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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ENDER

“We’re landing,” I say as I nudge the man who is still dead asleep. How the hell could he sleep so soundly surrounded by people he doesn’t know or trust?

“Already?” Mads asks as he sits up and stretches. “When did any of that happen? I slept so well. You’re a pretty fine pillow, if I might say so.”

I just grunt and look down at the phone the old guy had chucked at us. “Finn has asked us to stay on the plane until everyone is off, then they’re going to get us from the runway in case things are being watched.”

“Ooh, sneaky. I like it.”

“You haven’t told anyone we’re here, right?” I ask. “Not even your boss?”

“Nope. Not a soul. I’ve been quiet and well behaved. I should get a gold star and very much would like you to be the one to give it to me.”

I raise an eyebrow, not quite sure what all of that means.

We watch the people head out, and I really wish they’d hurry up.

I’ve never seen such slow people in my life.

Do they just want to live here? But once they’re finally out, I rush after them, thrilled to be free of this small plane that made me feel uneasy.

Once outside of the plane, the attendant waves us over to the door which they open to reveal Marcus, Finn, Claude, and Alexei at the bottom.

“Welcome home,” Finn says.

Alexei tsks, seeming disappointed I’ve returned.

“We have a vehicle over here, and we’re going to take you directly to Orin’s where you’re going to tell us everything. And then we’ll go from there, understood?”

“Very much,” I say.

I start down the steps a second before I see someone else walking toward us. It’s the lady from the picture that Finn sent me. I don’t recognize her and had told him as much, but he never told me she was coming.

Marcus whips around. “Did we invite the council? How did you even know we were here?”

“One of the people who was taken is my own, is he not? He’s under my care. Mads, come along.”

That voice… that fucking voice. I recognize it. I didn’t recognize her face, but I know that voice.

I put an arm up, shoving Mads behind me. “You’re not taking him anywhere,” I say as I slowly walk down the steps toward her. “I know that you work for Abel. I recognize your voice.”

Her expression hardens and she refuses to meet my eyes. “I… will admit that I once worked for him, but that was many years ago. I no longer see eye to eye with him.”

“I remember you. I remember that you had human slaves you treated worse than animals. Abel gave you someone special to me. You remember her? You remember me? We never met face to face, though, did we?”

She takes a step back. “I am different now.”

“Vivian, please leave the premises. I don’t know who permitted you entry, but we’d like you to leave. I’m not sure why the council thinks it’s their right to butt into everything,” Finn says. “Mads and Ender will be going with us. I would like to have a discussion with you when we’re done.”

“I refuse to let you take Mads,” she snarls, but she should know better than to snap at Finn when Marcus is around.

Marcus’s aura immediately becomes suppressing. “Don’t you dare speak to him that way.”

But Vivian holds her ground. “Mads is going with me.”

“How about letting me decide where I go? That could be fun,” Mads says. “Delightful, even.”

Vivian waves toward him. “Mads, let’s go.”

“Vivian, tensions are high. I’m going to go with them and explain to them what’s happening because it’s their job to keep us safe. Once we’re done, I’ll meet with you.”

“You’re coming with me now ,” she demands.

Mads’s brow furrows. “Vivian, maybe if you act a bit more… civil, you can go with us, and we can all explain what’s going on.”

“I’m explaining nothing to a group of insignificant vampires who have absolutely no idea what they’re sticking their nose into. I have information on where Grady is. Let’s go.”

That piques Mads’s interest. “You know where he is?”

“Let’s go. I don’t have time for this.”

Mads looks over at me. “Let me get Grady, and then I’ll be back.”

“If you leave with that woman, don’t ever come back,” I say as I start toward Finn and Marcus. Everyone should just reward me for not ripping her fucking head off.

“But she knows where Grady is.”

“Yeah? She also drained and killed my sister-in-law because she ‘cried too much.’ I think that’s what you said, wasn’t it?” I ask Vivian. “Because she cried too much, begging to know what happened to her child you ripped her away from.”

“You act like you didn’t kill people,” she snaps.

“There was a fucking difference,” I snarl. “I was forced to. Were you?”

“I have changed. I really have. You can ask Mads. The guilt over what Abel convinced me to do weighs on me every day. That is why I’m dedicating my life to stopping him.

But first we have to prevent him from getting any more information on how to kill vampires.

Do you understand how horrific it’d be if Abel got access to the way to make that drug?

You’d never even get a chance to fight him.

He’d kill you instantly. I have information that Grady is being transferred.

We know that they will intercept it. The whole reason for the transfer is to give Abel’s men time to take him.

