“Emerson Kragger. What do you know about her?”
“What?” I inch back, perplexed and perturbed at the very same time.
“That bitch has been taunting me for months. I saw her at the mall last week, and she pulled the blade of a knife from her purse, just enough for me to see before burying it.” She chokes on her own rage. “I’d like to bury someone, but we all know no one stays dead on this godforsaken island.”
“Case in point, you.” I couldn’t resist. “You do realize a lot of people would still be alive if you had only stayed dead.”
Chloe snarls and sends her upper lip quivering as if she were a cartoon villain. She’s a villain, all right. And just my luck, I can’t seem to turn the channel.
“Well, I’m not dead, and you can thank your ex-wife for that. I’m very much alive.” Her chest heaves as she closes the gap between us, her fingers curling under my chin. “You’re alive, too.” Her tongue does a quick revolution over her full lips. It was Chloe’s full lips that attracted me to her first all those years ago, and now the sight of them nauseates me. “How about you and I hit the back of that pickup of yours for a few quick and dirty minutes? I promise I will never tell Lex—or Skyla. Just something fun and necessary that can take the edge off all this misery, this prolonged dry spell is putting us through.”
“Wes won’t have you, huh?” I tick my head away until she removes her hand.
“Not with Laken warming my sheets. And I don’t care. I’ll find someone else, but until then, I just need you to scratch this itch.”
“The same itch you scratched with my nephew’s head? No thanks.” I glance around the periphery ready to get the show on the road. If I don’t see Candace soon, I’m ditching this perverted party.
“She’ll be here.” Chloe’s eyes flash with delight, her fingers still touching my chin. Chloe always did get off knowing things before anyone else.
“Did you see her?” For the life of me, I don’t know what Candace Messenger wants with Chloe.
“I spoke with her this morning. And once she left, I dipped a toe into this sauna before calling a few friends to join me.” Her hand glides down my chest until her fingers hook into the lip of my jeans. “I should have called you instead. We could have had a private party. What are you doing with Lexy, anyway?” She scowls when she says her friend’s name. “Everyone knows you belong with Skyla—even if you’re not with her, you belong to her. All that pining is disgraceful.”
I bark out a laugh. “You should know. You’ve been pining for Gage for close to a decade. Get over him. He belongs to Skyla. Unless you want to spend this bizarre life of yours haunting someone else’s marriage, I suggest you find a man of your own. You of all people should understand the brevity of life. You blink, and before you know it, someone lops your head off for the hell of it.” Those last few words come out hardened with hatred. I’m so damn over Chloe and her reckless sickle. “You really should watch your own head. I’ve heard the rumors about Emerson myself. I bet that’s why Candace allowed her to extend her stay. Don’t you think? I mean, someone needs to exterminate you. And Candace does like to keep her daughter’s hands clean.” I click my tongue. “I only hope it’s a public spectacle. Don’t worry, Chloe. We will think of you when you’re gone. In fact, I’ll throw a party in your honor. I’ll hire Lizbeth to help out with the festivities. I’m sure Skyla will proclaim the day of your death a holiday that all of the Factions will celebrate together. You never know, your demise might be the missing link the Factions have needed for years as far as reunification goes.”
Her eyes fill with tears, but her features harden with rage. Chloe is the master of self-pity, but for the life of me I can’t remember the last time I saw Chloe shed a single tear. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to find pity for her.
“What’s up with the waterworks? Are you pulling out the violins over the fact nothing ever seems to go your way? Welcome to the fucking club, Chloe. You don’t get to pick and choose how everyone else runs their life. And newsflash, you don’t get to run around killing people anymore either. Skyla says you made a covenant with her. You belong to her. She may utilize you however she likes and then dispose of you and, my God, I cannot wait for the day she crumples you up like a piece of paper and tosses you into the fire. I’m over you. The world is over you, Chloe. You’re irredeemable as far as I’m concerned.”
