Page 193 of Powerless

It’s the kind of smile that sends a shiver down your spine. The kind of smile that is anything but kind. The kind of smile that tells me this man knows exactly who I am.

My feet falter. Less than a dozen yards separate us now.

And that’s when I see it.

I see green eyes, colder than the rain soaking through my thin clothing.

I see golden hair, duller than the cloudy sky.

I see lips twisted in a smile, wickeder than the storm raging above us.

“Ah, Paedyn Gray,” he calls to me over the whipping wind, his voice sharp and silky all at once. “Or should I call you a Resistance member? An Ordinary? A betrayer?”

I step closer, though I already know exactly who stands before me.

I see the king.

Anger isn’t a strong enough word for the emotion coursing through me when I look at this man—this monster, this murderer.

His eyes are crazed, his hair bloody from a deep gash near his temple still dripping blood. How he managed to get away from the fighting mob inside the Bowl is beyond me. And yet, here he is, stumbling right into my path. Stumbling alone.

The king is completely alone.

I almost want to thank the Plague for this gift. Almost.

I continue striding forward, refusing to run from him, from this opportunity. The sound of sliding steel sings through the rumbling thunder as he draws a sword from the sheath at his side.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked that I figured it out,” he croons, causing my blood to boil. “I knew this was coming. You wheedled your way into my naïve son’s head, his heart, and got what you needed for your little Resistance. And as for knowing you are an Ordinary, well, I’ve known for quite some time now.” A smile twists his face at the look of shock on mine. “Not to mention that I knew who your father was, what he was a part of. I knew many things about him before hisunfortunateend.” His smile is evil incarnate. “Stabbed through the chest, was it?”

I go rigid, every part of me filled with rage. But I force a cool mask over my features, ignoring his last statement and referring to his first. “And what should I callyou? King or coward? Liar or murderer? All would be appropriate, don’t you think?”

He barks out a laugh, and I can barely control my anger at the sound of it. My hands shake as I ball them into fists at my sides, nails cutting into my palms. Words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them. “You killed her.”

He huffs as if this amuses him. “Who, your little friend?” His eyes flash, betraying the anger he’s kept buried. “No.Youkilled her. I warned you about the Trials. I warned you to stay away from my sons. You’ve made my kingdom look weak. You’ve made my heirs lookweak.” He spits out the word, disgusted with his own flesh and blood. “You had Kai helping you in the Trials, running after you during a ball. You had the future king wrapped around your finger, spilling every secret and bit of information you needed.Youare the murderer, Paedyn.” He takes a step towards me, and I’m rooted to the spot, shaking my head. “You forget what you are,Slummer. An Ordinary doomed to die. You arenothing.”

“Then why didn’t you kill me?” I yell. “If you knew what I was then why not kill me like you have with every other Ordinary?”

“Because I needed you alive,” he says simply. “But now you are of no use to me, and since the Trials didn’t kill you, I get the pleasure of doing that myself.” He pauses and a sneer twists his lips. “Can youreadwhat I’m going to do next with thatPsychicability of yours?”

A sudden flash of silver blends in with the rain.

A sword is swinging at me.

ChapterSixty-Four

Kai

A knee connectswith my spine.Well, someone has a death wish.

I spin, easily burying the knife I nicked off the last man I killed into this one’s chest, pushing through the tough leather encasing him. I feel the familiar spray of blood splattering my clothes, my face. I’m covered in it. I yank out the blade, letting the man fall to the ground with a thud.

They all have a death wish.

The arena is utter chaos. Imperials and Resistance members clash, one in white, one in leather. Ordinaries, Elites, and Fatals fight side by side.

It’s bizarre.

It’s also the only reason this fight isn’t over yet. If it weren’t for the Fatals and Elites joined with the Resistance, this would have been a bloodbath. But they are still significantly outnumbered against all the Imperials that now fill the Bowl.

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