get bored and leave.”
“They won’t,” I said. “He won’t leave without me.”
“Why?” Trevor asked. “Why you?”
“Let’s just say we have some history. Plus, I nearly took his eye out today. It’s personal. But you can’t trust him. He’ll kill me and take my head back to the citadel, and then return with an army anyway.”
“We won’t let that happen,” Jacob said.
“You have to evacuate,” I said. “There are other entrances they don’t know about, right? Sneak out, while there’s time. They can’t police all the exits.”
“Why don’t we fight? There are only three of them,” Luke said. “We managed one and some slagpaw before.”
“Barely, and only because Trevor shifted.”
“Still, the handheld UV flares worked pretty well. We just need a distraction. External floodlights. At night. They can’t get all of us.”
“Even with elixir, we’d lose dozens of fighters, at least.”
“Worth it,” Steve said, “if we stop them from reporting our location to the citadel.”
“What if we lure them inside,” April said, “at the entrance, then flash them with the lights and burn them?”
“They won’t all come at once,” Jacob said. “They’ll keep someone outside to report back.”
“There’s another option,” Steve said. “They only want the girl.”
“No way,” said Trevor, moving in front of me protectively.
“Come on, we’d be fools not to at least consider it. One life in exchange for a thousand.”
“He’s right,” I said quietly, stepping out from Trevor’s shadow. “They’re here for me. At least it’ll give you enough time to escape.”
“Now who’s a martyr?” Trevor said, narrowing his eyes and squeezing my shoulder.
“I think I need a minute with Miss Sharrow,” Jacob said. “Alone.”
The others looked like they wanted to disagree, but filed out after Jacob gave them a stern glance. Steve was the last to leave, kicking a chair and grumbling on his way out.
I sat at one end of the long table, with Jacob at the other. After a moment, he pulled out a silver flask and took a long sip, before sliding it down the table towards me. I unscrewed the lid and wet my tongue, feeling the alcohol burn down my throat.
“Did you get what you were looking for?” he asked, when I’d returned his flask.
“I think so,” I said.
“And you still think you can find a cure to the elixir?”
“Yes,” I nodded. “I do.”
He sighed and took another drink.
“Then you’re too important to risk,” he said finally. “Even if it’s a long shot. We always knew this day would come. A conflict with the elites was inevitable. We may lose this battle, but the war is only lost when we give up all hope.”
“I didn’t think you believed in hope,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter if I believe it. Only that it’s there, to give comfort to those it can.”
“What about Havoc?” I asked.
“We will evacuate. There are places they can hide, throughout the city, in the forest.”
“Somewhere safe?”
“Nowhere is safe, not anymore. But in time, we’ll regroup and rebuild. You will go on your quest. Be careful. Take whatever supplies and weapons you need.”
“What about you?” I asked.
“A captain goes down with his ship,” he said sadly. He waved to the others through the glass window, calling them inside.
“Start the evacuation, fifteen at a time. Small groups, different directions.”
The camera flared to life, again, as Nigel came into view, dragging a struggling figure in front of the camera. He held her over the edge of the building by the scruff of her neck. I could see the beaded braids in her hair. She was clutching a bundle in her arms, and I recognized the herbs and flowers from the poultice I’d found in my bed earlier.
My heart pounded in my throat as Beatrice twisted against Nigel’s grasp, kicking her legs in the air. They were on the roof, several floors up. She’d never survive the fall.
“Time’s up,” Nigel grinned. Beatrice’s face was one of calm resolve... until the instant he dropped her. There was a flash of surprise, a short scream, and