Page 9 of Elysian

“A redblood treatment that kills impurities in your bloodstream. He believed it would protect you from the Plague.”

As always, they used hatred toward redbloods to their advantage. I couldn’t stop my lip from curling with disgust. I turned back to the garden.

“They used you to pump more Elixir into him. The other feeders never receive as much as you did.” His lips also curled with disgust. “They tormented you until you lost consciousness.” He turned his face away as if recalling that day.

“The garden is being restored.” There was no inflection in my voice.

“Yes,” he answered my non-question.

I pulled away from the window, leaving the outline of my hands behind. “Will you help me esc⁠—”

He squeezed my shoulder. I clamped my lips shut.

“Do not utter one more word.” I pursed my lips. He exhaled slowly. “Lord Vaner⁠—”

“You mean your father.”

“My father,” he corrected, inclining his head, “is formidable.”

“Exactly. And you must know how to stop him.”

“You had your chance to escape.” A smidgen of frustration leaked into his tone.

“One failed attempt does not mean I give in. Do you expect me to sit there and do nothing?”

He sighed and cupped my cheek. “I am angry you didn’t manage it. Do not make your life harder by fighting when there is no way out.” His smile turned wry. “I have tried.”

I kept my lips sealed, not arguing.

“Amara, you’re as good as dead. A new age has come, and the council dictates. They have sent out officers to search for any dissidents. They are coming down harder on all redbloods. Any small infraction and there are orders to slaughter. Even bluebloods that come to the aid of redbloods are not safe.”

“I’m sure that doesn’t apply to Elites,” I said, my lips numb.

“We have yet to encounter one that helps a traitor.” His lips twisted wryly. “The news will come out in phases. The Warlord King has fallen ill. Infected by a redblood with the Hollow Plague.”

My lips parted on a breath.

“They are posing this to get rid of more of us.”

His face fell, head dropping. “You will not survive. Neither of you will see the dawnlight, but I promise to get you the best comforts meanwhile . . .”

Heavy weight pressed down on me. He’d resigned himself to how things were. Settled on following the council’s decree, despite the cost to redbloods. Giving up would be the easy way, but looking into Egan’s hopeless gaze . . . I could not let myself fall into the same hole. There had to be a way out. Cassiel had to leave this place to regain his strength. As much as I loathed him for his lack of belief in me, his presence and survival would directly disavow the council. And what held him bound was this effigy. Would destroying the item with which they hurt him free him of their control?

The doors muffled a boisterous laugh.

“Al’s coming.” Egan pulled back, his grip slipping away.

CHAPTER FOUR

Complications

“This is no state my test subject should be in.” Al clicked his tongue.

I resettled on the stool he ordered me to perch upon and continued nibbling the loaf of bread he’d shoved into my hand.

“Rest your arm here,” he said, tapping the work table. I did as he ordered, studying what he was organizing on the surface. He took a rope and wound it above my elbow, fastening it. “No need to be so tense. I am only taking blood.”

Nothing he could have said would truly calm me, but I forced my shoulders to relax. I did not want to give him a reason to return me to the cage. The spongy bread eased the hunger cramping my belly. I took another bite, watching him carefully prepare the syringe.