“She did it! It was her plan!”
Guards moved on Lyra instantly.
Her eyes glazed, her fight reflex kicking in before her brain did—she kicked, screamed, clawed at anyone within reach. A guard grabbed her by the jaw and injected a sedative straight into her neck.
“He was mine—she knew it! He was mine!” Lyra wailed, voice cracking, words slurring into nonsense.
It was pitiful.
“What plan?” I demanded.
Dev’s hand clamped down on my shoulder—sharp, urgent. “K.”
I turned and froze.
The medical team was carrying out a still, covered body.
Ollie.
“Holy fuck. She killed him,” Dev whispered, stepping in beside me.
A hand slipped from beneath the blanket—small, shrivelled, grey.
Withered like a husk.
Blood-stained.
My stomach twisted.
Dr Marr emerged from his clinic, gaze locking on the body with a hunger that made me sick. His eyes gleamed—bright, fascinated, almost ecstatic. At his curt nod, the medics diverted toward Ward A.
Marr followed, practically vibrating.
He had been waiting for this.
I couldn’t breathe.
I ran into the woods, branches whipping past me, until I reached the clearing where the ropes still hung.
Blood was everywhere.
I looked at the ground and saw the needle.
“They dosed Ash,” I surmised, “then tied her up.”
My hands curled into fists before I realised I’d moved.
“Fuck.” Dev cursed.
“Gentlemen what are you doing here?” Wild asked, stepping up to the tree.
“Where the fuck is she Wild?”
“We are using all our resources to track Miss Quinn and Mr Lyconis down. I assure you, she will be found.”
“Miss Quinn. You fucking did it, didn’t you. You released her name.”
“Miss Quinn enrolled with us under false pretences. I was merely righting a wrong.”
