She smiles faintly through the pain.
I squeeze her hand. I want to throw myself over her and never leave.
“You’remypack,” she says.
Garrick swears in the background. Men fill the room.
“We’re leaving, we’re leaving,” Garrick says.
“I’m not leaving,” I say.
“You prefer to be arrested?” one of the guards says. “Noncompliance with staff wishes—”
“He’s coming.” Garrick takes my arm, gives me a significant look. “Ann needs you to leave.”
I don’t want to leave Ann, but I can’t allow myself to be arrested—she’ll be in even more danger then. What I really want to do is destroy this room. That helps nobody.
I allow Garrick to drag me down the hall, away from Ann.
“Lazarus will never stop going after her,” I say. “He knows now that she’s my weak link.”
“Why the fuck does he want to kill you so bad?” Garrick asks once we’re dumped back in the waiting area. “What did you do?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“No. I just know she’ll always be in danger as long as we both breathe. He knows I’ll always come for her.”
“If you knew why they’re chasing you, that would be helpful.”
I go to the windows. So many roads in, so many entrances to the large facility. I can’t guard them all. I can’t guard Ann without getting arrested.
I don’t know how to give her the safety she needs. I have to hunt and kill Lazarus, but I don’t know where to start.
I stare down at the parking lot, remembering the flashes. The news vans. The fear and bewilderment I felt.
It reminds me of what Ann said, about light making things safer. Better. More knowledge and less secrets is always safer.
I realize with a deep shudder what I have to do. And it goes against everything in me.
Garrick comes to me. “You can’t take her out of here, if that’s what you’re thinking. She’s too sick to move.”
“You remember how it was the first time? How many of you were out there?”
“Well. Savage Adonis,” he says, like just that name explains it. “Feral teen idol,” he adds. “Everyone wanted a look.”
“How long would it take to everyone back here to see me? To take all the pictures they want. Ask all their questions.”
“Wait—I thought that’s exactly what you didn’t want.”
“I don’t want it,” I say darkly. “But it’s all I have left.”
“Making yourself a target? Is that what this is about?”
“No. Getting answers.” I turn to him. “You’re right to ask why they hunt me. Ann asked, too. I never cared, but I do now. If I had that answer, maybe I’d know how to stop them. Ann says there’s safety in light over darkness. Truth instead of secrets.”
“I see Ann’s been filling your head with ideas.” I don’t like the twinkle in his eyes, but I have to trust my mate now. I’m out of ideas that will work.