“Haydn is still alive, but not for long if we don’t get him medical treatment. Please come back, Sadie. I want Dante punished as much as you do but not at Haydn’s expense. Or yours.”
My pace slows as I contemplate his words. “Aaghh!” I scream, dropping to my knees and clutching my head in my hands. Gut-wrenching agony ties my stomach into multiple knots. Intense pain viciously whips me. Frustrated, grief-stricken sobs escape my mouth. Logan soothes me through the line, and I force myself up and retrace my steps.
Dante’s punishment will have to wait.
I can’t sacrifice Haydn for him.
We can’t lose anyone else.
Emerging into the main tunnel, I hang my head. Hair drapes around my face like drawn curtains. A rumbling, yawning noise emanates from the tunnel walls as larger chunks of debris start to break off. Flaky particles swirl through the air like pasty confetti. Logan issues coordinates, urging everyone to teleport. Rylan lifts Neve’s body up over his shoulder and teleports with Fern clinging to his side. Ax unties Haydn’s comport and straps it to his own wrist, tapping in the coordinates. His eyes find mine for a quick second before he disappears with Izzy and the king. Logan slings Haydn over his shoulders, and I wrap my arms around him. Dali and Win cling to his other side as the tunnel groans brashly, beginning to collapse in the center, dragging the walls and ceiling into an invisible void. Logan teleports us away just in time.
I plop to the forest floor, exhausted and emotionally numb. Logan places a gravely injured Haydn gently on the ground. He is still unconscious, and a worrying waxen color has invaded his skin. Logan starts pacing, his brain churning at ninety miles an hour as he tries to figure out our next move. King Coryn staggers toward him, and they converse with Dali in urgent, low tones. Fern and I share grief-stricken expressions as Rylan shutters Neve’s eyelids and covers her body with his jacket.
I haul myself to my feet, swaying slightly. The surge of power has withdrawn, leaving empty exhaustion in its place. Ax swings his arm around my waist, helping to steady me. “Thanks,” I say, pawing at his arm. “I’m good now,” I lie.
Slapping his other arm around me at the wrists, he holds me against his solid form in a restrictive embrace. Slowly, he starts backing up. “Ax. Let me go.”
“Never.”
That one word is said with such determination that it immediately freezes the blood in my veins.
“Release her,” Logan commands, stalking toward us.
Something cold presses into my temple, and Logan falters. Ax grips my wrists together, pinching them tight while he keeps the gun poised at my head. “I’d sooner kill her than give her back to you.”
“I know you don’t mean that,” Logan speaks in a carefully controlled voice. “You love her.”
“Yes, brother, I do. And she belongs to me!” His tone is borderline hysterical.
“Sadie doesn’t belong to anyone but herself.”
“You’ve taken everything from me!” Ax roars at Logan. “You are not taking my wife.”
“Ax, please listen to me. It’s t—”
“Baby,” he says, breathing warm air over my skin. “You don’t know what’s best for you but I do. We are going to go home, take care of my mother, and rule Torc together as husband and wife. I’ll look after you forever, and you’ll want for nothing. You’ll see,” he says, caressing my cheek with the side of the weapon, “that it’s what you want after all.”
Redirecting his gaze to Logan, he speaks in a clearer, calmer voice. “I don’t wish to challenge anyone in the galaxy, so if you let me leave without a fight, you won’t get any trouble from the Tor in future.”
“You can’t bargain with Sadie’s future! With her life. What is wrong with you?” Logan’s face betrays his terror and his dismay.
“I can and I will. You think you know her, but you don’t. She’s never been yours, and she never will be.”
Logan drags a hand through his hair. “Axton.” He swallows an anxious lump. “We’re family. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
Axton’s piercing blue eyes impale Logan. “You’re not my family, and you never will be. Sadie is all the family I need.” He lets go of my hands to push a button on the comport.
My hands are free.
I could end this now.
Logan and I share our thoughts, and they are a perfect match. I can’t use my gift to hurt him because it isn’t right. Ax has lost his way, and we need to try to get through to him.
Using our words.
