AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cotear pries her arm off his neck and bends as he throws her forward. Rin slams onto the ground, and I grab Madi’s hand, stopping her from rushing forward.
“Wait,” I whisper so low I barely hear myself.
“She’s hurt, Ada,” Madi mumbles.
“She’s been through worse,” Cotear responds, turning Rinya’s face with the toe of his boot. He casts a fond gaze at her. “This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her unconscious or the first time I’ve touched her. But it is the first time she’s returned the favor.”
I push down my unease to keep him talking. “Why did you come in here?”
“This is where all the war strategies are made.” He raises his hand to bring my attention to the cabinet. “They’re all documented and tucked away in there. I want them.”
“No.” I give him my best fuck you smile, one I learned from the Shade at my back.
He laughs, mocking me. “Now, now, Ada. Telling me no can be seen as defiance.”
Madi’s fingertips brush against my elbow, the heat a warning that she’s ready. But I don’t know if she can call her fire without oxygen in the room. And that’s Cotear’s next move. I feel him pulling it from the room already. He may know I’m strong—we’re strong—but he doesn’t know I’m a goddess.
He can’t kill me.
Plus, Indigo has taught me just how long I can hold my breath… I’m guessing it’s a lot longer than he can.
I have faith in Madigan and myself.
I just need a little more from Cotear.
“You have us cornered.” I hold my arms away from my sides, palms facing the living skylights. “Take what you want.”
“Give me the documents,” he demands.
“I can’t,” I drawl, frowning at him. “I don’t know what they look like. I’m only here for the maps of the beast attacks.”
“Find them,” he growls, his voice five octaves lower than before.
I pat the air in front of my chest, subservient to his request. “Okay. Okay. Give us a moment to check the cabinets. We’ll find what you’re looking for.”
Madi turns, opening the first door. I go to the one beside her as I plan on the fly. I hope she can still read me like a book.
I flip through a pile of parchment in a drawer and find a stack of previous guard rotations. Madi cuts her eyes at me, holding the stack he wants... Or at least, she thinks she’s got it.
I purse my lips like I’m going to say no, and spin on my heel to show Cotear a heap of papers in my hands. Madi brushes against my elbow once more, burning my skin, but I keep my face straight.
“What will you do when I give them to you?” I ask, breathless.
My lungs ache with the need to take a deep inhale, but the room lacks enough pressure to push the oxygen through my system. It won’t kill me, but it is uncomfortable when I’m not distracted.
“Politely take my leave,” Cotear replies, hands spread as he slightly dips his head.
Madi touches the pad of her index finger to the center of the parchment, spreading embers that rapidly burn through the flammable parchment.
“Sorry.” She simpers at him. “My finger slipped.”
Cotear’s face hardens into something savage and vengeful as he pulls the last of the air from the room. Madi’s fire doesn’t stop, but without taking a breath, there’s not much left we can say.
Rinya gasps, stuck somewhere between clawing at her throat and pulling herself toward the door. Cotear kicks her in the stomach.
I launch myself toward the Howler, sliding over the top of the table and knocking us both to the floor. The moment he’s distracted, the oxygen returns in a rush, giving me a strange high. We scramble on the floor, and I briefly notice Madigan drag Rinya out of the meeting room, into the open room beyond.
He’s not as strong as he thought. Cotear seems to only have control of the area around him. There’s a limit to his distance. But not mine. Or Madigan’s.