“Are you God, Logan?” a female voice chirps from behind, and I look back to see Candace standing there, resplendent and glowing like some otherworldly being, her hair flowing like honey dipped in sunshine, and those pale barely-there sky blue eyes look hauntingly beautiful. For a moment I trick myself into believing it’s Skyla. I’ve gotten into the habit of kissing her on the lips when I see her—mostly out of necessity, but every last innocent peck has felt like a vitamin to my soul. It has been.
“About damn time you arrived,” Chloe grouses, stomping past her into the thicket, and Candace lets out a chortling laugh while we follow along.
We head into a clearing, and the evergreens provide not only a physical buffer from the others, but their furry branches dampen the roar of the Falls. It feels unnaturally serene, and for the life of me I can’t figure out why I haven’t ventured here before. Usually I’m too inebriated by the beauty of the Falls to drift too far away from them. Sounds a lot like my obsession with Skyla. And I need to stop that obsession unless, God forbid, I morph into Chloe and start hacking off heads in a rage. It seems wholly possible, and thus drives me to make it work with Lexy that much more.
Candace huffs as if she might be sick, “You will not make it work with Alexa, no matter what you tell yourself.”
“Ha!” Chloe laughs in my face, her body still naked as that horrible day she stumbled onto the planet.
A rustle comes from our left, and Dudley emerges, full suit, Italian leather shoes, his hair slicked back, reeking of that spiced cologne of his as if he were about to hit every bar on the mainland.
“Have I missed anything?” He cuts a quick look to Chloe, and his gaze drips down her body intrusively, not that I care. Dudley can get as intrusive as he wants with that beast. For all I care, they could scratch one another’s itches for the rest of their unnatural lives. It makes no difference to me.
Candace illuminates like a flashlight for a brief second before turning down the volume on her holiness. “You arrived just in time.”
He heads over and offers her a quick kiss on either cheek, and I can’t help but scowl. I don’t quite know the history between Marshall and Candace, but I doubt it’s sexual since he’s gung-ho on bedding Skyla as his wife. Whatever their history is, it’s an odd one.
Candace looks to me as she takes a breath, and I feel very much like the center of this odd roundup. “Sector Marshall and Chloe are here to help me prove a point, Logan. It’s become crucial you listen to my pleas and the pleas of others with new ears, with an open mind, a heart that is no longer hardened by unjust truths you’ve fed yourself.”
“Skyla.” I close my eyes once again. I’m about to be ambushed, verbally assaulted for who knows how long, and I’m going to have to take it. But Chloe? For the love of God, Candace has stooped lower than I thought possible.
Candace pumps out a dull laugh. “Chloe still has a mission in this life, Logan. Do you understand that you too have a holy mission?”
I look to Dudley, determined to change the subject. I’m not doing this to Skyla and Gage. Not behind their backs, not in front of it. I’ll battle for their right to be together if I have to. “Ezrina mentioned you told her the Barricade is about to unleash on Noster. To be fair, all we’ve had them do is monitor them.”
Chloe looks to Candace and shrugs as if she agrees. “Technically, we’re not in a war.”
“You will be,” Dudley assures, that dead stare of his pinned right over me. “Do not underestimate your nephew. It won’t be Skyla who will start this one.”
“She wouldn’t dare,” I offer, and I’m right. “
The last thing Skyla wants is a war. The Barricade, however, is salivating for it. Wes is still pretty ticked over the fact he can’t hide the markers.” A thought comes to me, and I stop cold. “You don’t think he’d participate in a mass slaughter, do you?”
Marshall lifts a brow. “Now you’re catching on. Do you lose sleep at night knowing you’re not the brightest light in the Oliver chandelier?”
Candace lifts a hand and Marshall’s head snaps back as if he were struck, and he might have been. Lord knows Candace has command of invisible elements that surpass my dim understanding.
“Logan is brilliant.” She curves her palm over my cheek, and a soothing feeling ricochets right through my bones. “I’ve designed you for greatness. You are impeccable in every single manner.” She turns her head slightly toward the schooled Sector. “Do not chide my chosen one.” Her entire countenance glows a peachy shade. “He pleases me, Sector Marshall. And he will please my daughter, too.” Her affect hardens at the mention of Skyla, and that cheery hue all but dissipates. “Do not worry about Noster. What’s set will come to pass. Make no mistake about it. There will be bloodshed.”
