I flexed my hands, blood throbbing in my fingertips from the tightness of the zip-tie. Flames flowed around my bones with indignation—
Wait. Myhealedbones. Bones that no longer hurt but sizzled with power.
I smiled.
“Get moving.” Two guards stalked to the open door. The third shoved Rook and the fourth pushed me. “Get.”
A punch of dissonant frequency shredded my skull.
Rook cried out as our ears rang, blood bubbled, bones burned—
“Turn that fucking thing off,” the guard behind me commanded. “Can’t you see they’re barely alive as it is? I know Mr. Swift told us to be wary, but they’re both just as weak as yesterday.”
“I reckon we should shock ‘em...just to be on the safe side.”
“Surgery is booked for this afternoon for a new vitalsync core. Until then, let’s do our best not to kill them so we don’t end up in a shit ton of trouble, alright?”
The frequency cranked up a notch, sending a gush of blood out of my nose.
Rook collapsed, folding to the floor, only for a younger guard with dark blond hair to catch her.
The sight of his hands on her.
The fact that hetouchedher.
I went to tear his motherfucking throat out—
Frequency drilled harder into my thoughts, knocking me sideways. Nausea wrapped around my throat. Dizziness and weakness and—
“Enough already!” someone shouted. “Mr. Swift explicitlysaid to bring them down while conscious. Quit it!”
The horror went quiet as a guard snatched the remote from his colleague and pocketed it. “They’re trapped and surrounded. They have a long day ahead of them, and I’m sure we can get them to the dining room without anything going wrong, don’t you? Besides, they say they’re immortal, but they look like they’re gonna die real soon. Let’s not rush it, yeah?”
“Fine.” The two guards by the door disappeared into the corridor.
Rook groaned as the guard manhandling her jerked her upright again and shoved her into a walk. She bashed against the wall.
I saw red. Literally.
Fire surged, flowing through my veins like molten rage. I sank into it. I urged it to grow hotter, angrier. I went to unleash—
Wait. Rook shook her head subtly in my direction.They don’t know we’ve healed.
I stiffened, following her thoughts of vengeance.
I’d spent the last twenty years thirsting for revenge.
I’d achieved some of it—thanks to killing Marcus and part of the board back in China. The demolition of Brimstone headquarters helped eradicate a few more, but...not all of the board members were dead.
Do you have full access to your ice?I studied the sway of her nightgown as I followed her down the corridor of this luxury English mansion.
I do. It’s impatient and blood thirsty but it’s there.
Good. Balling my hands, I walked a little taller.Keep it secret for now, like you said. Once I know the rest of the Brimstone board are here, we finish this.
Her hair bounced down her back as she nodded.I’ll follow your lead.
The guard trailing Rook cupped her elbow, helping her down the winding blue-carpeted staircase to the lower level.