“You told me you’d never force me,” I say quietly, looking up at him. “But you are. That’s not love.”
His beautiful blue eyes fix on me. “It’s for your own good.”
“No, Ax, it isn’t. Let’s not lie to each other. You are doing this for you. Not for me. Because if you loved me, truly loved me, you would respect my decision, respect my wishes, and you wouldn’t do this.”
“Sadie.” His eyes plead with me. “I need you.”
“And I’m here for you.” I reach up and touch his face. “Always. But I can’t go back to Torc with you, and I don’t want you to return there either. It’s not safe. Stay here.” I cast a fleeting glance at Logan. “You told me you longed for a sibling. Well, now you have one. You are the only real family each other has.”
Ax’s arm has loosened around my waist, enough for me to turn and face him. I peer into his troubled eyes. “This isn’t you. I know it’s only the heartache speaking, and I understand that. But don’t do this. Don’t force me. Don’t leave Logan alone. He needs both of us.”
Ax is silent, his brain clearly anything but. So many differing emotions flit across his face. Everyone is deathly quiet, and you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. A look of determination crosses his face, and everything freezes inside me.
“It would never work.” He shakes his head as he purses his lips. “But you are right about one thing. I don’t want to force you. So choose. Him or me.”
He releases me and steps back. “Which one of us do you truly love?”
“I love you both!” I implore, beseeching him with my eyes.
He shakes his head again. “Not good enough.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Do you love Logan or me?”
“Please don’t make me say it.” Tears are flowing freely down my face.
“Answer the question.” His eyes darken, as I remain silent. “Answer the damned question, Sadie,” he growls.
I take a steadying breath. “You already know the answer, Ax.” I reluctantly eyeball him. “I love Logan.”
He prods a button on the comport. I step forward but his hand shoots out in warning. “Don’t.”
I drop to my knees in front of him. “You don’t. Please, Ax. Don’t go back there. I’m begging you. She’ll kill you!”
“I’m already dead.” He takes a few more steps back.
A caustic pain spears me right through the heart as I stare at him through blurry eyes.
“Goodbye, Sadie.”
“No!” I jump up as he punches the final button on the comport, hurling myself at him. But I’m too late, and I hug the empty air before face planting the cushiony forest floor.
My head and my heart hurt.
A shiny object glitters on the ground beside me. Sitting upright, I pluck the small cylindrical chip and flip it between my fingers. “I’ve seen Ax with this before. Did it fall out of his pocket?” I ask Izzy, looking up at her. She nods, grimacing. Every nerve ending fires off a warning signal. “You know what this is? Tell me.”
A dart of pain flickers in her eyes. “It’s the key.”
I frown. “What key? I don’t understand.” I snap my gaze to Logan, but he looks as perplexed as I am.
Izzy sinks down beside me, gently tapping my unrestrained wrists. “It’s the key to open your cuff bands.”
I suck in a gasp. My hurt and fear transform to rage in an instant. “He knew he could unlock my bands and allow me to use my gift in the tunnel and he did nothing?” I sc
reech. “I could’ve saved Neve! Stopped Haydn from getting injured.” I throw my hands into the air. “Hell! I could’ve stopped everything from happening!” I cradle my head in my hands. “Why?” I wail. “Why did he do that?”
Logan hauls me to my feet, wrapping his arms around me. I clutch his shirt and snuggle into him.
Several things click into place.
The key.
The contacts.
The false information about the implant in my neck.
He’s been lying to me this whole time.
Did he even know about his father? That Logan was his brother? His shock seemed genuine, but Ax has clearly been delivering an Oscar-worthy performance of his own so that could also have been a lie.
An icy chill pervades every part of me as the most hideous thought lands in my mind.
Ax was trying to manipulate the situation to his advantage.
He wanted me to be “controllable.”
But the important question is whether it was a solitary desire or has he been working with his mother this entire time?
TO BE CONTINUED
Please continue reading for a special announcement
A Special Note from the Author
Join my Saven mailing list today to receive this e-book for free. Exclusively available to subscribers. Click here. Subscribers also receive a monthly newsletter, other free content, access to discounts and giveaways, and are the first to read advance samples and quotes from impending new releases.
