Everlife

“I...” Deep breath in, out.

I had already tentatively removed Elizabeth from the equation, but I do so with surety now. She’s with her boyfriend, Claus, and she’ll have no desire to leave him. That leaves Orion, Levi, Meredith and Archer. Who’s it going to be?

Loyalty, passion, liberty.

Sow, reap.

There’s a name in my heart. The person I’ve wanted to pick from the beginning. The person I believe will most help this realm. Someone I would have picked already, if my mind hadn’t gotten in the way, obsessing about the consequences of a wrong choice.

Heart and mind might not agree, but I’m done worrying. I’m going to take emotion out of the equation, and let my heart lead the way—the true Troika way.

For better or worse, I announce, “I vote for...Archer Prince.”

chapter six

“The only advice you should heed is your own.”

—Myriad

Ten

Behind me, the Generals give a collective gasp of shock and disappointment. Except for Luciana. With a scream of rage and horror, she falls to her knees. Beyond us, the crowd goes wild, a handful of people cheering, most others booing.

My decision remains unwavering. With Archer at my side, peace between the realms isn’t just a possibility but a probability.

Approval glows in Eron’s eyes, and I’m certain I made the right decision. Relief nearly buckles my knees. But mixed with relief is a tingle of dread. I’m still going to be punished by my haters, aren’t I?

Eron speaks into my mind as clearly as if he’s addressing the entire realm. —Doing what’s right isn’t always supported by those around you. Even the most well-meaning people can stumble into darkness. Show your adversaries the Light, Architect. Show them you are willing to fight for what you believe. Show them you will not back down. You will not cower. That is how you win.—

The reminder jolts me: I’m an Architect. What does that mean, exactly? —Help me.—

A soft laugh. —Not a day goes by that I don’t.—

“The choice has been made. So she has said, so it shall be done.” This time, the Secondking’s words resound throughout the entire city, drowning out every other decibel of noise. “Behold. The Resurrection of Archer Prince.”

A bright Light shines, blinding me. My world goes dark, but only for a second.

As the Light fades, the world comes back into focus. The Secondking is gone. At least, gone according to my eyes. Eyes do not always tell the full story.

Across the dais, a doorway forms from air, as if one layer has been peeled away from another, revealing a whole new world. Through that doorway, I see the fantastical land of the Rest, where a rainbow-colored sky glitters with thousands of stars, dinosaurs roam and peace isn’t a hope but a way of life.

Is this really happening? Will Archer, a boy I’ve missed with every fiber of my being, walk through that doorway and join the living? Will he receive a second chance at Secondlife?

For a moment, one perfect, stolen moment of time, I think I spy the others in that small doorway. Elizabeth, a tall, slender brunette, smiles at me, content. Meredith, a petite blonde, beams at me, as if she’s proud of me. Levi, the tallest, all tanned and chiseled, nods in support.

Tears scald my eyes, threatening to fall. I miss these guys, so, so much. Then Archer steps through the doorway, and my heart stops thudding only to flutter with happiness. He’s as tall as Killian, as packed with muscle, tanned like a surfer and blond with copper eyes. While Killian is raw seduction and rugged aggression, Archer is flawless beauty and tempered steel.

I used to think of the two Laborers as sinner and saint, but I was wrong. Like everyone else, both boys have their strengths and their flaws.

Both deserve the best life has to offer, and both want what’s best for their realm.

They will choose love over war, and love will not let them down.

With unsteady knees, I trip forward, my speed increasing until I’m running. Then I’m throwing myself into Archer’s open arms, hugging him tight. He hugs me right back, and he’s trembling just as violently.

I breathe in his scent—clean cotton warmed by the sun. I love this boy like a brother. Since his death, a piece of my heart has been missing.

Finally he pulls back and shakes me. “Why?” he demands, his English accent slight but noticeable. “I mean, I know why. I just think you should have—”

“No,” I interject, the word little more than a croak. His eyes are different. The same color, just...deeper, wiser, fathomless. “I did what I should have done.”