“Will I die?” Chloe clutches at her throat, her arm buried between the girls, and it’s an uncomfortable scene to witness.
“Would you like to?” Candace asks with a peculiar tone as if she were inquiring whether or not they should hit up a movie.
“No.” Chloe puts so much thoughtful inflection on the word, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her this animated about anything. I guess begging for your life will do that to a person. She’s just a hair above groveling, I can tell. “And I want you to take that witch, Emerson, back where she belongs. She’s been nothing but a nuisance ever since you unleashed her back on the planet.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Why don’t you take care of it, Chloe? You put Emerson in that grave once. Surely you can do it again.”
Dudley chuckles because it’s true. “She’s done it to you, young Oliver. Don’t tempt her to repeat her efforts.”
“I’m not going anywhere this time.” I shoot Chloe a look that threatens her more than words could ever do.
Candace sighs, exasperated, and, truthfully, I’m a bit exasperated by the fact Chloe is among us as well. “Emerson stays. I’ve a task for her to complete, and you’re not to meddle lest you find yourself in Ahava for good this time.” She skewers Chloe with a look. “I’m afraid you’ve hit your limits on earthbound revivals. Word to the wise, stay out of my daughter’s way. Do not vex her in any capacity. She has full reign over your earthly circumstances—perhaps your death as well—perhaps not.”
“If I may speak for Skyla.” I pause for a moment as Candace looks my way with her mouth wide open. Clearly, speaking for her daughter is a miscalculated blunder on my part. “I was just going to say, she would like nothing more than to see Chloe punished for the indecent acts she committed with her husband’s bloodied—head.”
“I’ve addressed that,” Candace snaps, and the branches in the trees above us rustle as if a violent wind just blew through them. “Not only did I reveal the grievance to my daughter, but I allowed Skyla a moment to release her aggression.” She lifts a finger to the three claw marks Chloe wears on her cheek like a badge. “As evidenced.”
“That’s it?” I glance to Dudley because he has to agree with me. “A few slaps to the face isn’t nearly punishment enough. Skyla wants true retribution.”
“Logan,” Chloe seethes. The fire in her eyes boils as she glowers at me. Surely there will be hell to pay for my suggestion, and I don’t give a damn. Chloe is long overdue in receiving her comeuppance.
Candace lifts a hand between us as if breaking up a fight. “I’ve a universe to preside over. I don’t have time for petty arguments. Sector Dudley, Chloe, be prepared to give your statements.” She turns toward me, gleaming like the goddess she is, and my heart begins to race because regardless of the fact I know this is Candace, I only see Skyla in all her resplendent brilliance.
“Logan Oliver.” Her voice strums soft and light, much like her daughter’s. If Candace is trying her best to put me in a trance, then it’s working. I certainly feel transported to some other, less complicated time—like the day we met, the bowling alley. The second Skyla walked in, she was all I ever saw again. The only girl my heart would ever want. “You are a prized possession of my very heart. I’ve always known that you alone would be the one who would be the soulmate my daughter deserved.” Dudley clears his throat, but Candace and I don’t break our hypnotic gaze. “I knew you before you were ever conceived. I drew up the direction your life should take, and for the most part you have stayed on the path.” Her features darken, and she’s right back to being Candace again. “But when you strayed, you veered dangerously off course. I wasn’t too surprised. After all, the enemy abounds, waiting to devour the sons and daughters of the light like a roaming lion. The enemy embedded a part of himself right there in your midst, force-fed you the lie that he was your brother. And when the time came for you to shield the love of your life, you thrust her right into his waiting arms.”
“Whoa.” I hold up a hand and step back, my foot crumbling the slope we’re teetering on. “Gage isn’t the enemy. He didn’t come into this world knowing who his father is. Heck, he didn’t know who his father was or who he was until very recently. This isn’t some box trap he set out for me. I know Gage. The real Gage Oliver. And his love for Skyla is genuine.”
