Page 154 of Killaney Fire

"Nicolae Ionescu had a plan. A fucked-up one."

My throat tightens. "What kind of plan?"

"The kind where Octavian was ordered to let you be taken so he could track you, kill the Phantom King, and emerge as a hero."

My mind reels, grasping for the version of Octavian who pulled me out of that explosion, who wiped blood off my lip like I was something sacred. Trying to believe that man could coexist with this one.

"What?" I ask confused.

"Essentially, he wanted Octavian's takedown of the Phantom King to be used as leverage for an alliance with Enzo, Ares, and me, so he could finally get his foothold in the U.S."

My voice shakes. "And Octavian just—" I stop and toss my hands up. "Went along with it?"

Callum pauses, watching me.

His jaw tightens. "At first. But there's more. The real reason he agreed is because Nicolae holds a secret about Octavian's mother, whose name is Maria."

"What kind of leverage?"

Callum shakes his head. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it's bad enough that Octavian would do any of this."

I swallow hard. "Okay. You said 'at first.' What does that mean?"

"It means something changed."

"Yeah, I know, but what?"

He looks me dead in the eye. "You."

I shake my head. "What do you mean, me?"

He pauses for a moment. "I went and spoke to him."

I shoot up from the bed. "You what?"

"I needed to hear it from him. And I did."

I pace a few steps before turning back. "And?"

"And," he stops and rubs his chin, "I've come to a conclusion."

"Which is?"

"This is your call, Keira."

I stare at him, confused. "What do you mean, my call?"

"If he lives or dies. It's your decision."

My stomach drops.

"What?! Why me?" My voice cracks. "What about you? Or Declan?"

Callum sighs. "Declan's your twin. He'd kill a blind man for looking at you wrong before realizing the guy can't see." He pause and smirks. "Me? Dad taught me to understand first, then act. And right now, I understand."

I sit back down on the bed.

"What do you understand?"