“You know, vampires aren’t supposed to have a reflection,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “In all the stories, you’re invisible in mirrors. I’ve seen enough Dracula remakes to know.”
A hint of a smile pulled at the corners of his lips. “Your vampire stories get a lot wrong,” he said. “We’re supposed to be immortal already, in those tales. A stake through the heart is the only way to kill us, right?”
“That’s right,” I replied, coming up to him and curving my hand into a fist, as if I were holding a stake. I raised it above his heart, play-acting, while he put his arms around me. As I plunged down the invisible stake, he made a face, but we didn’t laugh. It only reminded me of what we were about to do. It might not be a stake pressed to his chest, but Navan’s mortality was definitely on the line. Mine, too.
Reaching up, I kissed him tentatively on the lips, wanting to freeze the moment. I longed to rewind to the night before, or even the day before, when we were happy in our false bubble of security. I didn’t want this. The moment had come for me to act, and I wanted it to go away.
“We should get going,” he murmured.
I glanced up at the clock on the wall in the living room. How had an hour passed so quickly? Feeling panic begin to course through my veins, I held his face in my hands, kissing him with everything I had, and he returned my kiss with desperate passion. Only when he pulled away did I stop, knowing the time had come. There was no putting it off any longer.
“Navan, will you promise me something?” I asked, snatching up my knives and attaching them to my chest and waist. From the table, I grabbed the quarter-full vial and the last full one, and slipped them into my pocket, the glass clinking together.
He looked at me curiously. “What?”
“Promise me you won’t be a hero,” I urged. “Promise me you won’t put yourself in danger for me, okay? If I put you in harm’s way, I’d never forgive myself.”
He smiled. “I’ll try,” he said, but I didn’t believe him. It wasn’t in his nature to stand by and do nothing if I got into trouble. Still, I had to ask him, just to comfort my own fears, if nothing else. “Will you promise me something, too?” he asked, strapping two blades onto his back.
“It depends,” I murmured, knowing I couldn’t make promises I wasn’t willing to keep.
“Promise me you won’t leave my sight throughout this mission,” he replied, his expression serious.
“I’ll try.”
“I mean it, Riley. Don’t leave my sight,” he warned, all humor gone from his voice.
With a sigh, I nodded. “I’ll do my very best not to leave your side, unless something tears me from it.” It was the only compromise I could make, since I had no idea what would meet us when we got to the Observatory. There hadn’t been many guards the last time we’d visited, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t have heightened their security in the wake of Gianne’s attack on her sister. Perhaps they would be expecting a counterattack.
We left the apartment together and headed for the tunnel entrance, my nerves building with every step. On the ground floor, I froze, realizing I hadn’t even had a chance to say goodbye to Angie and Lauren. It had all happened so quickly, with my mind so confused that I hadn’t told them I was going, or when I might be back. If I died, they would never know what had happened to me. I mean, someone would fill them in, but they would wonder why I’d gone without saying a word. I didn’t want to listen to it, but a small voice inside my head reminded me that, for all I knew, this could be the last chance I’d ever have to see them again.
“I have to go and say goodbye to Angie and Lauren,” I said desperately, backing away from the palace entrance.
“There’s no time,” Navan said, reaching out to pull me back. “If we’re late, or we don’t show, you know what the consequences are. You heard the queen lay them out for us, plain and simple. Do you think she won’t extend that vengeance to your friends?” His eyes were sorrowful.
“But I need to let them know where I’ve gone. They won’t forgive me, if I don’t,” I said, my heart and head torn in two directions.
“They’ll understand, Riley. Come on, we have to go,” Navan insisted, his pull on my arm increasing, until I was helpless to do anything but stagger after him. I looked back over my shoulder, my thoughts with my friends, as his arm slipped around my shoulders, comforting me. Holding me tight, he led me out of the palace, into the driving rain. Each icy pellet stung my skin as it landed, but I lifted my face to the downpour regardless, wanting the cold water to calm me.
