“We don’t have time for that. Sawyer’s down at the docks with Gemma, and who knows how long he’ll be able to hold her there,” Thea said. Penn looked reluctantly back at Daniel and Harper, like she still really wanted to kill them both. “Penn! Let’s go!”

“Fine,” Penn relented, and stepped back from them. “I have some business to attend to, but I’ll be back for both of you.”

Penn turned around, hurrying after Thea, and Harper took a second to catch her breath before turning back to Daniel.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He nodded. “Let’s go get your sister.”

Harper swallowed hard, wishing she had more time to inspect Daniel and make sure he really was okay. But she didn’t have time, so she took Daniel’s hand, and the two of them started running toward the docks. They had to go all the way across the beach to the other side, while everyone stared up at the light show above them.

33. Iniquity

THIRTY-THREE

Iniquity

Lexi pushed Sawyer off her arm, his body, sliding over it, making a sickening slippery sound before he fell face-first on the dock. Almost casually, she kicked his body, and it rolled off the dock and splashed into the water.

Gemma had wanted to scream, to do something, but she merely watched in shock and horror. Some of his blood had splattered on her, and it still felt warm on her skin. She’d been trying to save him, and Lexi had ripped out his heart.

“That bitch means business,” Alex said, sounding almost as dazed and horrified as Gemma felt. “We need to get out of here. Like now.”

“Right,” Gemma agreed.

Lexi was busy licking the blood off her hand, so Gemma thought this would be the perfect time to make her escape. She grabbed Alex’s hand, and they turned to make a run for it.

But Lexi rushed around them, moving at a speed so fast it would’ve been impossible for Gemma to match. She ran so quickly, it was like a blur of color, and then she was standing in front of them.

“I’m really fast,” Lexi told them, smiling brightly. “That’s what happens when you eat a lot, Gemma. You get faster and stronger and just plain better. Too bad you didn’t take my advice when I told you to eat, huh?”

“It doesn’t make you smarter, though, does it, Lexi?” Gemma asked. “Or if it does, you must’ve been really stupid before you became a siren.”

“Those are big words coming from someone who’s about to die,” Lexi said. “Here. Let’s make it fair. You eat this.” She held out Sawyer’s heart toward Gemma, who struggled not to gag.

“I’m not going to,” Gemma said. “I’m not going to be one of you.”