white dawn (Black Tiger Series Book 3)

by Sara Baysinger

  “I-I actually did die.”

  I stop breathing.

  “The Indy Tribe saved me.”

  “But…how? They weren’t even there.”

  She nods. “So, Defender Shepherd was a close friend of my mom’s. He’s apparently been in Frankfort this whole time, working behind the scenes as a spy for Indy.”

  Shepherd. I recognize the name. There are a lot of spies in support of the Resurgence who live in Frankfort, but it’s hard to keep track of them all.

  “Shepherd was with Titus when Titus arrived to Louisville,” Ember is saying. “Aurora ordered him and a few others to clean up my body.” She shrugs. “Instead he sent me off with the Fearless Five, and they contacted Indy. I guess Indy finally decided to help us out. They sent immediate help, pumped me full of blood, and used some sort of technology to shock my system back to life. Isn’t that incredible?”

  A surge of hope jolts through me. “Does that mean…is Forest…”

  Her shoulders sag and she looks down. “No. Since he was…shot in the head. They—they couldn’t save him.”

  “Oh.” A brief moment is shared between us.

  “Anyway,” she says. “I guess Shepherd returned to Frankfort to continue with the funeral arrangements. Isaac didn’t want anyone to know I was alive.”

  I nod. Typical Isaac, the ultimate Resurgencie, not taking any risks to mess up his plans. But I wonder why this Shepherd couldn’t at least tell me Ember was alive. Surely he knew I was a part of the Resurgence. Surely he knew the agony I was in. I shake the thoughts from my head. The past is over, and the future couldn’t look brighter.

  “So, but, why didn’t you just return once you were healed?” I ask. “Why didn’t you at least contact me?” Surely she could have gone behind Isaac’s back.

  She studies me, her brown eyes shining. “I was treated well, Rain, but I had no freedom. Isaac…he was afraid that if you knew I was alive, you would ditch your mission here to come find me. He was afraid if anyone else knew, like Aurora, they would hunt the Resurgence down.” She lifts her shoulder in a shrug. “I had no way to contact you, Rain. And not because of the Indy Tribe. They told the Resurgence they could come back. But Isaac kept me hostage. He still doesn’t trust Aurora, no matter how much I try to change his mindset.”

  Isaac…Isaac…Isaac…

  That name re-awakens my mind, brings me back to reality.

  “Um. Where is Isaac now?” I ask.

  She glances around us. “He was with us on the helicopter.”

  “Helicopter?” Oh. Those were the black things that were flying through the air. I’ve seen them in history books, but I had no idea they were still used.

  “I-I don’t…know where Isaac is, now,” Ember says. “He was beside me, and now he’s gone.”

  Oh. Oh no. Not this. Not now. I utter a string of curse words.

  “What?” Ember asks. “What’s wrong?”

  I look at her, the devastation of what’s going down at the capitol building stripping me of any joy I felt. “He’s going to kill Aurora.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

  AURORA

  I watch from my office window. The helicopters have disappeared on the horizon where they’re spraying the antitoxin onto the rest of Ky. I can’t see the heart of Frankfort from this angle, but the news shows me the medics helping the wounded. The chaos has died down and now a sobering stillness takes over Ky.

  I can finally breathe.

  After seeing Ember’s face on the screen, joy melts my bones and consumes me like a raging fire. Holy Crawford. She’s alive! Rain will be so happy.

  Titus will be pissed.

  But not for long. I still have to figure out the best way to dispose of him. Do I want to make a spectacle—use him as a symbol of the death of the old traditions—or use him as an example to the Patricians to show them what will happen to them if they try to take me down again? Or would I rather kill Titus myself, in the privacy of our home? Or give Ember the honor?

  Too many options. Either way, it must be done soon.

  The TV screen switches and now reveals shots of the other helicopters—hundreds of them—flying over the rest of Ky, spraying the cure in the form of a mist, like rain washing away the ugliness.

  “This is just…unbelievable.”

