His grin grows as I start walking to the door, and suddenly he’s beside me pulling me back.
“I’m not a fool, Aria. I realize I can’t beat them by myself, but I can find your blood and get it back without them seeing me. The trail is still fresh, and I happen to be a pretty good tracker. Just stay here and keep this quiet. I need the element of surprise.”
I huff out reluctantly, and he kisses the top of my head as my body leans into his. A tear slips out, and he withdraws to wipe it away.
“Go get those eyes covered up. Keep your phone close.”
I just nod, and then he’s gone before his windy trail can graze my cheek.
“He really is on our side,” Simone sighs.
“You’re just now believing that?”
“Well, I trusted him enough, but after seeing his reaction… he’s genuinely worried about you. Is it possible he’s your-”
“Don’t say it,” I murmur while holding my hand up dismissively.
“Aria, you’re drawn to him. I can see that. He’s obviously drawn to you. Hell, he’s willing to face an army to hunt your blood down. I think you should at least consider the possibility of him-”
“I said stop,” I cry out, more tears falling. “I can’t think like that, damn it. I know you don’t understand, but I love Jase. I hate him right now, and I’ll never forgive him, but I’m not anywhere close to being over him either. I know I’m hybrid. I realize I shouldn’t feel so strongly about anyone other than my counter, but I do.”
She frowns while glancing down at her hands, her mind trying to find the right thing to say.
“You’re not just hybrid. You’re a special sort of hybrid… just like Araya, but more so. She loved a full blood almost as much as she loved her counter. Maybe… I don’t know. I wish I knew what to say right now.”
I walk over and wrap my arms around her while letting more of my overexerted tears fall to her shoulder.
“Just let it breathe. You don’t have to say anything.”
And she doesn’t. We just stand there like the sisters we are, and I cry out my heartbreak into her comforting arms. I’ve never hurt like this. I only pray I can survive it.
C
hapter 18
The Dark Eyes
The distant shadows weave their web of conspiracies while shrill screams of the tortured taint the stale air in the room. With their mission proving to be a success, all they have on their hands now is a waiting game.
“Who the fuck is the head of the scorpions?” a man barks to his pulp of a subject.
The tattered hybrid spits his blood to the floor rather than answering. His scorpion tattoo is proudly displayed on his chest that has been struck too many times to count by a uranium-dipped whip. His eyes are weak - one is swollen shut. He refuses to answer, and the merciless man strikes him again with the whip.
He screams out from the burning pain, but still he holds his allegiance to his clan - his brothers.
"You have no idea what's going on," the bloody man spews, laughing directly after despite his tragic circumstance.
The clicking of heels scrape against the floor to draw chills over the bodies of everyone, not just the tortured. They all hold their breath as she passes, each one praying they're not her intended target as she stalks down the hall.
“Where is it?” the dark, impatient voice of the woman demands.
“I’ve already given it to one of our hybrid men. He drank it, and now it’s just a matter of waiting,” the eager mignon obliges.
“How long?”
He shakes his head while running over his math one last time before committing to an approximated date. He knows the penalty for pissing her off, and he dare not find himself on the receiving end of her wrath.
“It was a small amount - barely even enough for this to work - and it’s so stale… it’s going to take a while. Perhaps, two weeks?” he asks rather than states.
