Page 21 of Anarchy Chained: Alpha Thomas

But the really fucked-up thing here—for them, at least—is that they’re not on the same side. No way would Prodigy let a level ten illusionist in my general vicinity if they knew what Yasmine was planning. No fucking way. Because the two of us together—Good God. I have to chuckle as I shake my head in disbelief. The two of us together are what you call an unstoppable force.

I cannot wait to tell Lincoln and Case.

Too bad I can’t do that now. Not yet. If I go up to Lincoln’s they’ll definitely come looking for me. Same with Case. But they can wait. At least until I crack Little Miss Trip Chick here.

And crack her I will.

I haven’t felt this sure of myself in ten years. We will put an end to this Cathedral City bullshit once and for all as soon as I get Sadie on my side. Hashtag, done deal.

God. Happiness does weird things to me. I feel like I’m in a state of manic euphoria.

I get off the freeway and turn onto the dirt road that leads to the tower. I only finished them last month. Which is the whole reason we’re in this fucked-up position in the first place.

Shit got a little… well, let’s just say… complicated last month the day the towers went live. I think the electromagnetic force was what did it. But people won’t care what I was doing when they locked me up once I get my revenge, because I will take care of all the Cathedral City scum at the same time.

The tower disappears from view as I weave my way around the mountain, but I can feel that fucker. It’s a hum. A vibration. A wave of power. My power.

And when it finally comes back into view, my whole body is electric. I am on fire. But not the way Case and Linc heat up. I am raw and ready for battle.

I glance over at my new sidekick and smile. And if I were to see this smile in a mirror, I’d see what everyone sees.

Evil.

That’s right, motherfuckers. I’m about to let everyone know just exactly what I am. I’m about to make everyone pay.

I don’t park in front of the tower. I drive right into the ponderosa pines and stop under the cover of a two-hundred-year-old tree. They’ll see this car for sure once they realize I’m gone and put out an alert.

They’ll get out their drones and their helicopters and scour this city. In fact, I’m damn lucky I own all the satellites, or they’d track me that way too.

Dumbasses. What did they think I was gonna do with a satellite network? Phones? Really?

Insert evil laugh here.

They won’t find us. Not until we come out of hiding. And I won’t do that until this girl is on my side. I will do anything to keep her with me. Make her part of my plan.

Yes.

Me alone. Now that’s something people really need to fear. But me and her together?

That’s some apocalyptic shit right there.

I cut the engine and look over at my prize. Shake her shoulder. “Sadie,” I say. “Wake up. We’re home.”

I’m really in a goddamned good mood.

She doesn’t wake up. So I get out, walk around to her side, and open her door. “Come on, partner. We’ve got plans to make.” I shake her again.

Nothing.

Fuck. Is she sweating? I feel her forehead and realize she’s burning up.

Dammit. She can’t die now. I just got her. Fuck that.

So I pick her up, kick the door closed with my foot, and take her to the secret entrance to the tower.

It’s tricky trying to enter the security code, and I almost drop her a few times as I juggle her body and punch in the numbers. But I manage. The door clicks, opens a few inches, and I push my way through, using my body to slam it closed and lock us in.

Lights near the floor flick on when I step forward, then flick out, so the next one a few feet forward can take its place. This would be creepy as fuck if I didn’t know these towers so well. But I do. So they’re not.