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The mage gestured for me to stand as the door slid open again.

I turned to face the newcomer — the 'Lieutenant.'

Just who is he?

A tall man with wide shoulders and a neatly pressed uniform stepped in, slim-brimmed hat hiding his face.Something about him tugged at my memories, causing a familiar ache inside my chest and a strange new sense of energy to course through me.

It grew stronger by the second, and I looked down at my tensed fist, clenching it tighter.

Fuck. I felt more like myself than I had inweeks…

The Lieutenant stepped up to the mind mage and growled something, causing all the blood to drain from his face.

"Everyone out," he shouted. "NOW."

The other scientists scrambled from the room like bugs from beneath a flipped rock. Holden glared at the man before pushing Liam out with him.

The Lieutenant watched them go, his back still to me.

Who the fuck is he? And what does he want with me?

Chapter 7

Kaiya

Even with his back to me, I could tell the enormous man was dangerous. It was etched in the way he stood tall, fitted uniform encasing wide shoulders coiled with tension.

Yet, something about him felt familiar. Almost safe.

No. That was stupid. People hadrunfrom the room in fear of this 'Lieutenant.'

He was decidedlynotsafe.

And if that scientist was right and Frexin had what she wanted, then he might even be there to kill me.

I instinctively reached to my wrist, feeling for my little dagger — but of course it wasn't there. Hadn't been for months.

I searched the room for anything I could use as a weapon —

"Would you attack me with my back turned, Witch?" the man growled. "I'm here to help you."

My heart stuttered. "Tye? What — how?" My mind struggled to understand. "Are you here to help us escape?"

He spun to face me, removing the dark blue cap to reveal a head of short cropped, neatly styled, white hair. Those mesmerizing yellow eyes bore into me.

But didn't his eyes glow gold before?

He scowled at me, something burning within that gaze.

"No, I'm not here to help you escape. I'm here to help you out of the mess you made when you failed to stop that monster!"

Confused, I looked at the beast in the cage nearby, then back at Tye.

"No!" he snarled, taking a step toward me. "Frexin!"

Hells, his eyes might be wrong, but he acted as delusional and unhinged as ever.

"I didn't exactlyhavea chance." Heat built in my chest with every word. "I was a little busy trying tosave youfrom being a pile of rubble! You're welcome, by the way!"