Part 16 (1/2)

”Lis, Malin can't keep this secret forever. You know that. You know how dangerous secrets are.”

My eyes dart between Oliver and Annalise. They're about the same age. Is it possible Oliver was the boy in the garden?

Dawson clears his throat and Oliver releases Annalise. She stumbles backward, and grabs the corner of the desk for support. Her face is flushed and unshed tears sit in her eyes.

”Lark,” Dawson says in his deep baritone. ”Are you bound to Beck?”

”Yes.” My voice is barely audible. ”Beck and I bound ourselves. We love each other.”

Oliver kicks over a table. ”d.a.m.n it, Lis. Who the h.e.l.l am I supposed to defend her against? The Light witches? Our own people? And why didn't you tell us about this mess?”

I don't want to discuss this, or hear it discussed. Like a child I cup my hands over my ears.

”Are we not supposed to attack Beck now?” Dawson asks. ”Will killing him after her birthday injure Lark?”

Annalise snaps her head up. Gone is the trembling woman of a few moments ago. She's been replaced by a cool, collected States woman. ”The objective remains the same. After Lark's birthday, if Beck Channing is within your range, you are to kill on sight.”

”Stop it! No one is going to kill Beck, do you understand? No one.” I pin Annalise against the wall, my forearm to her throat. Her eyes grow wide, first in terror, then delight.

I loosen my grip and Annalise slides under my arm. ”At least you care about something.”

I tap my head against the wall. One. Two. Three. Four. My heartbeat slows and my breathing evens. ”I'm sorry.”

Annalise gives an exasperated sigh. ”You did nothing wrong. In battle you'll have to do much worse. You need to get over it. Killing is who you are. It's in your blood.”

Waves of nausea pummel me. I can't deny it anymore.

I am a killer.

According to the wallscreen, there was a gas explosion at the Binding Hall. Several members of State were killed along with two Eastern diplomats. Dozens of others were injured.

”Off,” I say and the screen fades to black. My guards and I have been locked in my office for nearly three hours. So far, Annalise has only told me that Mother is at an undisclosed location and that she is working on securing our home so we can return. In the meantime, I'm stuck in a twenty by twenty s.p.a.ce with three people who quite possibly despise me. And more secrets and half-truths than I can keep track of.

”Do you think the blast killed all those people?” I ask.

Annalise has taken up residence behind my desk, far away from Oliver, and has logged into the State's secure feeds. She looks up from her work. ”I believe they died honorably while fighting.”

Well, there's that at least.

”Is Ryker okay?”

”He's fine.” Annalise drops her tablet on the desk. ”Is there anything else, or can I get back to work. Unless you would prefer to sleep here tonight?”

I shake my head. I want to inquire about Beck, but I know it will only make things worse.

Annalise's wristlet chirps and she presses the soft spot behind her ear. As she listens, her lips press tightly together, and her eyes become distant.

”Where are they now?” she asks in a monotone voice. She waits for a response. ”I see.”

She swings her eyes to me and then to a spot across the room. ”Malin, are you sure? She's-”

After a few seconds, Annalise turns off her wristlet.

”Malin requests your presence at the hospital. Henry and someone named Eloise are there.”

16.

The lights flicker in rhythm with my heartbeat as I sprint barefoot down the endless hallway. As soon as Annalise told me about Henry and Eloise, I transported to the hospital. I didn't bother to land in a secure zone. Maybe that's reckless, but I don't care.

”Lark! Wait!” Annalise calls from behind me. Pure adrenaline and fear propel me forward. There's no way she can catch me. Not without using magic and she won't. Not in public.

I'm not sure where I'm going, but something tells me to head to the third floor. Before Annalise can stop me, I step and spin, transporting myself up two floors.

Annalise claims to know nothing other than what Mother told her: Henry and Eloise were taken during the battle, and at Mother's instance, they were granted clemency.

It doesn't make sense. Why would they attack us? No-why would they attack me? They're my friends.

Unless, like Beck, they were being used as p.a.w.ns.

A tight knot of people crowd around the entrance of a room toward the end of a short hallway.

”Excuse me,” I say. When no one moves, I raise my voice. ”Excuse me. I need to get through.”

The man in front of me shoots a scowl over his shoulder. He does a double take before stepping back with a slight bow of his head. ”I'm sorry, Miss Lark. I didn't know it was you.”

I ignore him and shove through the throng of people. When I reach the doorway, I freeze.

Henry kneels next to the bed, his face covered in soot.

But that's not what makes my blood run cold. On the bed, above the blankets, lies Eloise. Her pale, ashen skin looks almost gray in the dark room, and an enormous crimson gash oozes blood through her shredded s.h.i.+rt.

Henry stands to greet me. A red wristlet encircles his arm and he stumbles.

He's been branded a criminal.

I rush to his side, hoping to spare my uncle the humiliation of shuffling toward me and silence falls over the bystanders.

My dry mouth tries different combination of sounds, before finding the words I don't want to say, but have to. ”Is she dead?”

Henry shakes his head. ”Not yet. But she will be if she doesn't receive attention soon.”

I turn to the group watching us from the doorway. ”Someone get the healer,” I say politely. When it seems as if I've gone unheard, I growl, ”Get the healer.”

The room springs to life with witches jumping this way and that.

But it's not because of me. Mother has appeared next to me and grabs me from behind. She presses my arms to my side. I struggle and try to pull away from her, but she's stronger than she looks.