Page 181 of Terror at the Gates

“Fuck,” I said, squinting against the pain as I rubbed the spot before answering between gritted teeth. “Cleaning.”

“Cleaning?”

“It’s better if you don’t ask,” I said.

It took him a moment before he realized what I was saying.

“Oh no,” he said. “Fuck that. I callshotgun. I’m not sitting in your bodily fluids.”

“You won’t,” I said, glaring. “That’s why I’m cleaning.”

“Still can’t do it,” he said. “It’s just…ghost come then. If you can see it with a black light, it’s not gone, Zahariev.”

“I’ll make a note,” I said, returning to the task at hand when my brother interrupted me again.

“Hey, Z,” he said.

I was careful this time and didn’t hit my head when I met his gaze.

“I’m sorry for all that stuff I said before. I didn’t mean it.”

“I know,” I said. “But you should tell Lilith. I think she needs to hear it.”

Chapter Twenty-two

I had about five seconds before midnight, and I was booking it to the top of Saira’s Secret Overlook, as I had dubbed it. She seemed like the kind of person who stuck to her word, so I didn’t expect her to be there if I was a minute late.

As I neared the top, I slowed to catch my breath and glanced back. Somewhere behind me, Zahariev watched with Cassius and Gabriel. They were going to follow wherever Saira led. I just hoped that wasn’t through another tunnel. Going underground would complicate our plan, but I trusted Zahariev to figure it out.

He had spent the day informing Cassius and Gabriel about what we’d overheard at Lisk’s. Their reactions were what I expected: shock and anger.

Cassius was far more reactive, demanding to know what Zahariev was going to do about the betrayal, while Gabriel pointed out the advantage of knowing and quietly planning.

I understood both perspectives. At the end of the day, I wanted whatever ensured Lisk and the patriarchs suffered most, and I hoped this meeting with the Order of theSerpent got us a step closer.

I found Saira sitting beneath the tree, close to where we had left the tunnel. Or at least I saw her foot. She’d planted herself on the opposite side, facing the ocean. I didn’t really blame her. The view was better, but fuck.

“You could have at least watched for me and met me halfway,” I huffed as I approached.

I expected some catty reply, but when she didn’t say a word, the hair on the back of my neck stood up.

Maybe she’d fallen asleep.

Still, I took out my phone and flashed it in Zahariev’s direction to alert him before making a wide arc around the trunk, eyes darting into the dark.

“Saira?” I said, using the pale light from my phone to illuminate her.

She sat with her hands in her lap, her chin against her chest, too still to be breathing.

“Fuck.”

I reached for my gun just as someone barreled into me from behind, their arms banding around my chest as they attempted to drag me away.

“Get off!” I yelled, dropping my weight and sliding out of my attacker’s grip. From the ground, I pivoted and slammed my foot into his legs when someone else grabbed a fistful of my hair.

I cried out, reaching for his arms to ease the sting, but found his head was actually close to mine, so I dug my nails into his face.

“Fucking hell!” The man released my hair and tried to restrain my arms. “Grab her legs, goddammit.”