Sever (The Ever Series Book 3) (31 page)

I look over at Matt.

“You mind going with Chasen? We’ll meet up with you soon.”

“Wren, are you all right?” he asks.

I nod and smile like I mean it.

“Everything is going to be fine really soon. I promise.”

“You’d better give me the whole story when this is all over,” he mumbles.

“I will,” I promise.

Chasen rises to his full height.

“Ready to rock and roll?” he asks Matt.

“Sure, yeah,” Matt mumbles, looking down at his pajamas. “Dude, Wren. Couldn’t you have at least given me time to change out of my pajamas?”

Audra snaps her fingers dramatically, and suddenly Matt’s wearing a button-up shirt, tie, and slacks.

“Happy?” she sighs.

Matt blinks.

“I’m not even gonna ask,” Matt mutters.

“Good idea,” I tell him as Chasen reaches across the table, placing his hand on Matt’s shoulder.

A second later, they’re gone. When someone arrives at our table and sets down two drinks, I look over at Audra. She shrugs and picks up a glass.

“To averting the end of the world.”

I pick up my glass and sniff it. Sparkling apple cider.

“To the end,” I smile sadly. “Too bad I couldn’t at least make it to graduation, but hey. At least I survived ’til eighteen.”

I raise my glass and clink it with hers. I made it to eighteen, and for better or worse, I had my one night with Ever. Looking down, I close my eyes and see his face.

Having your love was more than I could have asked for until this moment
.

The hair on the back of my neck prickles, and I look up, my eyes scanning across the club. I see him for a single second, illuminated by the flashing pink and purple lights.

“Dammit, Wren!” Audra hisses.

When she grabs my arm across the table, the noise of the club disappears.

“Think of somewhere else!” Audra says in my ear as I open my eyes and see my bedroom.

I close my eyes, and the next thing I know, we’re standing in Portland’s Japanese Garden.

“Again! We have to stay ahead of him!” Audra says urgently.

A second later, we’re standing in the fog at the foot of an enormous evergreen. I feel blood rushing in my ears as I remember running for my life. This is the tree that marks the entrance to the cemetery I ran through last year.

Feeling sick and weak, I close my eyes. Before I can open them again, I hear the rushing of thousands of gallons of water. I open my eyes and look down on Multnomah Falls, where I made my deal with Alex last year. I feel Audra squeeze my hand, and suddenly I’m standing in the darkened Art classroom. In my mind, I see Ever holding out my pen, his face expressionless. Then, like magic, he’s standing in front of me.

“Stop,” he pleads.

I shake my head.

“I can’t.”

Suddenly I’m in a dark hospital room. I recognize the smell of antiseptic and sickness. It’s where I woke up after I first locked eyes with Ever. A second later, I’m in an empty coffee shop. I look over and see the table where I sat with Ever before I knew what he was.

I close my eyes and think of one last place, and when I open my eyes again, I see West Street Beach. Even in the darkness, I easily recognize the cove, flanked by cliffs on one side and tide pools on the other. This is the place where the current nearly killed me, and it makes sense that I should come back here for the end, or the beginning—whatever this is.

Sinking down onto the cold sand, I think of the moment more than a year ago when Alex gave himself up for me. And now we’re back where we started—only
I’m
the one who has the power to end this.

I have the power to sever Victor’s connection to this world.

“W
e’ve left a trail of energy for Victor to find us,” Audra says. “He will be here soon.”

“Breadcrumbs,” I mumble as I struggle to my feet.

Audra looks at me like I’ve lost my mind as I imagine two children in the forest leaving a trail of breadcrumbs. At the end of
Hansel and Gretel
, the lost children defeated the witch, but I don’t know if I’m going to get that lucky.

Suddenly Ever appears—with my mom. The four horsemen appear an instant later. Then I see the smile on Ever’s face, the whiteness of his teeth gleaming in the moonlight, and I know something’s wrong.

“No …” I whisper, shaking my head as Ever’s image melts away, leaving Victor in its place.

Dread flickers through me as I realize that Audra and I didn’t think of every possible scenario. Alistair and Persephone must have let “Ever” take my mom—or at least what they thought was Ever.

“My dear, I applaud you for making the wise choice,” he says to Audra. “Nonetheless, I always feel it’s necessary to have additional … insurance.”

Just as Audra opens her mouth to speak, I see a look of shock spread across her features as a blade pierces her chest from behind. Suddenly she’s frozen in place like a beautiful, tragic statue, her blue eyes frozen.

My stomach pitches as Alex steps from behind her. Everything starts to spin around me when he takes her blade from her. Feeling something float onto my face, I look up and see snowflakes drifting toward the moonlight-bleached sand.

“You were speaking of wise choices,” Alex says to Victor.

Before I can move, Alex grabs my arm, jerking it until I scream in pain just as Ever—the real Ever—appears in front of us, his features enraged.