  I look up at Mcallister. He’s hardly spoken a word this whole time. His focus has been on the screen, on the chaos going on inside our country. That’s one thing I love about Mcallister. His silent companionship. Sometimes I want to be around people and have no obligation to talk, and I have that in Mcallister.

  He smiles down at me, his black eyes shining, his lips parting to reveal a heart-stopping smile. “There’s nothing left to worry about, Chief. Everyone in Ky has been cured. And this cure will no doubt make their minds Patrician-clear. Which means the Indy Tribe and the Resurgence will finally be willing to work with you to make this government a better place. Food. Water. Resources. They’ll hand over whatever you need. All your biggest obstacles have been conquered.”

  A weight lifts off my shoulders. Without thinking, I lean in and embrace him. He takes a startled step back, then slowly wraps his arms around my shoulders. I inhale deeply, and the scent of Mcallister sets me at ease. His waist is firm and lean beneath his stiff Defender coat. He runs his hands up and down my back, and another thrill courses through me. A strange one that I’ve never felt before—that has nothing to do with rescuing Ky. He kisses my head, and I suddenly feel excited and terrified all at once, my heart pounding at an awkward rhythm.

  “Well isn’t this cute.”

  Mcallister stiffens, but before I can look back, he tightens his arms around me and whirls around. I don’t hear anything, but by the force of his body on mine as we tumble to the floor, I know he’s been either tackled or shot.

  “Mcallister,” that same voice says. “Did you seriously just defend her?” I don’t have to look up to know who it is. Rain told me Isaac was going to try to assassinate me.

  Mcallister groans against my ear. “She’s…on our side.”

  “She’s got you fooled, just like Titus did!”

  “Isaac, for the love of God, don’t shoot her!”

  I hear footsteps, then see black boots in my line of vision. “You believe her so profusely, you would give your life for her?”

  “Yes.” The word is squeezed through gritted teeth. Poor Mcallister; where did Isaac shoot him?

  “Well, damn.” Isaac sighs heavily at the inconvenience. “Stand up.”

  “Promise me you won’t shoot her.”

  A long pause, then, “I won’t shoot her…right now.”

  That seems to be enough for Mcallister. His weight is lifted off me, and he rolls onto his side. That’s when I see the blood soaking through the sleeve on his upper arm. A breath of relief escapes me. He wasn’t hit anywhere vital.

  “You need to go to an infirmary,” I say.

  “That bullet was meant for her, not you, James.” Isaac’s eyes meet mine, and there’s no regret, nothing that tells me he will listen to a word I have to say right now. So I keep my mouth shut. He seems satisfied with my silence and glares at Mcallister. “Give me three reasons I shouldn’t shoot her.”

  “One: because she’s your chief.” The answer comes from the doorway in a voice that simultaneously makes my skin crawl and makes a smile ease on my face.

  “Rain,” Isaac mutters.

  “Two,” Rain continues, “because for the past two weeks, she’s been busting her butt doing exactly what you wanted her to do. And three: Mcallister will never forgive you if you kill the only girl he’s ever loved.” He steps into the room. “And I don’t know about you, but I would not want to be on Captain Mcallister’s bad side. Have you seen the way he treats prisoners?”

  Ember rushes into the room next. She sees Mcallister on the ground and gasps.

  “It’s okay,” Mcallister says, sitting up now. He glares at Isaac. “T
he bullet just grazed my arm.”

  Ember releases a small sigh of relief, then looks at me, and the connection between us is almost palpable. I feel like a part of me I was always missing is right here. Without thinking, I begin walking toward her. She meets me in the middle of the room, and we embrace.

  “Great,” Isaac says. “Two more people who have been tricked.”

  “It’s not a trick,” Rain says. “Holy Crawford, Isaac. Really? You really want to kill her? All the people of Ky are brain-clear now. There’s nothing she can do to continue leading like Titus without getting herself overthrown.”

  “There’s plenty she could do.”

  Walker stumbles into the room just as Ember and I pull apart. He looks between us, then strides up and envelops us in his arms.

