Nico’s words have barely left his mouth before all four guys erupt into a chorus of cussing and yelling. Luther bolts for the door and locks it. Mack sends a sharp shock of air swirling around the room, slamming the shutters closed.
Nico’s eyes widen. He struggles against his restraints, as if he wants to put his hands in the air and beg them to calm down.
“Let him speak.” I stand and turn around so I’m facing them. “I’m not sticking up for him,” I tell them. “I just think we should let him speak.”
Waving at the guys to shush, Nova nods in agreement. When she turns back to Nico, she says calmly, “Ragnor knows where I am?”
“Yes, he knows. He’s known the entire time.”
“Then why hasn’t he come for me?” Nova’s eyes flash with heat.
“Because he’s not the one who wants you.” Nico’s shoulders drop, and he releases a deep sigh. Turning to me, he says, “This isn’t going to be easy to hear, Sam.”
I don’t allow my expression to change; I’m good at that.
“Your mother… she died when you were born.”
I grit my teeth.
“Well…” Nico swallows hard, like the words are stuck in his throat. “Ragnor’s trying to bring her back.” He visibly shudders, but I can’t understand what he’s saying. “That’s what this whole thing has been about. All of it. From the beginning. He joined the League because when Elena died, he was furious with her. Furious she was too weak to survive.” Nico shifts in his seat. “He worked his way up the ranks, then made some kind of pact.”
“Pact?” Mack breaks Nico’s flow.
Nico’s face has paled. He raises his bound hands and brushes his hair from his face. “The Phoenix’s identity for Elena’s life.” He moves his gaze to Nova’s face. “He promised he’d find the witch the prophecy speaks of—the one destined to stop the underworld rising.”
Quietly, Nova says, “In exchange for—”
“In exchange for Elena. When he hands over your name, he’ll get Elena back. She’ll be…” Nico looks at me. His eyes are apologetic, dark, searching. “She’ll be resurrected.”
I hear the words coming out of Nico’s mouth, but it’s like they don’t have any meaning. My mind is numb. Iknowhe’s talking about my mother being brought back from the dead, but I can’t make myself feel the impact of it. I have no memories of her. I’ve never even seen a photograph. I don’t know her smile, or her hair, or her scent. But I’ve dreamed of her. Alone in my cell, for years, I’ve dreamed of the life we might have had if she’d survived.
As if I’m very high up, looking down on what’s happening, I hear Mack ask, “Who did he make the pact with Nico?”
Nico shakes his head and stares down into his lap. When he looks up, there are tears in his eyes. His voice is barely a whisper. “He made his pact with the Devil.”
* * *
I can’t breathe.The room is suddenly, overwhelmingly, stiflingly hot. Cloying warmth presses down on my chest. I bolt for the door. Luther tries to stop me, but I push past him. When I start rattling the handle, he unlocks it so I can throw it open. On the veranda, I grip the railings so hard I think I might snap them in half.
Tanner finds me. While the others talk in urgent voices inside, he puts his hand on my shoulder. He doesn’t ask if I’m alright; I guess he already knows the answer.
After a few long minutes, I feel able to stand up straight. I turn and rest my back on the railings.
This time, Tanner plants both hands on my shoulders and meets my eyes. “Breathe,” he says. “Just breathe.”
“My mom…” The words come out small and thready. “He wants to bring her back?” A sickening mixture of hope and dread swirls in my stomach.
I’m wiping a confused tear from my face when Nova appears at the door. Seeing her face sends a lightning rod of pain to my chest. To bring my mother back, Nova would have to die.
As if she can feel my turmoil, Nova pulls me close and hugs me. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m so sorry you had to hear this.”
I try to shove whatever the fuck I’m feeling down into the pit of my stomach. I used to be good at it. Being around Nova, though, my emotions swim closer to the surface. “Do you believe him?” I look from Nova to Tanner.
Tanner’s nose twitches as if he’s considering the question carefully.
Before he can answer, Nova says, “I do.” Justifying herself, she adds, “He’s terrified. It’s written all over his face, and I don’t believe he’s a good enough actor to fake it. He tricked us before because I didn’twantto see the truth. This time, I’m searching, but all I see is pain.”
Closing his eyes, Tanner sighs a little. “I agree,” he says.