Page 64 of Retaliation
“And Tibby, I get the feeling there is a lot more going on between the four Princes and their fathers. Nothing outright was said, but little things…” I looked up to see her watching me with a strange expression. My cheeks heated as if she read my thoughts about the Princes, my carefully orchestrated mask unveiled. Everything was getting mixed up in my head. “Tibby, I’m sorry I got wrapped up in them. You are my one and only friend. I’ll do better. I will.”
She nodded, her eyes shining, but still said nothing. I tipped the water bottle for another swig, and she launched herself at me, swatting the bottle out of my hand and causing it to splash on the floor.
“What the fuck was that?” I stared at her in shock and swayed a little on my feet. What was happening?
Tibby’s face flushed, and her eyes burned into mine. That horrible feeling was creeping back into my chest.
“It’s drugged.” She whispered the words, and my heart stopped.
Cold dread spread through my body, and my words started to slur. “Why is it drugged, Tibby?”
“Laszlo Blackbyrn. He’s coming for you. He knows who you are. He found me, Sara. I-I didn’t know what to do. He had my mother. And now she’s dead anyway.”
I stumbled back, feeling like all the blood was rushing to my head. “You…sold me out?”
Tibby choked down a sob. “I’m so sorry, Sara. I just…I didn’t want to die.”
I nodded, feeling significantly woozy. “Call. Andras.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Sara, he’s a bad guy. He’s one of them.”
“Call. Him. Please.” I stumbled to the floor, my legs going numb.
I couldn’t think right. Tibby. She was supposed to be my friend. My vision blurred as she scrambled for her phone. I heard her snapping at someone to hurry. My eyelids drooped, and my tongue felt thick in my mouth. Tibby’s face swam in front of me. Was I lying down?
“He’s coming, Sara. I’m so sorry.”
I felt my body waking up before my mind could comprehend what happened. My limbs twitched, but my brain wasn’t right. Everything was foggy. I had little flashes of memory. The wind whipping through my hair and…wings? It was the second time I had the strangest sensation of flying. I groaned loudly as my head pounded.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart,” Andras commanded. His voice was barely a whisper, but it was more terrifying than if he’d shouted at me.
I slowly cracked open my eyes. Levi and Dev stood behind Andras, their arms crossed and faces furious. Andras wore his mask of cold indifference, but his eyes were alight with icy hot fire. My brain finally registered where I was: Andras’s bedroom. And, once again, I was handcuffed to the bed. Only this time, my ankles were tied down as well. I was completely immobilized but I wasn’t afraid. Not for myself, anyway.
“What happened?” I croaked, my throat dry as desert dust.
Andras arched an eyebrow at my quiet command. “You were drugged.”
“Where is Tibby?” I demanded a little louder.
“Better question,” Levi cut in, his easy smiles all but vanished, the daemon he kept locked down leaching out. “Where is Ty?”
My eyes widened, and I turned back to Andras, pleading. “Please don’t hurt her.”
Levi snorted. “Too late.”
I choked out a sob. “Andras. Please don’t. Please don’t kill her. It wasn’t her fault.”
“She sold you out!” Levi exploded, his hands balled in fists as his blue eyes raged.
“What the fuck is going on, Sara?” Dev stalked closer to the bed and crossed his arms. He didn’t seem as surprised, or even as angry as the others were, despite his words.
I sighed, closing my eyes. So Tibby hadn’t told them everything yet. But she was alone with Ty. This was a fucking mess. I opened my eyes and stared back at Andras.
“I will tell you everything. Whatever you want. Please don’t kill my only friend.”
Andras watched me, assessing. Emotions warred behind his calm demeanor. He walked calmly around the bed, staring down at me.
“Tell us now,” Levi growled, his fist slammed into the wooden bedframe, cracking it.
