Page 95 of Deadly Alliances

I knocked on his door, and as soon as he opened it, I rushed inside, closing the door quickly behind me.

“Arya? Pleasure seeing you down here,” he said with a curious and slightly hopeful look in his eyes.

I suddenly realized how this looked, but I didn’t care. I had to try one last time.

“And no guards?” he asked, wearing a friendly smile.

“Didn’t you hear? Hadrian killed them,” she said flatly.

“What?” His expression instantly changed from playful to concerned. “Did they hurt you?”

I laughed dryly. “They didn’t do anything wrong except give me an ounce of freedom. Apparently, that’s worth getting your heart ripped out.” My lip began to quiver, so I sucked it between my teeth.

He put his hand on my shoulder, and I let it remain because I honestly needed the comfort. “Wait, what happened?”

“You didn’t see it coming? I thought you were Hadrian’s pet seer.” I didn’t intend to snap at him, but the anger I still heldover his betrayal triggered the beast in me.

He held up his hands defensively and took a step back. “The visions don’t work that way. I can’t control what I see.”

“So you didn’t see Tobias getting tortured and nearly killed down in the dungeon? Well, I did. That’s why Hadrian killed my guards.”

“You went down there? After I warned you not to?”

I scowled at him, resenting the implication that he had any kind of control over me. “I had to. Tobias was down there. I know you guys had it out for each other at the Dome, but he’s one of us. I couldn’t just let him suffer.”

“So, what? You thought you’d break him out?” Kendall looked exasperated. “Arya, when are you going to get it through your head that he’s no good for you?”

“And you are?” I snapped.

He must have known that Hadrian wanted me to be with him. Even more reason for him to want Tobias out of the way. It was a mistake to come here. I was tempted to just turn around and leave.

His brows puckered, and his shoulders slacked. “You know how I feel about you. I thought—I hoped—that if I gave you space, you’d come around and see that we were meant to end up here. Then Tobias swooped in and dragged you right back under his toxic wings. You have to let him go, Arya. Not because I want you to choose me, but because he’s going to get you killed if you keep trying to save him. Hadrian will never let him leave, and the longer you hold onto that hope, the longer you’ll suffer.”

Despite my anger toward him, I could see the depth of his feelings for me shining in his beachy eyes. As much as I wantedto hate him, I didn’t. We’d been so close once. He made bad choices—siding with Hadrian being the worst of them—but I’d experienced firsthand how persuasive and charming Hadrian could be; I’d come dangerously close to falling for his good dad routine. Kendall wasn’t the bad guy here. He was just misguided.

“Do you really care for me?” I asked, making my voice as soft and imploring as possible.

“More than you could ever know,” he professed, intensity blazing in his eyes.

I took his hand in both of mine and pleaded with my eyes. “Then come with me. I’m leaving this place tomorrow, and I’m never coming back.”

“You’re leaving? How?” he asked, taking a step toward me.

“Never mind the how for now. Just say you’ll come with me. You don’t belong here.”

“And go where? Back to the Dome to pretend we’re not all sitting ducks?” He shook his head and withdrew his hand. “I understand you and Hadrian are struggling to connect, but this is where you belong, Arya. Hadrian is your dad, and Alex is your brother. They’re the only family you have left. There’s nothing for you at the Dome but hollow friendships and death.”

I was losing him. He was going to say no and expose my plan. I had to say whatever I could to bring him with me, anything to get him out of this place.

“Fine. Then we won’t go to the Dome. Hadrian told me my mom was a princess of a still-submerged mer colony, that she came to land to convince her people they needed to move topside, but she never went back. Let’s go find them together. Please.”

“Of course, I’ll help you find your colony.” His pitch was highwith excitement, and it filled me with hope. “I’m sure if you talk to Hadrian about it, he’ll fund the whole expedition. He’d probably even offer to support their migration.” And my hopes fizzled out like day-old soda.

“There’s nothing I can say to make you leave here, is there?” I said, my tone heavy with defeat.

“No,” he said, putting his hands on my shoulders and rubbing my skin with his thumbs. “This is where I’m meant to be, and so are you. Stay with me. Forget about the dragon who doesn’t see how amazing you are. Forget about the people at the Dome who shunned you. Forget about whatever allegiances you feel obligated to keep with people who never appreciated you. And just...stay. I know you’ll understand that I can’t let you leave.”

I sighed. “And I can’t let you ruin my plans. I’m sorry, Kendall.” Then I broadened my throat and said in my musical siren song, “You never saw me tonight. We never had this conversation. You are now very tired and need to go to sleep.”

---