“Agreed.” I laughed weakly. I hated to admit it, but my mom was right. It was as if it’d been made for me. When I’d smoothed my hair into pin curls that framed my face and gone with subtle makeup for the night, the whole look came together like magic. Too bad it was all a waste and all I wanted was to climb into my pajamas and fall into bed to sleep for, oh, I didn’t know, a
week
possibly.
“So when is Hayden going to get here?” My dad stood up and stretched, the sports page crumpled in his hand. “Do I still have time to clean my rifle?”
“Knock it off, Dad,” Evey said as a knock sounded on the door. Though she did her very best to cover it up, she practically floated off of the hardwood floors. “He’s here!”
My father, Evey, and Declan all charged the backdoor like wild animals, but my mom and I lingered in the living room. Suddenly going to the prom and distracting myself for a few hours was a daunting task. It would be easier to stand up out of my chair and walk across the room than go to this friggin’ dance.
My mom covered my shoulder with her hand and squeezed. “It’s OK, honey. This hurt will go away eventually.”
I wasn’t sure if she was telling herself or me, but decided it didn’t matter. Nodding, I pulled my fingerless gloves out from underneath my thigh. Screw fashion. “OK, Mom.”
Right as I put my hands to my wheels, Evey thundered into the living room. “Look who Hayden found outside!” She grabbed the handles on my chair and shoved me into the kitchen.
The dull ache in my heart dissipated, and in an instant, my whole body felt lighter. My breath hitched in the back of my throat.
Saxon stood in the doorway in a dark gray suit. His tie was still untied, and he wore his thick boots under the slacks, but his brown hair was combed back from his face in what appeared to be an attempt at looking preppy. There were bruises all over one side of his face and neck, and the knuckles on both of his hands were scraped raw and bloody. His wounds were surrounded by the puffy, white skin flaps of a person forced to remain submerge in water for days on end.
My father glowered at Saxon as if he’d come into the house with a bomb strapped to his chest, but I didn’t care. I just covered my mouth to hold in the barrage of questions, feeling my heart hammering against my ribcage. My family and Hayden all stared at him as though he were a ghost. Maybe he was.
“Sorry I’m late.” Saxon’s deep, smooth voice betrayed the battered appearance of his puffed, split lips. He held up the end of the dark red tie around his neck. “I didn’t know how to tie one of these.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Your face…hold still.” I secured Saxon’s chin with my hand and pressed the premoistened wipe Hayden had fished out of his glove compartment against the cut on his lower lip.
Hissing, he pulled his face back. “Ouch.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Pulling his face close again, I dabbed some more. “I’m just trying to clean these up a bit.”
“You look beautiful tonight.” Saxon kissed me quickly, then cringed. “Ow.”
“Thanks. Don’t kiss me if it hurts.”
He stroked a hand down the length of my arm. “It seems I can’t help myself.”
“That’s what got us into this whole mess, you know.” I unfolded and refolded the wipe. “Maybe you wouldn’t be so beaten up right now if you’d stayed away from me.”
“That’s not funny.” His aquamarine eyes locked on mine as I worked. “I missed you. Every single second.”
“I know.” I stopped dabbing and simply looked at him. “I thought I would never see you again.”
Saxon’s throat moved. It was somewhere between a swallow and a gulp, and it sent my stomach rocking. My eyes flicked past his shoulder to the entrance to the hotel where kids from my high school filtered in by the dozens, their multicolored dresses and cummerbunds catching the light from the wrought iron lamps lining the sidewalk.
Looking through the open car door, I smiled at Evey and Hayden. “You guys should go. We’ll be in soon.”
Hayden scanned the trees surrounding the hotel parking lot. “Are you sure? We can wait.”
“I don’t want to leave you two alone.” Evey chewed her lip. “You know, in case someone comes looking for Saxon.”
Saxon shook his head. “We’ll be right behind you. I’m fine.”
Evey held up her phone. “You’ve got your phone, right?” She asked me.
“Yup.” I tapped my purse on the seat next to me. “Go. We’ll see you in a minute.”
Hayden guided Evey across the lot and through the doors, his hand on the middle of her back. I had to give it to the prom committee. They’d chosen a gorgeous location for the prom. A half hour out of town, in an old Victorian-style hotel carved back in the woods, away from the road. Away from everything.
I was glad they’d finally left. I wanted a moment alone with Saxon. No, I
needed
a moment alone with him, before we thrust ourselves into what would surely feel like the set of a teen movie for the next few hours.
In the waning light, I recognized something different about Saxon. His eyes—despite the fact that he was smiling and talking—were filled with sadness. And Saxon’s smile—that beautiful smirk that made my insides dance—lacked all joy. When kids whooped and hollered in the parking lot, he startled. When one of Hayden’s friends tapped on the car window upon our arrival, Saxon had grabbed the door handle and nearly jumped out of the car before we’d stopped moving. There was so much fear exuding from him, it was practically palpable.
