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“Because I might be a part of this world now, but I will never lose myself to the darkness. Now go, get out of here. Before I change my mind.”
Cade dashes to the door, grunting in agony as he holds his bleeding shoulder, but he hesitates at the last second. Our eyes lock, something passing between us.
I’ll never forgive Cade for what he’s done, but part of me does understand.
“Go,” I urge.
He gives me a sharp nod and pushes the stone door open, disappearing into the black abyss. I slump against the wall, falling to the cold floor beneath me, the adrenaline leaving my body just as Bexley and the others burst into the room.
“Mia?” he cries, rushing to my side. “What happened?”
“It’s over,” I breathe.
“Kingsley?” His eyes sweep the room, landing back on my face, confusion glittering there.
“Gone, Bex. He’s gone.”
* * *
Bexley is quiet on the ride back to the Electi house. He grips my hand so tightly my circulation is cut off. His hard stare searches the darkness for Cade.
But he won’t find him.
Cade is long gone, and something tells me he won’t ever return.
Something changed between us in the chamber. By sparing his life, I showed him that things can be different. I showed him that he can choose a different path. It will never undo everything he’s done, but I have to believe he’ll spend his life trying to redeem himself.
It’s better than the alternative.
More bloodshed and death.
“You’re quiet,” I whisper.
“You let him get away, Mia.” He blows out a heavy breath. “I don’t understand—"
“Hey, look at me.” I slide my hand along Bexley’s jaw, coaxing him to me. “Two wrongs don’t make a right, Bex.”
“And if he comes back?”
“He won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Call it a woman’s intuition.”
His eyes crinkle. “You’re being so calm about all this.”
“It’s over. I just want to go home, take a long shower, and wash off the events of the night. And then I want to sleep for a week.”
“You’re incredible, you know that, right?” His eyes light up with awe.
“I’m just me, Bexley.” Just a girl in love with a guy. “Any word about Phillip and Channing?”
“Phillip will live.” His face contorts. “Channing is out of the woods, but he lost a lot of blood.”
A shudder goes through me, and for a second, I wonder if I made the wrong call, letting Cade escape. But I truly believe it was the right thing to do. He’s been a pawn just like the rest of us. Only his puppet master was a man full of hatred and dark deeds. Gregory Kingsley groomed Cade, and then Quinctus and Lincoln sealed his fate.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said.” I say, burying myself into his side. “About changing things from the inside. And I think you’re right.”
