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I’d been too slow. Even as I felt Dianna above me, I knew she would reach Imogen long before I did. Now, as I watched a shadow version of myself hold her by the throat, I knew a single wrong word, and she would be just another blue light blasting through the sky. The plan had to work.
“Please let her go. This is between you and me.”
“How about we make a trade? I let her go after you give me the map?” She smiled. It was unnerving seeing it on my own face.
My heart sank, and not for Imogen.
“We’ve played this game before. Are we bound to repeat this scenario?” I said, reminding her of our time in the tomb nearly six months ago when Tobias had held her just like this.
“Think you will be faster this time?” Her hand tightened around Imogen's throat.
Her words cut, and not in the way she presumed. It was just another blistering nightmare that still haunted my damned dreams. The lights above me flared as power wafted off me. The shine illuminated only me before bursting.
Her eyes caught the movement before landing on mine once more. “Looks like we are both too far gone now, World Ender, but it doesn’t have to end in bloodshed. Give me the map, and you can have your precious queen back. You can go home to your people, beautiful palaces, faithful servants, and leave the killing to the professionals.”
“No,” I snapped. “Unlike you, I will not abandon the ones I claim to care for, so I am not leaving without you.”
The voice that responded was hard and cold. “Then I guess you’re not leaving.”
Dianna pulled Imogen closer, the pressure of her grip cutting off Imogen’s soft gasp. She mirrored my movements, blocking my path to the door. If she caught my gaze, she would realize how close she was to what she sought. I needed her to get away from it. I would have to find another way out. Dianna inhaled deeply, her nostrils flaring, and something wrathful and filled with jealous rage awoke in her eyes.
“Oh, Imogen, have you been a bad girl?” Dianna purred, nipping at Imogen’s ear, her fangs mere inches from her throat. “You smell just like the World Ender.”
Imogen held her own.
“Don’t lie to her.” I pressed. “She can sense it.”
Imogen glared at me, her mouth pressed into a thin line as she realized where I needed this plan to go.
“Lie to me?” Dianna demanded, her voice a horrific meld of my voice and the low growl of her beast.
“I didn’t know about you, but I’m glad you are here,” Imogen taunted. “Otherwise, I never would have realized how much I missed Samkiel, how much we still cared for one another.”
Dianna’s grip on her throat tightened a fraction harder, and her lips pulled back in a silent hiss. So strange to see her expressions on my face, but I could see Dianna through any illusion. I knew her, and exactly where to hit, so I aimed my words carefully.
“Please, I’ll give you the map if you let her go.”
“How about you give it to me, and I won’t rip her heart out? You know, like old times.”
I watched as the shadow version of myself moved his hand across Imogen’s chest, Dianna unsheathing her claws above her heart. My soul ached, seeing how far Kaden had pushed her, how far she had fallen. I could hear her laughing at jokes I did not understand. I could see her smile even when the world tried to break her. She had given up everything, thinking she was saving me, her sister, and all the realms. Now she was doing the same thing to Imogen that Tobias had done to her. Kaden had truly destroyed her. I knew she would assume that the pain etched on my face was for Imogen, but it was for her. It was always about her.
I had to act fast.
I took another step forward, and she took one back.
“You already know the lengths I will go to keep those I care about safe.” She paused. “I do care for Imogen. Tremendously. And she was right. I did not realize how much I truly missed her until she returned. So, thank you for that. I guess I realized when I kissed you all I thought about was her.”
No growl left her throat this time, and I realized with anguish twisting my heart that she had been waiting for me to say such things. It was confirmation that she was nothing special, that she was replaceable. It proved that the devastating words Kaden whispered to her were true. Pure and utter devastation crossed her face, and I had caused it. Agony ripped through me, but at the same time, hope flared like a bright, burning star in my chest. It was pure and more potent than any pain. And it held a blistering confirmation. She still cared for me.
Dianna’s grip tightened, and Imogen’s eyes went wide.
“It’s over, Dianna. This entire city is secure. There is no way you leave here. Not again.”
“Oh yeah? And just how do you plan on containing me? Are you really willing to risk your precious family for that? The world? I will reduce it to ash. I may not be able to kill you, but I can tear through them in seconds. Ask Cameron.” She smiled as Imogen groaned in her grasp.
“We have Camilla, who was nice enough to place that same poison Sophia had made into this building. A single thought from me and the sprinkler system releases it.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, and you all say I am the one who has fallen so far? The Samkiel I knew would never poison me. Not very heroic.” She tipped her head toward Imogen, and fear laced my gut with how close her fangs were to her throat. A slow smile curved her lips. “I’m impressed. You finally gave up the constant whining and trying to convince me that this isn’t me? Do you think I’m still in here now?”