We made our way up to the tunnel entrance where a group of soldiers was already waiting. I recognized most of them as fellow trainees, but there were one or two unfamiliar faces. They looked older, their features grizzled, a darkness glinting in their eyes that suggested they had witnessed the horrors of war. Pandora was there, too, though Queen Brisha was nowhere to be seen.
“Navan, Riley, how good of you to grace us with your presence,” Pandora announced tartly as we approached. Glancing down at her watch, she pulled a face. “On time, with three minutes to spare. I hope you won’t be cutting it quite so close when it comes to laying explosives,” she mocked, prompting a snicker from the assembled group.
Navan leveled his gaze at her. “Apologies, Pandora. We’re here now, and that’s what counts, right?” he remarked, his tone cold.
“Indeed,” Pandora muttered, before turning back to the rest of the group. “Now, please take a belt each and strap them firmly to your waists,” she instructed, handing out several straps that each held a row of small black orbs. These were the explosives, I supposed, taking my own belt and strapping it over the set of knives I already had, resting just above my hips.
“Do not touch this button before you are instructed to, unless you wish to blow yourselves out of the sky,” Pandora warned, gesturing toward a small blue button on the side of the black orbs.
A few of the meatheads in our group chuckled among themselves, pretending to push the blue button, much to the evident disdain of Pandora, who flashed them a threatening look. Instantly, they stopped, looking down at the ground in shame.
Pandora cleared her throat. “We will be flying into enemy territory. Ships will be too conspicuous, so you’re all going to have to rely on your own strength and stamina. Don’t waste your energy on speed. Stealth is what we need here, on the way in,” she began. “All of you will follow Commander Korbin here, who will be your ranking officer on this mission,” she added, gesturing to one of the grizzled, older coldbloods who had joined us. His dark hair was streaked with white, shorn close at the sides, with jagged tattoos coiling beneath the remaining bristles. His eyes were a pale blue, his face broad and stern. I felt anxious at the very sight of him; he did not look like the kind of guy anyone would want to meet in a dark alley.
Korbin nodded, the movement tugging at a long, silvery scar that shot up his neck, curving all the way up his skull, where it stopped just shy of his eyebrow. “In the air, now!” he yelled, startling me. The other trainees sent out their wings, taking to the skies in a rush of wind and a cacophony of leathery flapping.
Padding around my pockets for my wing serum, I quickly took out the stopper and downed the remainder of the second vial. I only had one left now. After it was finished, I would have to ask for more. Navan grabbed me under the arms, lifting me up into the air so I wouldn’t be left behind. I flushed, feeling humiliated at having to be carried in front of my fellow soldiers. Still, I knew I would rather be carried than fall behind, uncertain whether I’d be able to catch up.
Navan clutched me to his chest as my face twisted in agony, the serum leaving no muscle free of pain. I gritted my teeth against it, unwilling to show weakness in front of the others. I felt the familiar razorblade sensation of the wings forcing their way out from under my scapula, before they stretched out behind me, catching a current of air beneath their silky tension.
“You good?” Navan asked.
“You’d think it would
get easier at some point,” I gasped.
Navan released me, letting me fly solo with the rest of the flock. He flew beside me, his wings beating steadily, my own wings copying his almost mechanical motions as we soared up the side of the jagged mountain range, the cold air whipping our faces. We came down the other side ten minutes later, flying over the spot where our Snapper still rested, forgotten about in the secret glade that stood before the tunnel entrance. It was strange to see it sitting there, abandoned, especially as we were about to reenter the domain it had come from.
Feeling the twist of fear in my stomach, I focused my eyes forward, taking in the impressive sight of the soldiers flying in formation ahead of me. Off to the sides, I could make out the glitter of Northern Vysanthe’s frozen lakes, and the fanged horizon of far-off mountain ranges. In the driving rain, it looked remarkably bleak, though there was a certain type of beauty to it.
