Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Ability Restrictor: part 2 (Dex POV)

"Now, Mr. Dizznee," Councillor Emery finally said, holding out the ability restrictor. "Please don't make this any worse than it already is."

Dex locked his knees and shook his head, clenching his jaw defiantly even as tears continued to stream down his cheeks.

"It's okay, Dex," Sophie said quietly. "Just do what they're saying."

"How can you say that?" he asked, his voice cracking as he finally made himself meet her eyes.

She held his gaze for just a second before looking at Grady and Edaline.

"If Dex can make it so it doesn't hurt, then . . . fine. It only affects my abilities, right?"

"Right," Councillor Alina answered immediately, as though she knew what she was talking about. "And it will only be until you're older and mature enough to handle such things—and until the Black Swan's threat is contained."

"The Black Swan is not the threat," Alden said firmly.

"We are not getting into that debate," Councillor Emery informed him, grabbing Dex's arm and dragging him forward, seemingly oblivious to Dex's attempts to keep his knees locked. "Make the adjustments we need."

Any other time, being grabbed and dragged like that would have caused horrible flashbacks to the day they were kidnapped. But all Dex could feel now was his shame, and his determination not to cooperate regardless of the consequences.

"I'll be fine," Sophie insisted. "Please, Dex. I could never live with myself if you got exiled for me."

"And how am I supposed to live with this?" he whispered.

"Comfortable in the knowledge that you did the right thing," Councillor Emery told him, waving the circlet under Dex's nose.

Dex felt his nostrils flare in disgust. He didn't care if he was banished. He'd go to Exillium. He'd face the judgment, the way everyone would claim they'd always known he wouldn't make it at Foxfire because he was the son of a bad match. It didn't matter. All that mattered was keeping that device off Sophie's head--and destroying it the first chance he got.

And never, ever making another.

"No one will do a better job making it painless for me," Sophie whispered.

It was the pleading in her eyes, and the truth behind her words, that convinced him.

If he didn't cooperate, it wouldn't spare her. They would have another technopath do it, and they wouldn't do as good of a job because they hadn't created or even had time to study the device. He was going to have to further seal his own shame and misery in order to at least ease her suffering.

So with shaking hands, he took the circlet and stumbled to Sophie.

"If this hurts her, you will not like what happens," Grady warned the Council.

"We are well aware of your abilities, Lord Ruewen," Councillor Emery told him. "Don't make us restrict you, as well."

"You'd never get the chance."

All twelve Councillor's arms flew up, their hands lightly smacking each side of their faces.

Dex wished he could help Grady.

He also wished Grady would punish him, too. He deserved it.

But Sophie grabbed Grady's hand to stop him from going further. "Please don't fight them. It's going to be okay."

"I thought I was helping," Dex whispered as he stared at the circlet in his hands. "I never thought . . ."

"I know," Sophie told him.