“You’ve both played this hand before,” Victor sighs in a bored voice. “Am I to believe you would simply hand her over, or better yet, that she would submit to me?”

I shudder, willing myself to wake up from this nightmare. When I look up at Alex, I see no shred of compassion in his eyes. I wilt, realizing that I should have expected this the moment my heart chose Ever. Suddenly Chasen appears with Matt, his expression turning from confusion to rage when he sees Audra frozen—and Alex holding me.

“And history repeats itself,” Chasen growls, releasing Matt.

His eyes blazing with fury, Chasen rushes Alex, who immediately releases my arm and disappears. I swing around violently, trying to keep my eyes on everyone. And that’s when I realize this
is
a chessboard—and every choice I’ve made has brought me here. Seeing Alex appear behind Matt, I know that I’m losing the game.

“
Don’t
!” I scream.

But it’s too late. Like out of a nightmare, I watch as Alex slices Matt’s throat, a thin red line of crimson appearing across Matt’s neck. Matt, my friend and one of the people I wished I could protect from all the evil and hatred in the world. He doesn’t fall, though, and the blood doesn’t begin to flow from his gash. He remains in suspended animation. Panicked, I look toward my mom, but she hasn’t moved at all.

Suddenly I understand how quickly this is happening—faster than humanly possible. I’m watching this through immortal eyes. I’m watching the worst possible moments of my life in super slow motion.

“Make
another
choice,” Alex says coldly, “and decide your mother’s fate next.”

Ever disappears from my sight, and then I feel a shockwave as he sends Alex flying. The white- and silver-haired wraiths slither away from Victor’s side, and Chasen motions them forward with his hand.

“Bring it,” he growls.

Victor yawns theatrically.

“This is all very amusing. Truly. I could watch you turn on each other for at least a century, but I have a world to take over.”

The sand beneath my feet begins to shift, and a second later the ground rolls. Turning toward the bluffs, I see a writhing mass flooding down the concrete stairs, rolling toward us with unnatural speed. As the undulating horde spreads closer, I realize what it is—an army of possessed humans. As they swarm around us, I see their blackened eyes gleaming like those of insects.

Then the thunder of footfalls falls silent, and they wait. Suddenly Alex reappears next to Victor, who’s still holding my mom and flanked by the two female wraiths. When Alex points to my mom, I flinch.

“May I?” he asks Victor.

“Hmm,” Victor says, studying Alex with an amused expression. “Perhaps, even now, you are still trying to win this feeble creature’s favor? Let me ask you … Did you truly expect her to choose you?”

I’d be super pissed that Victor just called me a feeble creature, if he weren’t holding my mom like some sort of bargaining chip.

“No, I suppose not,” Alex says harshly. “And I think you and I both understand how bitter unrequited attention can make one.”

Victor gestures to me, causing ice to run through my veins.

“She is human and short-sighted, and you, my friend, have my condolences.”

My mind spins as I remember what Alex said about Irisa choosing him over Victor. It’s why Victor took revenge on her and made her crazy—that is if I still believe anything Alex told me.

And I chose Ever.

“I have no use for your sympathy,” Alex says without emotion. “I only care to have what I desire.”

What
I desire, he said. Am I supposed to be the
what
? I shiver. How could I have been so wrong this entire time? Was all of it a game, a competition for him? Every moment of tenderness, any time he said he loved me—was it all a cleverly planned strategy to
win
at any cost? I think back to what Alex said to me that night at the restaurant in France.

I don’t aim to be on the right side; I aim to be on the winning side
.

At the time, he also claimed he wanted me to be his partner, his equal. But that was before I made the choice he’s judging me for—the choice to be with Ever, even if it was only for one night.

“I suppose it could be very amusing to give her to you for this act of fealty,” Victor muses, bringing me back to the here and now. “Late though it may be.”

The silver-haired wraith, who had been watching Chasen warily, turns in Victor’s direction, his expression a mixture of surprise and resentment. Catching his eye, I can’t resist smirking.

“Aww, that’s too bad. I guess you’re not the favorite anymore,” I say sweetly.

When he bares his pointy white teeth, a shiver runs up my spine. He scares me almost more than Victor does. Victor’s attention suddenly shifts toward his henchman.

“Yes?” he asks in a bored tone, like he’s humoring a whiny child.

“You intend to give my prize to this”—the silver-haired horseman’s lip curls with barely contained rage—“
proditor
?”

Victor’s laughter fills the darkness.

“Are the two of you truly vying for this silly mortal? Such a waste. There will be more than enough for my loyal subjects,” he chides. “Though, for the sake of entertainment, perhaps I should let you fight for the privilege.”

Victor looks over at Ever.

“You,
servus
, may watch.”

Turning toward Ever, I see the rage radiating from him, a glowing green aura growing around him, licking outward like a flame. Victor laughs again like a parody of the villain from an old movie, which makes me wonder if that’s where he’s learned all of his human mannerisms.