“What’s wrong?” I set down the wipe.
“Nothing.”
He dropped his gaze away from mine. He was lying.
“Sax.” I ducked down a little bit, so he was forced to look at me again. “Do you want to get out of here? We can skip, I—”
“No!” His voice was sharp. “This is where I want to be.” He laced his fingers with mine, wincing when his scraped fingers bent, and pressed a kiss onto my wrist. “I want to be here with you.”
“What happened down there?” I stroked a thumb across a healed scratch on his forehead. “I mean, obviously, they had a change of heart. They let you go, right? What made them change their minds?”
“Luna, I…” His words trailed off, and he pressed his sore lips to mine. His kiss was barely more than a flutter. “Argh…that hurt.”
“I can imagine.” I wiped off the lipstick I left on his mouth. Saxon’s eyes darted from one car window to the next, searching for something. “You’re acting weird.”
He leaned forward until his forehead touched mine. “I’m sorry. I’m just on edge. But I’m so glad to be here with you. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this night with you.”
“I’m glad to be here with you too. I was so scared. I thought I’d never see you again, but I had to fake being OK so that my parents wouldn’t freak out. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared.”
He closed his eyes as though my words hurt. “I never meant to scare you. Or hurt you. Or cause any of this danger for you, Evey, and Hayden. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to apologize to you enough.”
“Hey.” I took his face in my hands. “Wait a sec. Relax. We’re fine. Everyone’s fine. You’re here now, so everything is going to work out. Right?”
He didn’t say anything. I waited…three seconds, five, ten. But he just sat there staring at me.
“They let you go, right?” My voice came out scraggly. “Or…um, did Isolde sneak you out?”
He looked out the window of the car, his light eyes scanning the thick trees surrounding the parking lot. “You look beautiful. Have I already told you that?” His brought his eyes back to mine and touched the end of my nose with his finger. “I miss your nose ring.”
“I’ll put it back in when I get home.” My skin warmed under his touch. “Stop changing the subject. You’re a nervous wreck. What’s going on?”
Something changed in his face. It was tense and burdened, his features wreathed in despair. “I need to tell you something.”
I felt frozen in place, the gravity of the situation pressing me into my seat. “The Council didn’t let you go, did they?”
He looked down, and when he answered, it was inside of my mind, his voice deep and quiet, despite the thumping music.
No
.
Wringing my hands, I sucked in a sharp breath and held it. “Did Isolde bring you here tonight? To…say goodbye?”
He looked up at me and nodded. Just once.
I started to panic. My breaths were labored, and it felt like someone parked a Buick across my chest. I grabbed both of his hands. “No. Saxon, no. Please tell me this is a joke. Please…”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I wish it were.”
“This…isn’t happening…” I huffed. “We’ve…got to…run. Do you…hear me? We’ve got to…get…the hell out…of here.”
He enveloped me in his arms. There was no heat radiating from his touch. Not this time. Just fear. And lots of it.
Isolde asked the guards if she could see me, and when they refused, she started a fight. She hit one of them over the head with a rock, and there was a ton of blood. They tackled her to the ground, and when their focus was solely on her, she screamed for me to run.
I closed my eyes. “I take it that’s where you got all of your latest bruises?”
I got into a scuffle leaving the holding area. I think Ian may have escaped during the chaos too.
“Great.” I bit my lip. For one entire hour I’d actually thought we might be safe, and now that hope was as dashed as my childhood dream of becoming a ballerina.
He held me at arm’s-length.
They’re not going to put up with him running away many more times. If he keeps it up, he’ll be considered a liability, and they’ll terminate him.
“Will they feed
him
to the Mere Monstrom too?” I snarled. His skin paled to a ghostly white. “What? I’m not supposed to know that, am I? Well when Isolde is the one keeping secrets, you have to prepare yourself for leaks.”
His eyes softened.
I didn’t want you to find out this way. I wanted to tell you at the end of the night. After you’d had a perfect evening.
I gaped at him. “You thought that the best way to top off a romantic night at the prom was to tell me that my boyfriend is going to be sacrificed like an animal? Why are we here?” When he took a breath to reply, I interrupted. “And I don’t mean here, as in the hotel. Why the hell aren’t we at the Greyhound depot buying tickets as far away as we can get?”
Luna, I can’t.
My hasty promise to Isolde flashed in my mind, and I cringed. I’d promised her I only wanted Saxon to come say goodbye. Guilt flickered in my chest, but I smothered it with pure adrenaline. “Listen, you have to think this through. You’re going to die. You’ve done nothing wrong, and they’re killing you. She’s been evil for years. You said so yourself. Let her take one for the team!”
I have to face the ramifications of what I’ve done. That’s the honorable thing to do.
“Honorable?” I grabbed his arms, digging my nails in. “You can’t! You have to fight!”
He drug a hand down the length of his face.