If he’s given to Abel, he’ll know how to make the ammunition and might not need Mads anymore.

He’ll probably make it his goal to kill Mads so the information can’t be passed on to someone like me or the VRC. ”

I still vote we kill her.

Mads seems a bit torn on what to do now. “I really do think we need to find Grady, whether you wish to work with her or not.”

“Let’s go somewhere discreet and speak about all of this,” Finn says. “Let’s go to the VRC.”

“I don’t have time,” Vivian retorts.

“If you want our help, you’ll make time,” Finn says sternly.

The very last place I want to go is somewhere with this woman. Everyone constantly wants me to make changes that suit them, never giving a shit what I have to deal with.

Mads reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Ender, Vivian really has been good to me. It’s very upsetting to hear what she did in the past, but I can honestly tell you that she’s been risking her life again and again to keep me out of Abel’s hands.

She really wants to stop him, and I think that she could play a vital role in this.

I’m not asking you to get along with her or forgive her, but please, hear her out.

I fully understand that what she did is unforgivable.

But if she can lead us closer to getting answers, then just use her for that. ”

My eyes are transfixed by the gentle hand on mine. I stare at it for a long moment before nodding. “Fine.”

I think everyone is shocked that I agree, but Mads is all smiles as he turns to Vivian just before I hear a gunshot.

I drive Mads back as Marcus shoves his group back. Vivian stumbles then looks down where blood blooms across her chest. Her eyes are fixated on it as she staggers back. Quickly, I turn, but from here, I can’t see who shot the gun.

“I’ll find them,” Alexei says, but I block his path.

“The ammunition they’re using would kill you instantly,” I warn him.

“I don’t plan to get shot,” he snarls at me.

When he tries again, I’m faster and stop him. “Most people don’t. The second that bullet hits you, you’re dead.”

“Please,” Mads begs. “Please let’s just get away now. Please. I don’t want you guys to die because of me. Please?”

“We’re falling back now,” Marcus orders.

Vivian staggers before dropping to her knees.

“No, no, no…” Mads says as he moves forward but I tear him back, wondering why the hell they all want to be so reckless. She is definitely not worth risking a life over.

“We don’t know where they’re coming from, and we know that they have a clear shot of where Vivian stands. If what she said is right, you might no longer have the protection you had,” I warn him.

Mads nods as we confirm where we’re going before I rush over to grab Vivian and carry her toward the vehicle Finn is opening up for us.

We all hurry into the large SUV with three rows that fit all of us.

Even so, another shot is never taken. No…

whoever it was wanted to just get rid of Vivian. But why?

She’s shaking as blood dyes her shirt red and her eyes seek out Mads. “Mads… save me… Mads…”

“I don’t have the antidote. Do you? I don’t have anything,” he says apologetically. “Fuck. Fuck.”

She’s grabbing for him desperately, aware that he’s the only chance she has at coming out of this alive.

He pats her down, searching her pockets and anything on her, but he comes up empty.

A sob escapes her as Mads pins a hand over the wound, but I’m not quite sure what he thinks it’ll solve.

She’s going to die because she’s not like me and I don’t think she’s a true vampire.

“What the fuck was that?” Finn asks as Marcus speeds down the road.

“Evidently, someone wanting to keep Vivian quiet,” Marcus says. “We’re going to Orin’s to get Rylee, and then we’re moving these two. With this ammunition being used, we are in over our heads.”

“M-Mads,” she begs, and I can tell it’s tearing Mads apart. He knows he could save her life, but he’s also aware that he doesn’t have time to.

“I’ll save you. We’re getting the antidote now,” he says as he smooths her hair back. She eases when she hears his words. “We’re nearly there. It’ll all be okay. It’ll be okay.”

Her grip loosens before it falls, and she stops moving altogether.

“Fuck…” Mads whispers, and while I was prepared to rip the woman’s head off mere minutes ago, seeing Mads grieve over her doesn’t make me feel good.

“I’m sorry,” I say for some reason. I’m not even sure why.

I’m not sorry she’s dead. She might have sworn she’d changed, but the person I knew, the woman I heard outside of that darkness, was a monster.

Can time really fix everything? Especially those who suffered because of it?

And if it can, what does that mean for me?

“Thanks,” Mads says. “Fuck… this is all my fault.”

“That’s like saying what I did was my fault too,” I tell him.

“Of course it’s not. You had no choice. I had a fucking choice,” Mads says. “I chose to do this. I chose to trust Grady. And this is where it’s gotten me.”