Why the hell can’t I breathe?
He disappeared for three days… forher?
Bay, Alessio, and Pedro step in behind them, cutting off the spiral of thoughts.
“Kayla, I need you to—” Bay stops when she sees me. “I need you to come upstairs.”
Kayla doesn’t ask questions. She walks toward Bay like she’s following some secret signal.
But I’m locked onher. The small, pretty girl.
“This is Onyx,” Bay gestures to her. “She’ll be staying with us for a while. Make her feel welcome.”
Kayla raises a brow, scanning her. “That’s why Abert took one of my dresses before he left…”
Great. She’s even wearing their clothes. If I’m being replaced, does that mean Malec will break our deal?
No. No. Focus.
I tilt my head—and his silver eyes are already locked on me. Burning.
I’m not playing this game.
“I don’t know if anyone updated you,” I say quickly, “but I have a plan that could help us find the Red Dock—and Diana. Your father wanted to wait for you.”
His eyes widen. Then they shoot daggers toward Abert behind him.
He clearly wasn’t updated. And clearly, it isn’t okay with that. “You know the Red Dock’s location?” he asks, voice dropping.
Onyx breathes something next to us, but I don’t spare her a glance. Why does she irritate me so much?
“I don’t. But I have a plan that might lead us there. It’s dangerous—”
“I’m in,” he cuts me off. His voice sharpens, cold.
“And don’t get it twisted—I’m gonnaburnit to the ground.”
His eyes go icy. A flicker of blue light sparks inside them before vanishing.
Did I imagine that?
I blink just to make sure.
“Get Diana out of there. With my medicine. And you can dance on my father’s ashes for all I care.
Just—hurry. If she’s still in there, every second counts.”
That chill runs down my spine again.
Please, don’t make me beg again.
“We’re going up,” Bay says, taking Onyx’s arm and leading her to the stairs. Kayla follows silently.
Only now I notice Onyx is walking strangely. Unsteady, like she’s drunk… or injured?
I bite my lower lip. If Malec caused that, why would she cling to him like he’s her savior?
I’m about to turn back to look at him, but then he leans in.