I can’t go up against the Council. It’s not possible. They’ll bury me and anyone who fights for me. That means you, your sister, Hayden, Ian…keeping the existence of Mer a secret is of utmost importance, even if it means lives lost.
“So you’re giving up? You’re just going to let them take you?” I dropped my hands and sat back in my seat. My voice was weak. “I can’t believe you’re giving up.”
He flinched, and I knew I’d hit a nerve.
I don’t have a choice. Surely you understand being caught in circumstances that are out of your control.
“I didn’t give up and die.” I announced hotly. “After the accident, everybody thought I would. The police, the EMTs, my parents. They all thought I would never recover, that I would either die in surgery, or they’d have to pull the plug on me because I was brain dead. Crap, the priest at the hospital came and gave me my last rites even though we aren’t friggin’ Catholic.”
His light eyes searched mine for something. My point, maybe? I didn’t know. I just went on. “But I wouldn’t die. I didn’t care that I was going to wind up in this stupid chair and have to roll myself around everywhere I go. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that everyone thought I was going to die, and I proved them wrong. I
didn’t
die. And you shouldn’t, either. So the hell with what the Council says! Screw them. Prove to them they don’t get to determine your fate. Choose to
live
!”
They’ll find me. The minute this dance ends, and I am away from the crowd, I’ll be caught, and so will you. There is no escape.
A ball of terror formed in my throat. “I won’t die without a fight. And you shouldn’t, either.”
Saxon raked his hands through his combed hair, standing it on end and making him look more like himself. A minute passed, then two. I could hear the
thud-thud-thud
of the base playing inside of the hotel and imagined all of the kids dancing without a care in the world. When Saxon brought his eyes back to mine, a determined line was set on his forehead.
You’re right.
My mouth dropped open. “I’m…what?”
He drew in a ragged breath, then released it slowly.
I have to run. Now.
My heart caught in my throat. “What?”
Can Hayden get me to the bus stop?
He fingered the door handle.
“I…I’m sure he can, but wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Are you serious? You’re running?”
He nodded. Just once.
If you didn’t give up, then I can’t give up.
Throwing my arms around Saxon’s neck, I pressed my face against his neck. “Oh, thank God!”
He nuzzled my hair.
I told you that you inspired me. I’ll never forget how amazing you are. I’ll carry that with me wherever I go.
“Wait.” I pushed him back and stared him dead in the eye. “You’re not going alone.”
He threaded his hand into my hair and covered my cheek with his palm. Warmth spread from his skin to mine.
I love you so much. I…I can’t take you away from your family.
“You won’t.” I jutted my chin out at him. “I’ll come back to see them. I’m eighteen and legally free to go where I want.” I leveled my gaze at his face. “I’m going with you.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but I pressed my fingers to his lips. “Do you love me?”
His eyes flashed.
Of course I do.
Swallowing thickly, I grabbed the handle of my own door. “Then don’t argue with me. I’m going to go get Ian. You’d better go wet yourself down again. The bus station’s about forty minutes away, and it’s going to be a dry ride.”
All right.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine.
I love you.
“I love you too. Let’s go.” I pushed my door, and it stopped with a dull thwack just a few inches open. “What the…?”
A heavy hand clamped down on my wrist, sending a bolt of pain up my arm. A voice filled my head, but it wasn’t Saxon’s. The tone was eerily deep and sinister, and it sent a chill down my back.
Stay in the car, little girl.
Saxon’s busted-up face paled.
Bascom.
“Who?” I jerked my wrist free of the clammy hand and slid as far away from the man, er,
Mer
, standing outside my door.
The Council is here.
Saxon placed his arm protectively in front of me just as the man leaned down and peered into the car.
I don’t know what I expected members of the Council to look like, but his modest appearance surprised me. His clothes were obviously old, worn, and used only for emergencies like this, but his physique was a different story. Bascom wore a shredded T-shirt and worn cutoffs that barely covered his bulging and corded muscles. His long hair was jet black, dripping wet, and hung down over his very,
very
angry face.
Get out of the car, Saxon, and we’ll let the girl live.
“Out the other door, out the other door!” I blurted, pushing Saxon in the opposite direction.
Saxon went to open his door, but a meaty hand pressed against the window. All of the air in Saxon’s lungs came out in a long whoosh.
Darrow.
My stomach turned when a second Mer stooped down, snarling at us through the glass. His hair was a blondish green like Isolde’s, but surrounded a face with a long, diagonal scar running from his temple to his chin. “Push past him, Saxon, hurry!” I screamed.
Darrow narrowed his milky eyes at me.
Unless you want to watch your boyfriend die, you’ll shut up and do what we say.
There was no mercy in either of their faces. They looked at me as though I were a bug that needed squashing, and judging by the size of their arms, it wouldn’t be difficult to do. I clamped my hands down on Saxon’s arm, terror rippling through my body. “S-sax?”
There’s another two Council members outside the car.
Saxon’s breathing was labored, and his head bounced between windows.
We’re surrounded, Luna.