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“Did I Claim you against your will?” Aven pressed.

Jordan’s answer was even quieter this time. “No.”

She felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her windpipe.

Aven grinned victoriously and asked his final question. “Then tell us, Jordan, how did you come to be in my service?”

Jordan’s vibrant blue eyes stared straight at Alex when he said, “I asked Aven to Claim me. It was my idea. And I don’t regret it.”

NO!

Alex felt as if the ground had been pulled out from underneath her. “No!NO!” she screamed out loud, adding to the horrified sounds coming from D.C. and Bear. She couldn’t keep the tears from welling in her eyes as she begged, “Tell me it’s not true. Please, Jordan.Tell me it’s not true!”

“It’s for the best, Alex,” he said, his voice anguished. “You’ll see.”

She had to hold back a sob at his brainwashed words. Where was her cocky, overprotective best friend? Where was the Jordan she knew—the one who would never have surrendered to Aven, let aloneaskedfor a life of controlled servitude?

“Jordan,” Alex whimpered, unable to say more.

“Alex,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”

His apology broke her. Tears poured down her face, dripping down her cheeks and landing on the snow-covered ground, melting the ice as her blood remained frozen in her veins.

Her grief nearly brought her to her knees, but she knew that she had to keep it together and protect her friends until help arrived. Darrius might not be able to step through the Library into Meya, but she had to hope he’d find another way to summon reinforcements.

“As touching as this is, it’s time for us to leave. I have a rebellion to lead.”

Alex snapped her head up at Aven’s words and croaked out, “Over my dead body.”

He smirked at her. “That’s one thing we agree upon.”

She wiped a shaky hand across her eyes, preparing herself for what she knew would be her final battle with the Meyarin. He no longer needed her, so he would have no problem killing her.

Just like Skyla.

Alex swallowed back fresh tears as the shock of such a pointless murder hit her anew.

Focus, she told herself.Grieve later. Focus now.

“Ready when you are, Aven.”

“You misunderstand me, Alexandra,” he said, his eyes glittering. “I’m not going to fight you.”

She frowned in bewilderment. Didn’t he want her dead?

“You seem confused,” Aven observed. “I have to admit, I do enjoy toying with you.”

At the look she shot him, he sighed mockingly.

“I can see you’re not in the mood for games, so we’ll end this quickly,” Aven said. Then he called, “Jordan?”

Her friend turned to look at Aven, and Alex wished she could run away and hide in the forest for the rest of her life just to avoid the pain she was currently feeling. But she would never leave D.C. and Bear, not when their lives could end like Skyla’s had at one word from Aven. Or two words, as the case may be, since they were the exact words he spoke to Jordan with his next command.

“Kill her.”

No.

of them.