  “My two nieces. Both alive. I thought I’d never see this again.” When he pulls away, his eyes are wet with tears. I haven’t seen him this happy since the day he found out I was alive. But this time he looks at Ember. He strokes her short hair, takes in her features like he can’t believe she’s here, then he pulls us both into another bone-crushing hug.

  “Now all you need is Titus to complete your ensemble,” Isaac mutters.

  “Don’t tempt me to invite him to the reunion,” Walker says with a wink as he pulls away. He sniffs, then searches the room. “Where’s the rest of the crew?”

  “Not telling you anything about the Resurgence in front of this…this…replica of Titus.” Isaac looks pointedly at me. “Where is he, anyway? I would be a lot more willing to believe you were on our side if you killed your brother yourself. But the fact that you’re keeping him alive and hidden from the public makes me believe you’re planning on returning him to the throne once all this blows over.”

  I release a short laugh. “I was going to wait until morning so the whole country could watch.” I shrug. “But if my putting a bullet through Titus's head myself right now would make you and your posse trust me, then what are we waiting for? I’ll take you to him right now.”

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  AURORA

  We cross the lawn into the Chief’s Mansion. Mcallister heads over to the infirmary, and I honestly would much rather be with him to make sure he’s okay than be leading this procession to the underbelly of the mansion where I spent the majority of my life. I could just let Rain lead the procession, let Isaac kill Titus himself, but I kind of want to be there. I want to look into Titus’s eyes, remind him of all the ways he stripped life from me, before I completely strip his life from him.

  Walker acts as my bodyguard now, staying close beside me, his handgun drawn and ready to shoot, even if it means shooting his own men. His loyalty to me is admirable. I think I like this uncle of mine.

  When we arrive at the door, I punch in the code and the door slides open. The bed is vacant, the bedspread pulled up and folded back. The table where I used to eat my meals is empty. My eyes scan the room, but don’t find Titus. I cross the room and enter the surveillance room where all the cameras have been disabled, but the room is also empty. Titus…he’s gone. I feel like someone reached inside my gut and ripped every crucial organ out.

  “Well, that’s convenient,” Isaac says. “He escaped the same day we came to execute him. Perfect timing, wouldn’t you say, Chief?”

  On the desk by the computers, I find a hot-pink piece of paper with black letters scribbled on it. A note. My heart pounding, I pick it up and begin reading.

  Rory,

  I’m off to get Gideon. I suppose Rain’s already told you his whereabouts. But don’t bother coming after me. Nashville is meeting me at the border, and by the time you find this note, I will have gotten Gideon and become one of their citizens. They promised me glory, Rory. Eternal life. However, one step into Nashville, and they will do cruel, cruel things to you. You thought the Rebels Circle was inhumane? Then don’t take a step into Nashville. I care about you enough to warn you.

  So long. I hope you’re happy with your Patrician-clear people, whom you can’t control.

  They will now control you.

  Long live the chief.

  Titus.

  Isaac strides over and rips the note from my fingers just as I finish reading.

  “Someone…someone helped him escape,” I breathe.

  “Who’s Gideon?” Isaac says, reading the note.

  Ember gasps. “He’s going to get Gideon?”

  I bite back my tears. The familiar fear bleeds into my veins, and all evidence of courage and self-confidence evaporates until there’s nothing left but the need to just give up. The familiar emptiness envelops me, and I want to melt. I want to disappear, and I want just one day to go right.

  I can appear strong around my enemies. I can appear strong around those who support me. But one mention of Gideon, and I’m breaking. I’m falling apart, and there’s not enough glue in the world to put me back together.

  Titus will always win. With Nashville behind him, I’ve got nothing. There’s no hope and I’m back to step one. I’m back to that isolated little girl who lost her son and had no future. I’m numb. My body is trying to decide whether to fight or fly but my brain has decided that it doesn’t matter because I’ve already lost.

