Page 90 of Dream in Darkness
The Legion at least wants democracy. They seek fairness between the demons and half-demons. This is simply hunger for power. The future Cain envisions is one of dictatorship—he’s a fucking fascist.
I don’t plan on letting any fascists live tonight.
When I finally reach Tempest through the ash and rubble, she genuinely appears to be dead. Her skin is cold, body limp. I cup my hands, making water with my magic, and pour it into Tempest’s mouth. The seconds feel agonizing, but I watch as, just like Aida said, Tempest’s cheeks regain their color and she gasps for air, beautiful and alive.
Movement No. 34
Tempest
My eyes flutter open and for a second I think I’m having another nightmare, but my senses are telling me this is all too real. The air smells like smoke and blood, and I look up to see Yasmeena’s golden gaze staring down at me, my head resting in her lap.
“What’s happening, nuisance?”
Her eyes are watering, and there’s dried blood clinging to her scalp and forehead. “Pack Escalus attacked. They figured out where Gemma and I were hiding, so we lost some of our edge of surprise, but we’re doing okay.”
“Is anyone hurt?”
“Someone is definitely dead, and another seriously injured, but I don’t know who yet. It was some pack members I’ve never seen before,” she answers.
“Who of ours?”
She blinks at me, confused until she realizes I mean the carnies.Ours.I see myself as one of them, just as much as I see myself as a part of Pack Escalus.
“Leo is over there. Baelor as well, but I don’t know who else. I still have eyes on Draven and Khalid, but everyone else is scattered,” she answers, and my heart drops.
“Where’s Gemma? Where’s Absinthe?” I say through coughs.
“Gemma is injured, she’s hiding. I need to take over for Draven so he can help her. I haven’t seen Absinthe since we dispatched.”
My mind is going every which way. I want to check on Gemma and make sure Leo is alive. I want to find Absinthe and speak to the members of my pack, but most importantly, I want to see my father.
“Where is he?”
“Just up ahead,” she says, helping me sit up.
Fenris and Khalid are fighting right in front of us, fire meeting rock as the two use their magic. I lift my hands, shooting a block of ice straight for Fenris’ head. As he falls to the ground, Khalid moves forward, giving me a clear view of my father and Draven.
“Does he have more than one rune tattoo?” Yasmeena asks, and I nod.
“Yes. One for lightning and one for thunder, though I don’t think he knows how to tap into the second one fully. He’s strong, but he’s close to the edge where his body won’t be able to handle any more magic, and it’ll start to destroy him from the inside out.”
Her brows furrow. “Has that happened before?”
“Yeah, to my uncle Abel. He had three runes tattooed on him. It’s how my father was able to overthrow him and become Alpha.”
Greed is one Hel of a drug.
Cain and I lock eyes, and instead of looking at me with love or care, or even concern, all I see is rage. It’s at this moment I realize he is not my Alpha, not my father, notanythingto me any longer. He’s a shell of the lupion I once thought I knew.
“You betrayed me,” he shouts, his strength levels clearly rising as he begins to overpower Draven.
“Draven, go. Go to Gemma,” Yasmeena yells, and Draven lets go, concern contorting his features as he darts for the popcorn stand.
Cain’s eyes track the half-demon, so I click my tongue as I stand. “Over here.”
“You were supposed to be my heir.” He shouts, turning toward me. “You were going to continue my legacy. You’d marry Ferdinand, produce more heirs, and combine our packs. There would no longer be Pack Escalus or Pack Capulet, but one singular Pack Lupine, as it should be.” His words are slurred, and that’s when I smell it.
The fresh ink.
