Page 161 of Shadowblood Souls: The Complete Series

I need to find out what I can about Clancy’s plans so far and see if I can direct him down a path that would benefit us. I can tell him that I found out something useful from Riva—that’ll get his attention and kick off the conversation.

My clothes are still damp in the warm air, but it’ll sell my story better if I go straight to him rather than stopping to change. Convince him it’s important.

When I reach his office, a sense of keyed-up tension flows right through the door to me alongside with the hasty ruffling of papers. Something’s already happened.

“Clancy?” I say with a knock.

“Come in.”

His voice is curt. I step into the office to find him jabbing at the keys on his laptop while he stands over his desk, his face rigid.

I need to exercise plenty of self-control even seeing him in his regular moods these days. Keeping a tight rein on the flares of resentment and anger his presence provokes.

He lied to me, hid things from me. Tricked me into dragging the people I care most about in the world into this mess. Stole our chance at freedom from us.

He didn’t even let me keep Lua. She ran off into the jungle, unnerved by the fighting, and Clancy forced me to march onto the helicopter before I could call her back.

He said he was sorry, but he didn’t feel it. Not about anything.

I wasn’t prepared for this level of agitation from him, though. My chest tightens. “What’s going on?”

Clancy doesn’t even look at me. “I got the call five minutes ago. The insurgents have invaded another village. My clients want us there ASAP.” He grimaces at his laptop screen. “There are more of the fighters than usual—it’s a bigger village. For us to overwhelm them without too many casualties…”

Inspiration hits me with Riva’s steady voice carrying from the back of my mind. It’s only worth it if it’s all of us.

I approach the desk. “You were planning on going in with just a few of the Firsts, right?”

The red-haired man shoots me a narrow look. “I can’t risk bringing all of them. Especially not after the stunt they just pulled. You know that.”

I shrug. “I know they’ve realized how hopeless trying to escape is. And the six of us do have the strongest abilities by far. It’d go much smoother with all of us helping, along with however many of the younger shadowbloods you think could pitch in effectively.”

I was trying to keep my tone cool and practical, as if I’m being totally logical about my suggestion, but a tremor of skepticism—maybe even suspicion—weaves through Clancy’s whirl of emotions.

“Or they could screw me over,” he snaps, and turns back to his computer.

I grope for a way to make the tactic easier for him to swallow.

“They wouldn’t all need to be in the field.

You could keep Dominic back wherever you’ll be monitoring the mission from—and maybe Andreas too?

Just use his invisibility to scope out the scene before you send the others in.

They’ll be on hand if necessary, but having them right there, where you could put pressure on them if the others act out—that’d make for plenty of motivation to comply. ”

Clancy looks up at me again. “Did Riva ask you to push for this?”

Shit. How have I already started to lose the foothold I managed to gain with him.

“No,” I say quickly. “We didn’t talk about the possible mission at all. I only thought?—”

I hesitate, feeling his wariness expand through the rest of his presence. My stomach lurches.

He isn’t going to simply listen to me. The only chance I have of swaying him… is if I really sway him.

I haven’t dared to use my powers on Clancy yet. I’ve been too afraid he might notice.

And now, after drawing my friends into his traps in the mainland facility, after compelling Celine to her violent death, even thinking about warping anyone’s emotions fills my gut with nausea.

With every moment I waver, I’m losing ground with him. I was willing to die to see the others free—I have to do this.

I put on a calm expression and extend the slightest tendril of concentrated emotion toward the man in front of me. A thread of hope laced with faith.

You see a way through in the things I’m saying. You know I wouldn’t lead you astray.

My stomach keeps churning, but I manage to keep my voice even.

“I understand why you’re worried about keeping the Firsts together.

But I think you’re letting your fears cloud your better judgment.

They wouldn’t even be together or in contact with each other.

Just somewhat nearby. And you could have at least two of them ready to be punished the second any of the others steps out of line, more easily than if you left some back here. ”

Clancy pauses. He is afraid, but it’s a desperate sort of fear, like Andreas guessed from his memories.

He needs a victory. He wants to see a clear way to get it.

His suspicious vibe has faded but not vanished. I inhale slowly and apply a fraction more pressure to my imposing emotions.

“You could bring along a bunch of the kids too. Not just ones who can help, but the less useful ones who were part of the escape. The Firsts feel particularly protective of them. You’ll have the perfect means to ensure they follow your orders to the letter.”

Riva wants to get as many of the younger shadowbloods out as she can too, after all.

Clancy’s shoulders relax just a smidge. He rubs his chin, the conflicting tensions in him starting to unwind.

“You might have a point there, Griffin. There’s something to be said for a more immediate pressure point. And plenty of motivation.”

“Exactly.” I aim another smile at him and pray to whatever gods might exist that I’ve just opened a new doorway to freedom—not to our destruction.