Page 120 of Powerless

I’m not sure he’s right about that, but I nod slowly, taking in his words. “You want me to use Kitt to find the tunnel.”

“Bingo,” Finn says.

“He has already begun to trust you,” Calum insists. “So, use it. What was it you said earlier? ‘The strongest weapon a woman has at her disposal is that she is often underestimated.’ So let him underestimate you. He is a means to an end. Make this boy bow if he must.” His eyes are locked on mine. “Just get us into the Bowl. We’ve been planning this for a long while now, and it will be the first time that most of the Resistance will be in one spot. So, this needs to goright.”

I nod again. “I can do it. Iwilldo it.” There is a beat of silence before I ask, “What exactlyisthe plan?”

“It’s really quite simple,” Calum says. “The majority of us will finally all gather together, and we’ll show the people of Ilya who we are and what we have to say. Show them that we are not a threat while also reminding them of who they have been killing for decades. The king is going to have to either admit his lies about the Ordinaries or simply give us our freedom. And you are going to help us do it.”

“We need you to find the tunnel,” Lenny urges. “I’ll be there to help with anything you need, of course, and we will check back in soon with Calum.”

So, Calum is the head leader?

“Yes, I suppose you could call me the that, though none of us really have titles,” Calum says coolly, running a hand through his tawny hair.

Plagues. He’s a—

“Yes, I am a Mind Reader, Paedyn.”

My breathing quickens.

He’s been reading my thoughts the entire time. He’s probably reading them right now—

“Yes, I have been reading your thoughts the entire time, and yes, I did just read them again.” I don’t try to hide the look of betrayal on my face, which only softens his expression. “I’m sorry for invading your thoughts, but I had to make sure you were truly on our side. Truly willing to help us.”

Get. Out. Of. My. Head.

He almost smiles. “So very headstrong, just like your father. But now that I see you are trustworthy, I will leave you to your thoughts.”

Lenny clears his throat and stands, offering me a hand. “We should get going. We have a lot of work to do. And you need to spend as much time with the future king as possible, so you can find us our passage.”

“Yeah, I still need to figure out exactly how I’m going to get that information out of him,” I admit.

“Flirt,” Finn chimes in at the same moment Lenny says, “Bat your eyelashes or something.”

I snort before Lenny waves me over to the stairs. “Come on. We need to get you back to your room.”

I nod to the small group before me. “Thank you. You gave me something to fight for.” And with that, I turn away, heading for the stone steps behind Lenny.

“Paedyn?” I spin on my heel to see Calum watching me. “Your father would be proud.”

ChapterThirty-Five

Kai

Training and torturinghave kept me sane over the past couple of days, though I’m well aware that only an insane person would admit that.

It’s almost been a week since the first Trial ended.

Almost a week since I buried a blade in Jax’s chest.

Almost a week of restraining myself from doing the same to Ace.

So I keep busy, pounding my fists into mats so they don’t find their way to somebody’s face, seeing that I don’t have the Silencer to beat down on anymore.

It’s a shame that I killed him.

I’m sure he had information, yes, but I’m not one for empty threats. I promised Micah I would kill him if he didn’t prove his life worthy of saving. And when he failed to offer me the information I wanted, I followed through on that promise.

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