  Isaac keeps asking questions. Ember demands we raid Nashville until we find him. I know that will end in another unnecessary bloodbath, one that will result in the final end of Ky. I can’t handle it. I can’t handle all these voices. I can’t handle the despair that I might never see Gideon again. I’ve already lost Gideon by the mere fact that I cut all ties with Nashville. I knew this. I knew it the moment Rain told me where Gideon was.

  I just hoped I’d have come up with a solution by now.

  I push through the others, numbly making my way to the door.

  “Don’t let her get away!” Isaac shouts. “She did this! She got in contact with Titus and warned him we were coming!”

  I hear his footsteps approach behind me, but then they stop along with Rain’s voice. “Just let her go, will ya? Holy Crawford, Isaac. You’re worse than I was a month ago.”

  I don’t hear what else he has to say before I step out of the room.

  And shatter.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  AURORA

  For hours, I lay in bed and try to process these impossible events.

  That room. It does strange things to me. After growing up there and it being my only home, I guess I always thought going back would make me want to stay. Like it would give me some sick measure of comfort and tempt me to move back in.

  Nope.

  Every time I go back, all I want is out. One step in that room and the walls close in on me, and I’m trapped again. I can’t stand it. And the fact that Titus has been in there every time I visited only made the visits worse.

  And now he’s gone.

  To get Gideon.

  What will he tell Nashville? He knows everything about Ky. If he has Nashville strike Ky just so they can reelect him as leader, we can’t stand against them. Not unless the Indy Tribe steps in again, but I really can’t see them fighting for us. They already used so much of their cure on Ky, and that was only so the White Plague wouldn’t spread to their territory. Indy refuses to meddle in other country’s businesses, so I can’t really see them sending in troops on our behalf.

  Defeated, spent, and distraught, I close my eyes and breathe in. Feel the air fill up my lungs and clear the tangled thoughts in my brain. I feel the energy pour through my arms and fingers, coursing down my spine and burrowing into my soul.

  And I exhale back into the universe.

  I am a princess cut from onyx.

  I am a queen sharpened from steel.

  I am power.

  My life is my own and no one can control me.

  Breathe in. Breathe it all in.

  Power. Freedom. It’s mine. It’s in my hands.

  No more fear, Aurora.

  So why have I allowed myself to slip back
into that vulnerable little girl who knew nothing? I open my eyes. I envision a new plan. Because my life goal since losing Gideon has been to get him back, and I’m not going to stop now. I know Titus said there’s no point going after him, but Titus has always been liar. If he thought I would be caught, he would have tried to lure me into going after him. It would be so much easier to place him as chief without his sisters in the way. No, he dispelled those threats because he knew there was a chance I could get Gideon back.

  I see right through you, Brother.

  But I can’t tell Mcallister or Walker or Krin or anyone one else that I’m going to get Gideon. They will want to help me, and I can’t risk getting Ky in an unnecessary war. If my presence is posed as a threat, I don’t want to take Ky down with me. But Krin and Walker will either want to get in involved, thus involving all of Ky, or they will want to stop me. And I can’t afford either of those options.

  This is something I have to do alone.

  * * *

  I step into the Council Office where Congress has been gathered to discuss the next steps of Ky. All the current Congress members are present, and I’ve also invited all the Resurgence members who are in Ky to this meeting. Those include: Walker, Isaac, Ember, Rain, and Mcallister. The rest of the Resurgence, including Ember’s father and brother, are still in Indy with plans to arrive when everything settles down a bit…and when they realize I’m not as villainous as Titus.

  I take my seat at the head of the table, between Krin and Walker.

  “We’re going to find Gideon,” Krin says, laying her hand over my wrist. “After things settle down here, we’ll begin making plans to contact Nashville and see if we can come to some sort of agreement.”

  I nod. I allow her to think I can put off finding Gideon for another week. Or month. Or however long “tying up loose ends” looks like. But, honestly? I’m tired of waiting. And with Congress gutted and new, trusted people filling the empty seats, I feel like I’m leaving Ky in good hands.