A savage beauty, I thought, reminded of Lazar’s words. It had been a long time since I’d thought about Navan’s uncle and what might have befallen him. As much as I resented him for keeping the tracker in my neck, I couldn’t help wondering if he was okay. He had helped Navan and me escape Queen Gianne’s soldiers, after all.
In the distance, the shimmering wall of the barrier between nations came into view. It was like catching the silk of a spider’s web in the right light, only seen in glimpses. As we neared, however, I could hear the steady thrum of it, the energy crackling upon our approach. How we were supposed to get through it without being noticed or destroyed, I had no clue. We’d managed to get through in the Snapper, but even that had been a rocky entrance. Without anything to shield us from the barrier’s energy, I worried we might explode.
Korbin came to a halt a few yards from the first patch of barrier, urging us all to hide behind a parapet of rock that jutted out from the jagged mountains. We did so, keeping our eyes on him as he took something out of the backpack he wore between his wings. I squinted for a better look, seeing that he carried a large, peculiar, net-like square in his hands.
He approached the thrumming barrier with the square, the crosshatched surface bursting into life as he placed it against the sheen of raw energy. A small explosion crackled through the air, and my eyes darted toward the Southern side of the wall, expecting ships to approach at any moment. When they didn’t, I turned my attention back to the square, suddenly realizing what it was for.
It worked like a circuit breaker, as far as I could tell, the square cutting out a section of the barrier so we could all filter through without setting off the border patrol alarms. A genius move, and one we definitely couldn’t have achieved in the Vysanthean ships.
“Get going!” Korbin hissed, ushering the first of us through the gap.
I brought up the tail end of the soldiers, with Navan the only one to follow. When it came to me, however, Korbin shoved me roughly between the shoulders, aggravating the tender spot between my scapula. With the sting of it searing through my chest, I glared at him, knowing he hadn’t laid a finger on anyone else. He glared back, letting me know he didn’t want me on this mission any more than I wanted to be on it.
Navan looked furious at what Korbin had done, but I silenced his anger with a warning look. I didn’t need him starting a fight. It would only get us in trouble. I’d grown used to coldbloods looking down on me, and as long as Korbin didn’t try to blow me up with the rest of the Observatory, I could handle whatever derogatory behavior he threw at me.
As I reached the other side, coming through the barrier unscathed, a thought dawned on me. What was the real reason Brisha had changed her mind all of a sudden? Why had she decided to send me on this mission? A shiver of dread ran up my spine as I began to doubt that she had solely been acting under the influence of her broken heart. Thinking on it more clearly, I realized that if anything happened to me, Navan would do whatever Brisha asked to get me back—including more attacks against innocent civilians.
This was her way of showing her power over him, with the perk of making him suffer for what his brother had done. I could see it now. It was important to her that he bend to her will, with no doubt as to his loyalty. Considering his knowledge of the South and who his father was, he was a valuable asset, but only as long as he was malleable to her requirements.
I knew he would do anything to save me. And I had no doubts now that she knew he would, too.
Chapter Twenty
I kept my anxious thoughts to myself as we continued across Southern Vysanthe. After creeping through the barrier, we took an immediate left, clinging to the shadows of the mountainside and taking the less-traveled route to Regium. I missed the familiar sight of the fighting pits, even though it wasn’t a particularly pleasant landmark. Still, it was one that would have centered me, where I felt entirely disoriented. Everything below us looked the same, the landscape unchanging in its flat hostility, making me wonder if Korbin even knew where he was going.
An expansive plateau stretched out into the distance once we moved out of the protection of the mountain range. Barren wasteland rushed beneath us, the ground frozen and cracked, glistening with permafrost. Now and again, I’d catch sight of a twisted tree, its skeletal arms reaching to the sky as if in prayer, its leaves long since gone. There were settlements too, scattered around the flat landscape, though we were careful to give them a wide berth, knowing they might sound the alarm if they saw a squadron of soldiers approaching.