Thank you for downloading Saven Defiance. If you enjoyed reading it, I would be grateful if you took the time to post a short review on the site of purchase. Reviews help spread the word about books and are very important to all authors.
Thank you so much for your support.
Best wishes,
Siobhán.
TURN THE PAGE FOR A SPECIAL SURPRISE SAVEN NEW-RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT
THE HEIR AND THE HUMAN (A SAVEN SERIES NOVELLA)
“This book broke my heart. Knowing what was coming for Ax and Sadie made all the heartfelt declarations of love and loyalty bittersweet to read.”
Advanced Reader Review.
Axton’s existence was a lonely one until his mother brought Sadie into his life. Now, she’s the center of his universe, and he’ll do everything in his power to protect her.
But Griselda’s evil plans cast a dark shadow over their love, threatening the future he so desperately craves. With separation looming, Ax is preparing to sacrifice everything for the girl he loves. It’s a high-stakes gamble, and he needs to stay ahead of the game if he’s to outsmart his conniving mother.
Sadie has been his savior.
Now it’s his turn to save her.
SPECIAL PRE-ORDER PRICE:
This optional novella relays Axton and Sadie's backstory, and it is narrated solely from Ax's point of view. It will be published on September 21st 2016. While it is not an essential read, and you can continue the series by moving straight onto Saven Declaration—the fourth full-length novel—when it releases in December 2016, this novella provides additional insight and we meet many of the main series characters (Izzy, Logan, Dali, and Win, all feature in this novella.)
Available to download now at a special pre-release day price of 0.99. Don’t miss out – pre-order your copy today.
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon Canada
Amazon Australia
Amazon Japan
Amazon Germany
Amazon Italy
Amazon Spain
Amazon Mexico
Amazon France
Amazon India
Amazon Brazil
Amazon Netherlands
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Siobhan Davis writes young adult science fiction fantasy romance books, and she is the author of the Amazon bestselling True Calling and Saven series.
A self-professed teenager forever—at least when it comes to books, music, and films, Siobhan is totally addicted to teen fiction and superhero/blockbuster movies. She loves baking, shoes, bags, makeup, anti-wrinkle cream, anything pink, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, and Robert Pattinson (definitely Team Edward).
Before pursuing a full-time writing career, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in Human Resources over the last twenty years.
She resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
You can connect with Siobhan in the following ways:
Author website: www.siobhandavis.com
Author Blog: My YA NA Book Obsession
Facebook: TrueCallingBooks
Twitter: @siobhandavis
Google+: SiobhanDavisAuthor
Email: [email protected]
BOOKS BY SIOBHAN DAVIS
True Calling Series
True Calling – Book 1
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Lovestruck – Short Story 1.5
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Beyond Reach – Book 2
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Light of a Thousand Stars –Novella 2.5
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Destiny Rising – Book 3
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
True Calling Series Collection
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
The True Calling Short Story Collection
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Anthologies
The Little Book of Love – Imagine Write Inspire Group
Saven Series
Saven: Deception – Book 1
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Saven: Disclosure – Book 2
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Saven: Denial – Novella 2.5
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Saven: Defiance – Book 3
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Saven: Declaration – Book 4
Releasing December 2016.
Optional Saven Series Novellas
The Heir and the Human – Novella 3.1
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com.au
Coming 2017
The Princess and the Guard
The Royal Guard
The Assassin
NEW SERIES FOR 2017
The Mortal Kingdom – YA Fantasy
The Skyee Siblings – NA spin-off to the True Calling series
All books are available in all Amazon locations. If your link isn’t included please check your local Amazon store.
Copyright
Copyright © Siobhan Davis 2016. Siobhan Davis asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Work of Fiction
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, incidents and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.
Conditions of Sale
By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, shared, transmitted
, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the Author.
E-Book edition © August 2016
ASIN: B01G45PIPQ
Editor: Kelly Hartigan (XterraWeb)editing.xterraweb.com
Saven Defiance (The Saven Series Book 4) Page 36
