Page 154 of Conform
“She will make you care. It is your life we are talking about. Not just your life but the lives of those you care about. They will know about all of them. They will destroy them to destroy you. I have watched them do it, Emeline,” Collin thundered, stepping toward me, his anger encasing me.
“You meanhelpedthem. You are an Illum,” I spat.
Collin stared at me, his face unreadable. The Pod stopped—and his exterior re-formed before my eyes. As the doors opened, Collin turned, grace and strength wrapping around him until he became a picture of power. Collin offered me his hand like he hadn’t just screamed at me. I hesitated, momentarily wondering what would happen if I didn’t take it. His sapphire eyes flashed as he grabbed my hand and led me out.
Six soldiers waited just inside the door. Collin crossed the entrance, making his way to the door across the hall.
“Updates from the Capitol?” Collin asked the tallest soldier.
“The soldiers have entered the building,” he responded in a menacing voice I knew. “All of them.”
Collin nodded to him as he stood quietly. It grew too quiet. My gown suddenly felt too heavy as my mind became restless.
“She approaches,” the soldier said, breaking the silence.
“Which members of the Illum will be joining us?” Collin asked, blocking my view of the door.
“Charles isn’t with her. She comes alone.”
Collin’s shoulders sank for the space of a breath as the doors slid open and smoke slithered in.
“Tabitha,” Collin drawled. “What is the update?”
“The rest got away. We might have injured a few. The Force was following the blood trail, but it stopped abruptly.” Tabitha looked at me, half hidden behind Collin.
My heart squeezed as both disappointment and relief flooded me. It halted, though, as I looked at her white gown, blood spattered on its front.
“I am sure with some persuasion, we can convince the one to lead us to the others,” Collin suggested.
“Oh, I do not doubt it. We have all the persuasion we need.” Tabitha smiled at me, her perfect teeth gleaming, and it horrified me. She stepped closer. Everything inside me screamed to run.
Collin nodded. “Excellent. Shall we enter?” He turned to grab my hand. “There is so much to discuss and celebrate.”
“No, only her. As we speak, her living quarters are being emptied, and her belongings worth saving are being moved to your living quarters. You are to go oversee that,” Tabitha instructed. “Now.”
Collin hesitated, his eyes flickering between us. “As you wish. Shall I return to retrieve her?”
“Oh no, that will not be necessary, Collin. I will personally make sure your property makes it back to your living quarters in one piece.”
“Of course.” Collin turned, his eyes scanning my face. “I shall see you at our living quarters soon, Mate.”
“Collin,” Tabitha called, but she looked at me. “The one who actually informed us of the Reaper. She deserves an award. They shall fill you in on the way. You will oversee that. Ensure she gets what she wants. I daresay she’s been trying to achieve it for long enough.”
“It will be done.”
Dread filled me. My heart began to batter my insides relentlessly. Tabitha drank it all in.
“I understand your fondness for this Defect,” Tabitha mused. “She is rather reactive, is she not? How entertaining.”
“Fondnessis generous. Like I have told you, she is an interesting specimen.”
“She is. As I was saying, while we will publicly acclaim your Mate, she shouldn’t be forgotten. If not for her, we wouldn’t be here. Well, your Mate did give us some insight with her spying.”
I grasped at the remains of myself. I refused to fall apart. Not yet.
“Of course.” Collin bowed. His hand seemed to hesitate for a fraction of a second, and he was gone.
I stood, staring at Tabitha. The doors opened.
