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“I’m sure you weren’t expecting to see me,” Titus says smugly, cocking a brow in challenge.
“Actually, I had a pretty good idea it was you once I noticed I wasn’t in the field anymore. I gotta say you’re quite predictable.” I shrug, placing my hands on my hips and giving him an unimpressed look.
His answering glower assures me that I’ve hit his precious ego with that one. Good, I’ve got to stall him and come up with some sort of plan to get out of here. I quickly communicate what happened to the guys, asking them to stay quiet, though. I need to focus on Titus.
He huffs out a breath of frustration, his hand combing back through his dark-brown hair, gripping it in irritation.
“I guess a lot has changed in the past couple of months,” he notes, his finger tapping his chin in thought. “You don’t seem to be as willing to leave your mates as you had at the Ascension. That’s a shame, it would just be so much easier if you were to come with me on your own … so much less … messy.”
I give him an incredulous look, unsure how he can know this.
“Oh don’t give me that look, Olivia.” He chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. “Did you really think that just because I wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have eyes on you?”
His words send a shiver of fear up my spine. Was he speaking about Helene and the other council members, or someone else?
“Well, congratulations for stalking me, I guess?” I shrug, feigning a nonchalant tone, not wanting to betray how much that thought got under my skin. “I guess you know then that I’ve been using my powers, so what exactly makes you so sure that you can take me?”
“Ah—ah—ah, not so fast, I don’t want to give away the pièce de résistance just yet.” He clicks his tongue in admonishment, his lips pulling down in disappointment. “Aren’t you even at all curious why I’ve been attempting to take you to the infernal realm?”
He turns on his heel, pacing back and forth over the dirt clearing, puffs of dirt billowing up with each step. He takes his time with each stride, as though he’s drawing out the suspense, treating the small clearing as though it’s his personal stage. I use his distraction to pull my power to the surface and erect a shield around myself. Not wanting to antagonize him by readying a ball of fire in my palm.
“Olivia, we think we know where you are. Just hold on, we’ll be there soon, sweetheart.”Kyros’ voice sounds in my mind, and I take comfort in his warm tone. I need to keep Titus talking and give the guys time to find us.
“How do you think I knew you were the one I was waiting for? Have you been able to figure that out yet?” His arms vibrate at his sides with his desire to reveal his plan. “Of course you haven’t. As you may have been able to tell, I can manipulate the shadows, even turn into them. It’s a trait passed on by my mother, and it comes in quite handy. Descent of the Dark, does that name ring any bells? I placed that book in your bag while you were at dinner with your friends, and you took the bait just like I knew you would, just like any of us would.”
I don’t say a word, letting him continue, but he must see something on my face. Or perhaps my lack of reaction is answer enough for him, as he stops pacing. “Ah, so he’s finally told you?” He huffs out a breath of amusement before he schools his features. His grin grows as he takes in my unimpressed stare. “I really didn’t think he had it in him. I thought the only way you’d find out was from me.”
He frowns, like I just took away his favorite toy. Obviously, he was really looking forward to cluing me in, and if he had told me that news a week ago, I probably would’ve been floored. However, my father and I had already pieced together how he must have found out about me when he revealed his secret—well, really my secret.
“How did you know to put it in my bag?” I ask hesitantly. That was one thing I hadn’t been able to figure out so far. I had only just got to the academy, so how was he able to even suspect me. I’ve been mulling this over in my head this past week, plus the question had the added advantage of keeping him talking. Making him feel like he still has the vital information I crave.
“You made it easier than I ever could have hoped for.” He grins gleefully. My question has the effect I’d hoped for as he continues his pacing and tucks his hands casually into his pockets. “You gave it away during my announcement in the auditorium. You were the only one that could see my shadows, which is something only a dark god can do,” he says with a devious glint in his eyes, as though he’s still holding something back.
My mother is a dark god, and she’s in the infernal realm. I let the thought float through my mind. Obviously holding it back is pointless now. If anyone was close enough to use their ability to unlock either of our minds, they would have already gotten it from Titus.
“Now, I can tell what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work,” Titus says in an admonishing tone as he plants his feet directly before me, pinning me with his hard gaze. I furrow my brows in feigned confusion, refusing to admit anything. My heart pounds against my chest, beads of sweat lining my forehead. Did he sense the guys? Are they close?
“I’ve led those mates of yours on a wild goose chase by mimicking your power signature for them to track. Trust me, they’re nowhere close to us, it’s just you and me.” He snickers, expression twisting into a maniacal grin. My chest tightens, like a vise closing around my heart. I send out a quick thought to the guys, letting them know it may be a trap. I can’t be certain though. Every single word out of this man’s mouth sounds like he’s playing some sort of game. For all I know, the guys could be right around the corner, and he’s just trying to scare me. “Now, are we going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?”
“The hard way’s good with me,” I quip back, easily producing a ball of flame in my palm. The power becoming easier and easier to direct each time I use it. I grit my teeth in determination, even if my mates aren’t near, there’s no way I’ll let this fucker take me without a fight.
His grin only grows at the appearance of the fire, which is definitely not the reaction I’d been hoping for. Would it really be so hard for this guy to at least pretend to cower in fear or something? Instead, he seems delighted by the fact that I’m not just taking the easy way out.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he drawls, and takes a few steps back, readying himself. I glare at him and raise my palm, allowing the fire to build there. But he makes no move, he doesn’t raise a blade, and I don’t feel any shift of power between us. A smug grin twists his lips as he stares back expectantly, as though daring me to make the first move.
I let the ball of fire go, aiming it directly for him, when suddenly, it sputters out, leaving only a trail of clear smoke in its wake, as though snuffed out by some unseen force. I still don’t feel any power radiating off of him, though.
I expand my awareness to the brush around us, and that’s when I feel it, a warm sea breeze swirls around me, slithering around my body like a snake. The salt air tickles my nostrils as though toying with me.
My gaze darts to the side as the sound of ruffling leaves hits my ears. Helene’s sleek black hair swings around her, appearing in the distance. She gracefully maneuvers around the thick bushes, lifting her long navy gown as she enters the clearing. She looks down at the dry earth for a moment before scowling at it, like the dirt was put there purposely to inconvenience her.
Of course Helene is here. Why wouldn’t she be? This day is just getting better and better by the second.
“Why am I not even surprised to see you here?” I ask dryly, huffing out a derisive snort. She makes her way to Titus’ side, and he wraps an arm around her shoulders in a tender gesture, pulling her into his side.
“Oh Olivia, trust me I always have a plan.” She giggles, but it’s calculated. I honestly don’t doubt that. I can almost see the gears in her mind whirring just like Kyros, but instead she uses her intellect to climb the ranks of power and betray everyone around her. While Kyros uses his keen mind to help others, not caring about gaining power or position.
“How did you get past all the guards this time?” A hint of accusation bleeds into my tone. My father had warned the guards of their escape the last time, so they couldn’t add any herbal mixtures to their food or drinks this time.
