My eyes shoot over to Vlad and a sly grin slides across his cheeks.
Clarissa’s groans catch my attention. I bend down and cradle her head in the palm of my hand. I lift her up and watch her cough and my heart aches. Her body automatically travels to mine, trying to curl up into my warmth.
“Are you cold?” I ask.
She nods her head furiously so I gather her in my arms. I wrap her up in the blankets and place her against my chest as I sit down on the floor. Couches have never been comfortable to me. Plus, I break most of the ones I sit on anyway. She curls into my lap and burrows into my chest, and I can see the jealousy in Vlad’s eyes.
I also see Sebastian staring at Vlad with cautious eyes.
At least someone is keeping an eye on that out-of-control lunatic.
“So, you claim your mother was enslaved by the Council,” Vlad says.
“She was,” Joel says flatly.
“Okay, but you have to understand our reservations. We have a bit on our plate at the moment,” he says.
“Then indulge us. You know, since you are in our home eating our soup,” Josie says.
“There’s someone we thought was dead that isn’t,” Toshi says.
“Sounds like the Council. Who?” Joel asks.
“My husband,” Clarissa says weakly.
Everyone falls silent as Joel’s eyes travel to her. His eyes linger a little too long for my want, and I grip tightly onto her. I watch Sebastian and Vlad’s faces whip over to Joel, and soon they are standing in front of me. Blocking his view of Clarissa.
Then, my mind loses focus. Falling back into a sea of endless voices before one emerges from the crowd.
“Help me! Let me out of this fucking thing!”
My head is ripped back, and I feel Clarissa moving in my arms. She’s scrambling up my body and clinging to my shoulders. Someone’s hands are cupping the back of my head, and I can hear Joel and Josie freaking out.
But that voice.
It’s sharp. And defiant. And merciless.
“I’ll get out of here. And when I do, all of you will die. None of you will lay a finger on her!”
“Kyle?”
The voice stops, and for a moment I think I’m going crazy. Clarissa is calling my name, but her voice is so far away. Sebastian and Vlad are arguing, and it makes me sick. Can’t they tuck it away for a little while and focus on the fact that I can feel my neck about to snap.
“Theo?”
I reach my hand up as he begins to shake. It’s like some force is trying to hold me back. But I know Clarissa would want to hear this. She needs to hear this. It’s the confirmation we all need. Vlad had lied to us.
Kyle is dead.
“Kyle. Clarissa’s here.”
“Clarissa? Can you hear me?”
“Kyle! Oh my gosh. Kyle. Where are you? We’re in Russia. We can come get you!”
My heart aches for her. I can’t talk to the living. Only the dead. Hearing Kyle’s voice in my head means he’s perished. Gone. Even if he was alive when Vlad found us, he isn’t any longer.
Tears are streaming down my cheeks as the ache in my neck grows.