Candace opens her mouth and chokes on her next words.
“Let me.” Dudley lifts a hand and steps forward. “It appears, Logan Oliver, that you in all of your brilliance are missing the point. The enemy as you see it is Demetri. Yes, Gage was coaxed to participate with the Barricade with the Fems, but as you will soon discover, he is more than eager to serve. When you get down to brass tacks, it matters not whether the enemy or the enemy’s seed has ahold of your rightful wife.” The muscles in his jaw pop because I’m sure it killed him to saw those words out, and I can’t help but gloat a little. “So long as she is not in your arms, bearing your children, the enemy’s son has fulfilled his duty.”
I look to Chloe. Naked Chloe—perhaps the only one here who might agree with me. However, Chloe probably doesn’t give a shit what side of the Factions Gage falls on so long as he lands on top of her.
“Logan.” Chloe closes her eyes as if mustering the strength to convince me of their viewpoint herself. Maybe Candace has offered each of them a prize if they manage to get through to me. I wouldn’t doubt it. Hell, at this point, I think I deserve a prize for listening. “I get the fact you’re going to think I’m stumping just to have Gage all to myself. Partially that is true.” I’m not sure if I should admire Chloe’s ability to tell the truth for once or roll my eyes. “But the reality is, the enemy has snaked your wife from underneath you. Not only that, but you offered her up to him like some cheap door prize. And to make things worse, he died. Died and got a new body—thus evicting himself from entering into any sort of marital covenant with Skyla—and you above all people understand how important that bond is. Take Gage out of the equation for a minute. Imagine it was Demetri. You gifted Skyla to that slime, and, more than that, you erased the children you were supposed to have with her from existence. The enemy came in ready to fight. But, Logan, they are laughing at how easy it was for them to make you roll over and play dead. They pushed you over like a domino, and you practically invited them to pin you to the ground with their shoe.”
An iced breeze bristles by, searing my face with the sting of reality. Had I done that? Had it been Demetri I would never have gifted Skyla to him. My heart stops beating a moment. Had I gifted Skyla to Gage?
“They fell in love. I didn’t do that. I had no control over that,” I mumble as if trying to process the past out loud. “Skyla and Gage were bound to happen.”
“No.” Candace’s voice bounces through the forest, loud and haunting, like a tree snapping at the base. “You were bound to happen, and
you will. Gage was an accessory to a crime of cosmic proportions. If they fell in love, it was to the victory of the enemy. They simply advanced the scheme of those poised to kill you and your people. They have already killed your child. Angel is fighting for her existence, Logan. You must fight for her, too.” Her breathing is quick, her features tight, as if everything were riding on my response to this ludicrousness.
Dudley clears his throat. “Logan.” He sighs heavily, and I steal the moment to soak in the fact he just charged me by my given name. Normally, this would be ubiquitous, but Marshall Dudley doesn’t bow to my formal name. I’m the refuse of his lineage, one in which he likes to pour over with the scalding oil of his sarcastic delights. He strides forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Candace. “Perhaps if I set forth an allegory you will understand. A lion with great and powerful girth, miraculous in his standing, took hold of the top shoot of the most verdant fruit tree and carried it off to a far off island, planting it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water. Once sprouted, it became a low spreading vine. Its branches turned lovingly toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became beautiful and produced branches that put out leafy boughs.”
Candace claps her hands just once. “A wonderful retelling from Ezekiel. Do continue. Your mastery of the word is pure brilliance.”
Dudley nods, never taking that serious gaze off of me. “But there was another great creature, an eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now set out her roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out her branches to him for water. She had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that she would produce branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine, but the enemy had come and she was now his. Will she thrive in his arms? Will her seed accomplish that which her seed should have? The eagle carried her away so that her future kingdom would be brought low, unable to rise again, surviving only in a wilted covenant to him. The eagle is determined to keep the vine down, tethered to his will, his own wicked kingdom. Will he succeed? Or will the vine escape and find her way back to the one she was meant to blossom for all along?”