Chapters (52)
I’m the only one who can do this.
“And the Orb? Do you know how to destroy it?”
“Yes. The guards spoke of that, too.” She tilts her chin slightly, observing me carefully. “I know how you feel about being the one to pull the trigger.” She hesitates. “I was going to ask Theo, but I don’t think he’s in the right place for this kind of mission. But Shura is a good veiler. If you use the Reaper on the guards, there might be enough time for her to sneak in and—”
“No,” I interrupt, surprising Annika. “We both know how much security there’ll be with Queen Ophelia in the palace. Not to mention there are Legion Guards everywhere.” I look back at the hologram. “It has to be me.”
“Are you sure?” she asks. “We only get one chance at this.”
“I know.” I don’t react. Not this time. “Tell me how to destroy it.”
Annika tilts her head to the side darkly. “The same way you destroy any heart. You plunge a dagger into it.”
43
THEO’S FACE IS LIKE STONE, his normally flushed cheeks drained of color. All the life and humor that have been carrying him through Infinity has vanished, as though they left only a corpse behind.
I look up at Yeong. “Can I have a minute with him?”
“Of course,” Yeong says gently. He slips out of the room, leaving us alone.
I turn back to Theo’s somber face, guilt tugging at my chest. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I just want to say I’m sorry. And that I’m going to do everything I can to get your brother back.” I chew on the edge of my lip. The image of Martin’s unconscious body slumped in the guard’s arms flickers in my head. It must be all Theo thinks about—a nightmare on repeat.
He looks broken. If Mei were here—if I’d had to watch as they shuttled her off to Death—I think I’d be broken too.
So I tell Theo about the plan and about what I’m going to do. I tell him that when it’s all over, I’ll travel to Death and bring Martin back myself if I have to. I tell him once Queen Ophelia is dead, I’ll find a way to wake his brother up. I’ll find a way to save everyone.
“I made you a promise,” I say. “I won’t give up on you. Just like you haven’t given up on me.”
Theo’s voice rasps, low and inaudible. A whisper of what it used to be.
I pull my face back in surprise. “Are you awake?” When he doesn’t answer, I lean in closer. “Theo?”
His green eyes flash open. “Leave me alone.”