“The war—”

“I want peace between realms, Bow. You’re going to help me.” The first time we met, his gloriously masculine self was encased in the Shell of a short, pink-haired girl he’d called Bow. The nickname stuck. “I need to catch you up on everything that’s happened.”

“No need. I caught myself up before the Vote. We all did. We watched playbacks of your life in the Rest.”

“So you know I’m an Architect.” Just saying the word gives me pause. I clear my throat. “And that I’m kind of a married woman now. Oh, and that I also expect you to help save my husband.” I drop each point all casual like, as if, hey, no big deal. Meanwhile my brain is shouting huge deals!

“Yes. On both counts. I knew about the promotion before you did.” As he leans down, his eyes narrow. With his mouth at my ear, he whispers, “I also know your husband is here, in Troika, and I’d like five minutes alone with him—and a baseball bat.”

I straighten with a jolt. “Do you know where he is, exactly?” When he doesn’t respond right away, I grip his shoulders to shake him. He’s wider than I remember, and more solid. But he’s also weaker, the forced movements causing him to stumble. Ugh.

“Well, do you?” I ask, dropping my arms to my sides. Mental note: Archer has just come back from the dead. He might not be in tip-top shape yet.

“No. I tried to find him, but he’s been expertly hidden.”

Zero!

Frowning, I say, “Why do you want to hurt him? I thought you two were getting along before your death.”

“Hey!” someone shouts, drowning out Archer’s reply. “What’s wrong with our Conduit? Where is her Light?”

—Tenley.—

Killian’s voice suddenly rings inside my head. I jolt, air hissing between my teeth.

“What?” Archer demands.

I hold up one finger, asking for a moment.

I attempt to push my voice at Killian. —Can you hear me? Are you all right? Do you know where you are?—The words glide along the bridge between our Grids. At the same time, my shadows writhe all over again, paining me. No, not my shadows. I won’t claim them. The shadows.

The question I most want to ask, but don’t? Do you remember me?

—I need you. Find me, baby.—

Baby? The same non-endearment he used with Erica? My stomach twists into a thousand little knots, each leaking acid. He never calls me baby, a generic nickname any guy can use with any girl—as he’s proven. What’s more, my Killian never gently, tenderly asks me to find him. He demands I get my butt in gear but also stay safe.

So. Unasked question answered. No, he doesn’t remember me. Now I wonder... Is he hoping to seduce me with this baby crap? Once upon a time, he had a routine he used on every target Myriad assigned to him.

Welcome to my web, said the spider to the fly.

What does Killian hope to gain from this?

The words he spoke to me after our bonding rumble inside my head. Why aren’t you dead?

My stomach does that horrible twisting thing. Does he still want to kill me?

No matter. Whatever his goal, I’ll deal. —I’m on my way.—Once again, for better or worse.

Disappointment chills me when one second bleeds into another, and there’s no response.

“All right. I’ve given you enough time. Tell me what’s going on,” Archer says. “Wait. Never mind. Let’s put a pin in that topic of conversation. Why do the Generals look like they want to murder you?”

“You know I decided who would be Resurrected, right? Half the crowd wanted me to choose Orion, the other half wanted me to choose Levi.”

“They were using common sense,” he mutters.

Man, I’m taking hit after hit today. I could really use your help, Eron.

Luciana leaps to her feet and closes the distance between us. Shamus keeps pace at her side, menace in their every step. Alejandro stops Shamus, but no one makes a play for Luciana.

Either her rage fuels the crowd, or the booers feed off each other, growing more incensed by the second. Soon, they’re going to lose control and rush the dais.

Eron’s words play through my head, and I receive a boost of strength. Show them you are willing to fight for what you believe. Just because you can’t see me, doesn’t mean I’m not there.

“Do we not prize wisdom over emotion?” I call. “Allowing our feelings to direct us will only lead to mistakes.”

Aggression levels spike. Tension thickens the air.

A suspicion lurks... What if I’m responsible for their upset? Not because of the vote, but because the shadows found a way into the Grid?

