Page 128 of Stormbreaker

Lacey thrashes and kicks. “No!” she screams. “No! Stop! Don’t take me!”

She fights so hard, they nearly lose their grip.

I want to help her. I want to make them stop. But I can’t. I know I can’t.

My hands curl into fists, pressed to my stomach. I’m a coward. I’m no better than any of them. But I can’t undo this.

An Extinguisher bends down and hauls Lacey over his shoulder.

Her resistance is valiant. A last gasp against the inescapable. Some people would give up in defeat. I think to myself that when my time comes, that’s how I want to go out. Fighting with a fury to crack the world in half.

My breath stutters as they carry her away.

They take her back to their boat and crowd around her before Lacey suddenly goes quiet.

The silence hangs in the air.

She’s lifted off a shoulder, her body limp. Her expression slack. She’s laid on the ground, her golden hair spread around her like a tragic heroine in a painting from the old world.

The boat’s engine stutters to life, and then it putters away, taking Lacey with them.

No one moves until they’re out of sight.

47

Over the next few weeks, I withdraw into myself. I relive the terror of that night over and over. They were so close, and I froze. I hate myself for everything I failed to do.

We aren’t told anything about Lacey, either. For all intents, she is gone and never existed.

I’ve seen Winter crying during mealtimes, her eyes bloodshot, her cheeks pink. Knox trying to comfort her, his face pale and drawn. I sense the shifting mood in House Fiama. They aren’t supposed to mourn her, but she was their friend, and no one deserves this fate.

Questions nag my thoughts. Was Lacey really infected? Was there a sign I missed?

I think of her blond hair with its dyed lilac tips. I know they weren’t natural. I’ve watched them fade before she had them redone. Did she even know what she was? Were we both living scared for our lives, none the wiser to each other’s secrets?

There’s no one to ask for more information. Even if someone knew, it would draw too much attention.

My inward spiral isn’t helped by the fact that it’s obvious Scion Beaufort passed on the message that I’m not to be trusted or treated with an ounce of human kindness.

Everywhere I turn, I’m met with hostile looks, underhanded barbs, and muttered threats. I feel like I can’t breathe without someone reminding me that I’m no better than the dirt crusted on their shoe.

I no longer belong with Fiama, but I certainly don’t belong with Aria.

I tell myself this will pass. They’ll get tired of tormenting me eventually. I shrink further into myself and draw as little attention as possible. Truly, the only bright spot in my week is time spent in the gym and my simple workouts with Henry as we chat about everything in his life.

Thankfully, cadet training and school keep me mostly too busy to think very much.

Except at night, when I lie awake, imagining that they’d come for me on that boat instead.

Trinity is busy with her E-squad. I’ve seen her only a handful of times since that night, and she was gleeful about Lacey’s capture. Convinced we were all better off. She’s been lucky to escape the brunt of Aria’s ire for switching Houses, but that’s because her squad is protecting her. Maybe a part of me understands why she was drawn to them.

Regardless, Scion Beaufort doesn’t have it out for her, and Trinity is mostly ignored outside of her group. She’s also been busy with the new boyfriend, Jared. I don’t think I like him very much.

We’re drifting apart. I can feel it. I just don’t know how to stop it.

Rook is also avoiding me, and I want to scream with the frustration of it all. I had no choice but to sneak out alone when a storm came last week, and it took everything in me not to hunt him down and beg him to come.

Rumors have been flying about our kiss.