“Yes! Please,” Victor urges gleefully. “By all means, destroy her as well as her
nearest and dearest
.”

Envisioning the blast wave Ever is capable of generating, I look at my mom and Matt, still frozen in time—and the swarm of possessed humans surrounding us. If Ever were to release his full power, it could kill every human in the blast radius. Victor must know that Ever wouldn’t do that, which is why he looks so smug. I shake my head.

“Enough!” I snap. “You wanted me to come willingly. Then, first, give me what
I
want.”

Victor sighs.

“Again, you silly human? Thinking you have some leverage.” He looks around. “Alas, I see no ledge for you to jump from, Ms. Sullivan. In fact, I see nowhere for you to go at all.”

He looks at Alex.

“Here,” Victor purrs, gesturing to my mom. “If you destroy what she holds most dear, then you may have the girl.” Victor turns to me. “And you, Ms. Sullivan. If you give yourself willingly, then I will spare your mother.”

“But that’s—”

“Unfair?” Victor finishes for me.

In an instant, Alex is in front of my mom, and panic rises in my chest.

“Leave her alone,” I shriek at Victor, “and I’ll do whatever you want.”

Victor holds up his hand to Alex.

“Was that so difficult?” Victor chides. “I should have taken your mother ages ago.”

“Wren, please,” Ever says.

I don’t look at him. I can’t. Walking over to Audra’s frozen form, I pull the blade from her back and walk around to face her as she comes to life.

“I’m sorry, Audra. I thought we had the perfect plan.”

Handing her the blade, I watch as her eyes flit around, taking in the scene around her.

“Why did you trust him?” she asks desperately.

“Because I love him,” I whisper.

I wish I could use the past tense, but I can’t. I love Alex and Ever, even if I always knew loving both of them would be my downfall.

“How appallingly sentimental and tragic,” Victor gloats. “Truly. Ms. Sullivan, it’s almost a pity your choice of mates is so poor.” He pauses and looks at Alex, whose expression remains unreadable. “Ah, wait. You
didn’t
choose him. Perhaps
that
is what has led to your current predicament.”

Ignoring Victor’s critique of my romantic choices, I grit my teeth and walk forward, gesturing to Alex, who’s still standing with a blade millimeters from my mom’s throat.

“A deal is a deal,” I snap. “Let my mom go.”

I’ve made so many mistakes, and the ground has shifted beneath my feet so many times that I don’t know where I stand. All I know is that whether I live or die, I have to save my mom. Walking carefully toward Alex, I stop in front of him, desperately searching his face for some sign of what’s real.

“If you ever loved me, let her go. Please,” I whisper.

His hand drops away from my mom’s neck, and all the breath in my lungs leaves me.

“Thank you,” I gasp.

But when he looks down at me, his eyes are like ice, bitter and cold. Before I can move, his arm shoots out, his fingers gripping the back of my neck. Then he turns and marches me toward Victor like a puppet.

“And what if I send you back to the hell you created—and then destroy her, sealing your fate?” Alex growls at Victor.

Victor smiles and claps his hands together in a way that is really beginning to get on my last freaking nerve.

“Very well. You may have the girl.”

The silver-haired wraith snarls again.

“Silence,” Victor demands with quiet authority as he waves his hand to Alex, who pushes me down into sand at Victor’s feet.

Alex twists my arm against my back until I wince.

“Do you come to me willingly?” Victor asks, holding out his hand for me to take.

I scowl, having nearly lost any sensation in the hand Alex has pinned to my back.

“Yeah, that’s why my other arm is nearly broken behind my back,” I hiss.

“I shall ask one more time. Do you submit to me willingly?”

Suddenly I hear Alex’s words in my head:
We convince Victor that he’s won
. That was what he said. Was it just Alex’s way of convincing me to go along with his plan? Or could it have been his way of telling me that no matter what he said or did, it was part of the plan? I swallow.
Or
… everything has changed, and he truly hates me for choosing Ever.

There’s no way to know for sure.

Then I feel something being pressed into my palm. It’s the heel of a blade. As I tighten my grip, a jolt of adrenaline spikes through me. There’s no time to ponder the weight of what I’m about to do, no time to come up with a witty one-liner. Holding out my free hand to Victor, I bow my head.

“I …”

The second I feel Victor take my hand in his, I let every ounce of fury rise through me into my fingertips. Looking up as the blast of energy hits him, I watch the smile freeze on his face. Then I swing up with my other arm to stab the blade into his chest.

“Unwise,” he chides as he grabs my neck with his free hand, his fingers crushing my throat.

Looking into his black eyes, I force the blade forward with all my strength. In an instant, Victor’s hand loosens from my neck as the blade Alex used to cut my arm pierces his chest. Alex yanks me backward as a single ray of pinkish orange light appears over the bluffs and shimmers out across the black ocean. The snow stops. And as Victor falls backward, the sea of black-eyed people surrounding us collapses.