The Reckless Reign (Book 3, The Culled Crown Series)

Chapter 68

Heidi started towards us, an arrow notched in her bow. For a moment, I thought she was going to kill him. Kill him or kill me, I wasn't sure. But then her arms were around my shoulders and she was hugging me so tightly it nearly knocked me down.

I let go of Kai's hand and hugged her back, smoothing my hand over her tightly braided hair as I said, "Are you okay? Have you been hurt?"

"We've been looking everywhere for you, you piece of shit," her voice was quiet, muffled by my hair. She pulled back to look at me. "Cohen is frantic. He was almost beside himself with worry when you didn't show—We split up to look for you. Cohen went west and Jaxon went north. We heard reports that Caine had a goddess-touched girl hostage and we...goddess, Monroe. I was so scared. I—I only just finished checking the south tower for you and then I came here to see if..." She swallowed and took a step back from me, her eyes finding Igell's body once more.

"I'm glad you were here," I said, drawing her eyes back to me.

She nodded and then looked to Kai. He didn't shrink back from the anger that flashed in her eyes. "And what the hell are you doing? Did you finally get tired of being useless?"

I stepped between the two of them and held up a hand towards my friend, "Heidi—"

Kai cut me off. "I'm sorry." I turned, but the words weren't directed at me. He looked only to Heidi, his expression open and honest as he said, "I'm sorry for lying and I'm sorry that you were hurt by me. And you have every right to kick my ass later. I deserve it. Truly. But..." He glanced to me and then back to my Heidi. "But right now, we need your help. Monroe, needs your help."

"I ought to kill you where you stand," Heidi said, her voice low.

"You'd have every right."

"Don't," I whispered. "Please, Heidi. Don't. If you're my friend, if you truly care about me at all, you won't take him." I reached out and braced a hand against the wall. My throat hurt from the force of Kai's grip and I was still struggling to breathe. Despite the fact that Heidi already knew all of my fears and weaknesses, I still wanted to appear brave in front of her. "Please. Please let it rest for now. Let's get through this. Let's...Let's kill Caine."

Her eyes never shifted from Kai as she said, "We don't know where he is."

"He's in the ballroom," I said. "And we can end him. You and me. We can do it together, I know we can."

Heidi still held Kai's gaze and I wondered what fears she saw when she looked at him. He nodded to her, as if in acknowledgement. As if he knew exactly what she saw and he wasn't ashamed.

Seeing her look at him like that, feeling the essence of her ability at play filled me with an odd, disconnected feeling. A chill ran through me and I fought the urge to lash out. My ability was poised—pressed to the walls of my skin as if in challenge. As if it sensed the presence of another volatile force.

As if it wanted to play.

To ruin and break and bend.

I wondered if she felt it too. Felt the way my ability strained towards her.

"Heidi," I said, careful to keep my voice calm. "Let's kill Caine."

She stepped back, finally breaking her gaze from Kai. She rolled her shoulders and adjusted the quiver of arrows strapped to her back. "He's in the ballroom?"

I nodded.

Kai spoke up. "And he has my brother with him."

My mouth opened at the memory of Igell's words. The Warwick boy and a goddess-touched girl. They'd thought that the girl was me. Cohen had gone in search of me, but I'd been with Kai. And Heidi was here. And Kinsley...she had to be dead. Jax would have made sure of it. Which meant there was only one other option.