Chapter 85 June
JUNE
June stood between them, feeling equal amounts of rage wafting from both sides. Kidan’s face had become thunderous, near unrecognizable. GK’s eyes had become pure red, ready to strike.
Samson, held in chains by Warde, growled at the sight.
Please, let this work.
“I’m not working with him,” Kidan snarled, then her brows rose. “Wait, did you release him?”
A wince went through June. She gave a small nod, hating the betrayal etched on her sister’s face.
“I’d rather have my fangs taken than work with you, traitorous witch,” Samson responded in kind.
June’s shoulders deflated, but she wouldn’t lose hope. “We will release you.”
“We’re not releasing him!” Kidan roared. “He killed Etete!”
Samson’s eyes were without emotion. “Such devotion from the girl that told me to murder the woman.”
A dagger was in Kidan’s hand, and she was bolting toward Samson, inches from scratching at his face when a wall slammed her backward.
No, not a wall. Warde.
June knew Warde’s arm had been cut when a slashing pain burned at her. She rushed toward him, studying the color of his eyes, making sure he was calm.
I’m unharmed, he spoke in her mind.
Breathing in relief, she turned furiously to the other two. “Stop this.”
“GK.” Kidan’s eyes were fire. “Help me.”
GK stepped forward.
Samson’s grip on the chains tightened. “Come at me, devout boy. Test your darkness.”
“Enough!” June’s voice rose to a volume she didn’t like but it got their attention. “You both want to break the binds. This is the only way.”
Samson’s displeasure made the room reek. “Why should she be able to break the blades? A weak human girl? This is a ploy and even my care for you won’t save you, June.”
“Samson, please.” She reached out to touch his metal hand, and his gaze flicked down, still for a moment before pulling aside.
It hurt, seeing him distrust her. All those months they spent together had been ruined.
“GK,” Kidan said, sneering, “I’m about to throw up.”
The silent Mot Zebeya gazed intently, his finger bone chain still. No danger was coming for Kidan.
Good. It meant Samson’s urge to rip out Kidan’s heart had rested.
For now.
“What happened to your other half ?” Samson cocked his head, fixing his gaze on Kidan. “Where is your human Yos?”
Her sister flinched and Samson leaned forward, eyes bright. June wanted to spare her.
“Susenyos is—” June started.
“Gone,” Kidan cut in coldly. “He left.”
Samson studied the two for a while, sensing a lie. Kidan’s hard chin and red-rimmed eyes, June’s downcast gaze.
But he simply said, “That is what he does best.”
An odd silence settled around them, and June wished she could vanquish all the pain and discomfort crowding them all.
“Let her try,” June said softly. “Please.”
Again, the room swelled between two opposites, it would either end in blood or with the beginning of a fragile alliance.
Samson shook his chains. “Free me first.”
“June, don’t.”
There was no other way.
June nodded at Warde, who unlocked the thick black metal.
Samson rubbed his wrists. “I pick the location, and the time. I will have my followers there.”
Kidan’s eyes narrowed. “I need the Dirt Diggers there and their vampires.”
“No more than ten,” Samson said.
“Twenty.”
“Fine,” he said tightly. “And when you fail to break the blades, we will feast on you all.”
June shuddered with the promise. Sensing her fear, Samson’s hand reached out, icing her cheek with his metal finger. “Not you.”
In moments like these, June wondered if she was cursed to be the only one who would see a seed of hope, of kindness in Samson. He was a broken heart bleeding. As was her sister.
And they would heal. June would make sure of it.
Her eyes shifted to Warde, speaking to him in her mind.
Please make sure Taj doesn’t find out what we’re doing.
A clink, a nod.
Are you sure you want to mislead your sister like this? Warde asked. For her to be Sage, she will have to kill you.
A lance of guilt spread through June. But she had no choice. Kidan would never kill June willingly. Her sister would always turn the knife toward herself.
Yes, June said. It’s my turn to sacrifice.
The Last Sage’s roar of protest came from the back of her mind, nearly making her keel over. June dug her nails into her palms and forced herself upright. Thin blood ran down her nostril from the mental strain, but she wiped it before Kidan saw. She refused to give in.