Page 26 of Claim the Twilight
Aweighty silence settled on the room after Hemlock’s declaration. A silence that carried an air of doom.
I’m Plan B.
What did that mean? “What are you going to do, Hemlock? How are you Plan B?”
Hemlock crossed to the nearest armchair and lowered himself into it. “You know I’m a conduit, Orina. You know that I’ve had to keep a cap on my power all these centuries. That using it comes at a cost.”
I knew only too well. I’d helped him subdue it twice. “Pain. The cost is pain.”
He smiled wryly. “Maybe cost is the wrong word. Pain is more of a solution. It’s the only way to put the lid back on whenever I crack it open to access a little power. I’m a vat ready to blow, a channel for the most volatile magic. Magic that if expelled in force would be enough to disable even a god.”
This was great. This should be the plan, so why was everyone looking so solemn?
The memory of Hemlock on his knees, his skin a map of golden fractures, filled my mind. He’d saved me from Ordell’s beast by using his power and then begged me to hurt him to subdue the energy rushing through him.
“Hit me. Do it, or we’re all fucking dead.”
…Allfucking dead…
Icy fingers curled around my nape. Plan B was a backup plan for a reason. Something to consider if all else failed because there would be a high risk of some sort. A devastating cost. Goosebumps pinched my skin.
I needed to hear him say it. To confirm it. “What happens to you if you let the power out?”
Hemlock’s eyes darkened, but his expression gave nothing away. “I die.”
His words echoed in my ears. I exhaled sharply. “I won’t let you do it.”
“Not your call, kitten. It’s been the plan all along.”
“It’s a rash plan,” Ezekiel said, backing me up. “We’ll think of something else.”
“There is no other way,” Ordell said softly.
I stared at him in horror. How could he be on board with this?
“I refuse to believe that,” Ezekiel said. “Even gods have weaknesses.”
“Yes,” Hemlock said. “Me.I’mthe weakness.”
He was talking about killing himself. Talking about acting like a bomb. “I won’t let you do it. I won’t let you kill yourself.”
He stood slowly, hands curling into fists. “Like I said. Not your call.”
This was bullshit. He was giving up. “Tell him, Lorenzo. Tell him we can find another way.”
Lorenzo shook his head, his gaze softening. “I’m sorry. We know of no other way.”
My vision blurred with tears.
This was the reason for Hemlock’s cold behavior. He was putting distance between us to protect me because he knew…He knew how I felt about him, and he…he felt the same.
Heat rushed through me, filling my veins with purpose and bringing fresh arguments to my lips, but before I could air them, the door swung open, and Matthew entered the room.
“The Order representatives have returned,” he announced before quickly stepping aside as Padma, Holly, and Merry spilled into the library.
We met in a group hug.
“I thought we lost you,” Padma said.