An hour later, the jagged peaks that surrounded Regium appeared in the distance. Their snowy caps glinted in the harsh sunlight, each one looking like the silvery tip of a spear, protecting the people within its guarded center. Instead of traveling toward the city, Korbin led us over a neighboring mountain range, before coming to a halt on a narrow ledge overlooking a black lake. Its frothing waves crashed against the slick cliffs that curved all around us.
Catching my breath, I stared down at the churning water and recognized the spot immediately. My head snapped up, and I felt a refreshed sense of panic as my eyes caught sight of the crystalline edge of the Observatory peering out just above our heads.
“Half of you are going to make the climb up to the Observatory to fit explosives along the underside of the building and in the joints that run along the wall,” Korbin explained, keeping his tone low. “This should cause the crystal structure to collapse in on itself, but we want to ensure maximum damage. So, I want the other half of you to get into the building itself and masquerade as citizens. Set explosives anywhere you can, though ensure they are well hidden. If we are discovered, it is unlikely we will make it out alive. Do you understand?”
Everyone nodded, though I longed to shoot back up into the air and keep flying until I was as far from everything as it was possible to be. I looked at Navan, and from his grim expression, he felt the same way. And yet, there was nothing we could do. If we betrayed Queen Brisha, our friends would suffer. And pissing off Brisha could potentially piss off Orion, if it would affect our standing with her. If we didn’t betray her, innocent southern Vysantheans would suffer. It was a terrible situation no matter which way we turned.
“You two need to stay outside the Observatory and stick to the outer perimeter,” Korbin declared, his gaze shooting toward Navan and me. “You’re too recognizable here, even in civilian clothes.”
I wasn’t sure if that was good news or bad news, but at least I wouldn’t have to look anyone in the eye as I set an explosive I knew would inflict pain and suffering on so many. Did that make it better? For me, perhaps, but not for those whose lives it might take.
“Of course, Commander Korbin,” Navan replied, while I’d lost all ability to speak.
“The explosives are self-sticking. All you need to do is place one on a surface and press the blue button once. This will keep it in place,” Korbin went on, his gaze darting around the assembled group. “Now, you need to press the button a second time to start the timer. Once you have done that, a light will flash. That means the explosive is primed and will
detonate after a set amount of time. I have set the timer on each one. You have an hour to get out once the light starts flashing. Any questions?”
The group shook their heads, though I could see a glimpse of fear on each of their faces. It comforted me slightly to know they weren’t eager to do this either. And yet, nobody was mounting a rebellion, nobody was calling for it to stop, and I knew nobody would.
“Right, then get going!” Korbin said, separating the team into two groups. “Civilian team, make sure you fly up to the main entrance, so you look like you’ve come from the city. Outer team, keep yourselves hidden!” he added, ushering our group up the side of the slippery cliff face, while the others removed their military fatigues, revealing the civilian clothes beneath.
Our group was the smaller of the two, but I could sense the relief coming off my fellow trainees as we flew upward at a slow pace. I realized they were probably thinking the same as me—if they didn’t have to look their enemy in the eye, then surely that made it easier? I couldn’t entirely convince myself that was true, but I could understand the comfort that might come from it.
A few of the soldiers stopped at the underside of the Observatory, the steel base jutting out over the water. I grimaced as they removed a few of the explosives from their belts and fixed them to the outer surface of the structure, pressing the buttons in twice, as Korbin had instructed.
“Shall we head up?” Navan murmured, taking my hand.
I nodded, feeling wretched.
We clambered over the edge of the clifftop and crawled along the grass until we reached the outer wall of the Observatory. Through the transparent crystal, I could see all the people milling about inside. There were hundreds, if not thousands. At the very far corner, staring out at the choppy waters of the black lake, I saw the faces of coldblood children pressed to the glass, pulling faces and pointing out at the horizon. Nothing about this was right. Gianne had attacked her sister, and lives had been lost, that was true, but that didn’t make retaliation fair or just. Brisha was supposed to be the better one, the one whose side I thought I could take. But not now. Definitely not now.
Hotbloods Book 3_Renegades Page 17
