Page 93 of Rising

My breath became shallow at the command and I took a step forward, creating some distance. “You mentioned him. Said you were glad he saved me, but because he saved me, you lost someone. Someone that meant everything to you. We both have people we owe things to. People we want to honor. Maybe we should keep them in mind before we make a mistake we can’t take back.”

The words felt harsh as they left my lips, instant regret washing over me as I took in the stillness of his body. Not having had expected the conversation to take this turn.

“This is about Jax?” His voice was barely audible over the busy street.

“Yes.”

He shook his head, clearing his throat. “We don’t have time for this.”

“Agreed. What’s the plan then? I’ve got about thirty minutes before someone comes and knocks at my door with dinner.”

“Don’t eat it.”

I leaned back onto the wall, attempting to blend in with the others lingering and gathering in the town-like area. My head tilted, waiting for him to continue.

“The pills they gave you start to lose effect around seventy-two hours. It’ll be in your dinner for another dose tonight.”

My jaw clenched.Fuck,we wouldn’t have been the wiser, expecting the next dose to be in pill form again. “Copy.”

“Give me a few more days. Play along. She’s happy she has me back, but she’s not dumb. Hasn’t given me any worthwhile information. Only reason I’m here right now is because I’m not allowed in their daily debrief. Doesn’t loosen the leash much, only time she lets me out her sight. But I’ll find a way to get you out. I just need time.”

I nodded, grateful to be free of the burden of figuring this out on my own. “Them out too. All of us.” I meant him too.

His mouth pulled in a tight grin, pulling me into a tight hug and catching me off balance. My foot tripped a step before he hoisted me up, my back now to the alley, welcoming the embrace. The warmth from his body offered me a pocket of peace in a place where letting my guard down could be a fatal mistake.

“I’m glad you’re just a dick and not actually evil.”I’m glad you’re safe.

His arms tensed around my shoulders. “When I let go, get the others and run like hell.”

A chill went through my body. Danger laced every word. I grounded my feet, ready to protest, ready to stay and fight. To hell with leaving him here alone.

“Don’t look back,” he said, pulling me behind him. His rings were off. Fire filled his palms, and I couldn’t help but disobey. I wheeled around. Finley stood at the end of the alley, her hair whipping a halo around her face, her sharp features otherworldly as she snickered. Disgust pulling at her thin lips.Moe’s vision.

“Go!” he yelled.

Finley chuckled. “Oh Alexiares, I was hoping you and your whore wouldn’t be so naïve, but alas, here we all are. Well, guess I can’t say I don’t enjoy a crowd.”

His flames were bright, heat hitting the back of my body as I took off.

Finley’s next words were nearly lost to the wind. “There’s a shield around us, Alexi.” She laughed. “You remember Joey from that day we caught you in the field, right? Now that I’m thinking about it, I believe he’s the reason you took off all those months ago. Oh, I bet his face has been tugging on you fordays.”

My heart hurt for him, but for now, I needed to focus on getting to my friends. Her words no more than a murmur in the crowd as I left him behind. The weight of having to choose to save most of my family, or just one, was suffocating, making the sprint harder, my breaths not coming without effort.

The gray of the city was a blur as I sprinted through town. Nobody paid me or the men that now followed in the distance any mind, making me wonder what went on here for them to be unfazed.

I threw open the door; the lobby was empty, no one to stop me from flying up the stairs, taking three at a time until I reached the fourth floor. Easing into the hallway, I paused, listening for rushed footsteps before creeping towards the room I’d dropped into.

My room was untouched when I plopped onto the ground, taking only a moment to catch my breath as I pulled my boots back on, ready to run. I stopped myself short, making sure my breathing had neutralized, greeting the guard at my door, no indication I hadn’t been there the whole time.

Smiling, I strolled up to Seth’s room unrushed, not wanting to alarm the guards before I needed to. It worked. Seth opened the door showcasing Moe standing not too far behind him, her guard sitting awkwardly on the sink in the bathroom next to the door.

Before either of us could speak, a soldier came running from the stairwell on the other side of the hall. He yelled, demanding me to stay there and put my hands up. The guard in the bathroom jumped to his feet, Seth catching on to the situation quickly and ramming his elbow into his nose. Blood gushed. A red sea caking the bottom of my friend’s shoes as Moe grabbed her bag off to the side, ready to go.

Reina’s door flew open at the commotion, the guard in front whirling at her as she slammed her foot down atop him in full force. The pain forced him to drop down only to meet her knee, breaking his nose too. Making sure the job was done, her elbow slammed into the nape of his neck, knocking him out before joining us in the hall.

In seconds, we were off running, floating through the closest stairwell and out into the street. I glanced in the direction I’d come from, catching Alexiares running down the street towards us, hair flapping and wild in the wind. He’d have to catch up.

I knew he could.

---