Page 166 of Bound By Fury

“When Malachi killed his family, it was an unfortunate but necessary sacrifice. I know you know a little bit about that, right Harper?”

“Shut up!” I shout. “It wasn’t his fault—it was an accident!”

“Was it?” he asks lazily.

Malachi steps to my side. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, you know what I told you. The forensic mechanic found something suspicious. Besides the severed brakes, of course.” Alastair looks straight at me. “Yellow fingerprints. Oily. Almost like paint.”

I scoff. “What?”

“You were lying,” Malachi interrupts. “I already knew that.”

“Yes, perhaps that was a lie. But it wasn’t the only one.”

“What did you do?” Malachi bellows, and this time I’m the one to place a firm hand on his elbow.

“I only did what needed to be done, my boy. I have single-handedly conducted this entire operation. I have been planning this for nearly two decades. I am the one that brought this to the Higher Order. When your power is infinite, when you are truly immortal, you won’t hold this against me.

“Sometimes we must experience loss in order to grow. In order to conquer.”

My hand flies to my mouth. “Lexie,” I whisper, my heart shattering as I picture her little, freckled face.

Beside me Malachi is vibrating. “YOU KILLED MY SISTER?” He rips his arm from my grasp and runs, leaping, practically flying toward his uncle.

I cut my eyes to Lucas, I watch as something strained flickers across his face. The briefest break in his cold mask. Did he not know either?

Panicked, I turn in a circle, looking for a way out. That’s when I see them. The hoods at the door, near the hall, in the pulpit.

Rushing toward us.

Pulling a thrashing Malachi away from his uncle.

“Don’t move!” Alastair calls to me. “I have them prepped and ready if you even think about running again. If you even lift a finger.”

“I’m going to kill you!” Malachi is screaming, spittle flying from his lips.

My heart is aching, and I’m exhausted. I sway on my feet but steady myself quickly, afraid to show weakness.

“Ultimately, Kai,” Alastair shouts over the commotion, still sitting, unbothered, “I am clearly unamused with your deviation from our plan. It’s not about what you want. It’s not about what you need. I told you to bring her to me. Tonight, on the anniversary of the great change, we must honor those that are lost. We must capture the Water, and since—thanks to you—I wasn’t able to mark her myself as we’d planned, it is your duty to the Guard to do so. To mind your place. To fall in line!”

His words increase in volume with every addition, the apathetic mask slipping quickly.

“I mean, urges or not, what if you had killed her? The time will come to do so! But until then, you risked everything, for what? And truly, she nearly killed you instead. What would I have done with her then, huh? With no one bound to her? She would have been useless to me. And all this would have been for nothing!

“Thankfully, Lucas was there to stop you both!”

I whip my head around.

Here I am, nearly blinded by rage, but Lucas merely looks bored.

“Brothers!” Alastair calls. “Sisters!” He motions for the hoods to move in.

Released by the guards surrounding us, Malachi angles his body in front of mine.

“Tonight is the night we take control of the water! Together, the two captured Cardinals will lead us to the others. We’ll finally be able to locate the Holy River. We will bring forth a new world!”

Terror slams through me at his conviction. The absurd words coming out of his mouth. I turn, running toward Maureen, hands outstretched. I have to get out of here, but I can’t leave her behind. I let loose a bolt of lightning behind me as Alastair screams, “Stop her!”