Kohl didn't see me right away, and I took advantage of the moment, feeling for pockets of energy in the room, much like I used to search for echoes. The echoes were mostly faint, except for one very strong one hovering around Kohl's body, which was odd because I rarely pulled anything off people. Not even their clothes, always assuming it had something to do with the present energy around them blocking me from any lingering presence that survived the regular cleaning most clothes received. But maybe that was changing now that I could distinguish between echoes and other energy.

None of it mattered at this moment. Though I found areas of useable energy, none of them were very strong since much of the material in the room was fabricated and had never been living, and I was still drained from my injury and attack on Jac. This was the time I would have typically jumped Jac for a reviving quickie, but that was off the table for a dozen different reasons—one of them being a very attractive, scary half beast man that better be alive and well.

"Hello, Bria," Kohl said, finally catching sight of me as his eyes swept the room, or perhaps he scented me. His nostrils flared as he entered the house completely and slammed the door behind him. "I see you have your little friend here, too. "

June remained hidden in the kitchen. Definitely smelled me. It took effort not to sniff my armpits to make sure I didn't stink.

"Actually, we were just leaving. Cian is waiting for me."

He chuckled. It was a dark, dangerous sound that made the hair on the back of my neck raise. "I didn't know dead men could wait on anyone."

The world tipped sideways, and I braced myself against the wall to keep from toppling over. June jumped up, hooking an arm around my waist just before my knees buckled, and she glared at Kohl with so much fury it was a wonder he didn't combust.

"Oh, I had hoped you hadn't lost your spark," he crooned, devouring her from top to bottom with his eyes. "There's no need for you to get hurt. This is between me and the Shard Bearer."

Their exchange came through in muffled waves. Like I was under water. Even my lungs behaved like I was drowning, refusing to inflate fully no matter how much air I gulped down.

Cian couldn't be dead. He was too strong. Too brave. Too fucking caring for his own good. I placed my hands over my heart as if to hold it in my chest as it pounded wildly out of rhythm, and in my head, something else stirred. Another person's grief mingled with mine.

"You're lying," I panted at last, struck by the sudden realization Cian couldn't be dead. Or maybe it was a delusion. Either way, I held onto the belief like a lifeline, dragging myself from the dark panic that had frozen me in place.

Kohl snarled. "He was trying to find you after these humans took you, and without your altered scent—still curious about that, by the way—I could find him. I knew he would fail to bring you in. He's always been too soft to do what needed to be done."

The glass bulb covering on the ceiling fan shattered, reining sharp debris over the Andarien. June and I shared a look, and I nodded grimly, confirming it was me who'd done it. It was like the rage inside me bubbled over... if only I had exploded his head instead of the glass.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," he hissed, brushing glass from his shoulders. Energy pooled around his extended hand, and a sword materialized. A dark echo clung to every inch of the blade, more foul than the one in Molly's house, and that strange visitor in my head nudged me toward it.

"I'm gonna need a little more detail than that," I said, edging away from June and walking behind the cheap beige sofa. Two Kohls appeared, then merged back to one as the ache in my head intensified.

"Easy way you come with me. The hard way is I kill you and get the Shard, anyway."

"False. Cian," I said, choking on his name, "told me you need me alive. So, I'm opting for the only way, I guess."

Kohl's wings sprung out, knocking a lamp off a side table. "Man gets his dick wet and suddenly starts talking about things he shouldn't be talking about."

"Is that why you're so grumpy? Because you can't find anyone willing to end your drought?" I spied June moving in the opposite direction, falling in line with my plan. It was a very dumb plan, but it was the only one I had right now.

"Don't worry. Once the Shard is complete, I'll have access to that tight little body anytime I want it."

Fuck that. If staying alive hadn't been motivation enough, keeping Kohl from having his way with my body after I was gone was plenty. Nodding at June, she lunged at the Andarien, the fangs she usually hid on full display as she landed on his back. Before he could scream, she sank them into the vein pulsing in his neck, while I dipped under his arm and knocked the sword from his hand.

He roared in outrage, and I didn't look behind me, afraid it would distract me and I would try to save June if I saw them fighting. Plus, now that I was closer to the sword, my nerve faltered.

"Do it, Bria," I hissed, pulling off a glove. Closing my eyes, I placed my bare hand on the blade, and the world around me faded completely.

I was in the forest from the dream at the safe house, but this time I wasn't the girl. Kohl stood behind a tree, safe in the shadows, while she stopped to breathe. His fist tightened around the hilt of my sword, and then the world went dark as he closed his eyes, dragging in a deep breath.

"Bellamy," he whispered before stepping into her line of vision.