Raanan, Reed and Clay leap onto the dais to form a protective circle around Archer and me. I hate that they’re in danger, and I do my best to protect them with a beam of Light. Once, I could have used a single beam to carry us to safety. But no longer. Ugh! What little Light I have remains trapped inside me, held hostage by the shadows.

“What should we do?” Clay’s eyes are wild as the crowd stalks closer. “How do we get out of here?”

Good question. Logic failed. I’ve got one other card to play. My exalted position. “Everyone—calm down and be still,” I shout. A command from a Conduit. “Now.”

I’m ignored, the crowds continuing to surge toward us.

“I sent Clementine to the Eye,” Raanan says. He palms two short swords. “If we can keep everyone offstage for three minutes, eighteen seconds, she can get a lock on us and transport us into another city.”

“First, put your weapons away.” We can’t hurt our own people.

Um, we might have to hurt our own people.

The first wave of protestors begin to climb onto the dais.

Oh, wow! The first line is knocked to the ground as a pack of animals leaps forward. A pit bull is at the helm. The one I saw patrolling the area just beyond the Veil of Wings. He still looks like he’s smiling.

“We go now.” His nails click-clack against the dais as he prowls inside the circle. “We go to safety.”

He’s talking to me? “Take my friends to safety. I need to find—”

“Your man. I know.” His dark eyes fill with...admiration? “I also know where he is being held. Had one of my pups follow General Shamus. So we go now?”

“Yes, yes. We’ll go now.”

“Flankers!” he shouts.

In seconds, the pack of dogs, wolves, lions and tigers surrounds us, blocking everyone, including Luciana.

“What the—the animals are helping you now?” Archer gasps out.

“Maybe?” Or we’re about to be mauled. “Eron assigned everyone a guardian.”

“Hop on,” the pit bull says.

Whoa. “Hop on to you?”

“No, silly hooman. Les cavaliers.”

Even as he speaks, a pack of zebras fights through the crowd and jumps on the dais. Six zebras, to be exact.

Six. Three letters. 3 + 3 = 6. Black-and-white beauties, wild yet tame.

“Pony express to the rescue?” Archer mumbles as he mounts the zebra closest to him. “Okay. I’m game.”

Raanan, Clay and Reed each mount a zebra of their own. I’m the only one to hesitate. I’ve ridden a horse—once—but not bareback. Maybe I should—

Zero! Second-guessing this plan of action costs me. The zebras race forward, leaving me behind.

“Wait!” I call.

“I’ve got you.” Archer turns his zebra around, comes up beside me, and hauls me up.

We jump from the dais. The gasping crowd parts, allowing us to land without causing or sustaining injury. The crowd continues to part as we gallop away. No one wants to be mowed down.

Wind in my hair, a friend at my back. What a rescue! In front of us, Clay, Reed and Raanan are sitting atop zebras of their own. One after the other, we blaze through a Stairwell, then a Gate and end up in the Tower of Might, where destruction from the recent attack is rampant.

One of the riderless zebras turns and enters the Gate we just exited.

—I’m on my way, Killian.—

I wait, tense, but no response comes in. Did something happen to him?

The dog keeps pace beside us. “Message your Clementine, tell her to hide us in the Eye. The one who left us, he is erasing our tracks.”

“First things first. Why are you helping us?” Archer asks.

I don’t need a reason. I obey, sending the requested message.

The dog’s tongue is hanging out as he pants, and yet, he looks like he’s smiling again. “The girl. Number ten who should be number one. I’m her guardian.”

He’s mine? Truly?

His gaze flicks to me. “You’re overwhelmed, I know. You accept me. I get it. No need to gush.”

I’m the one smiling this time. “Maybe I can gush a little? It’s clear I got the best of the bunch.”

He preens. “You did, didn’t you?”

“No question,” I say. “What is your name? And how did you get all these other animals to aid us?”

“I’m Biscuit.” He flashes his teeth in the most mischievous expression I’ve ever beheld. “The others volunteered. That’ll teach the citizens to reject us.”

Yes. Yes, it would. “Is it rude of me to ask about your breed? I’m guessing pit bull, but I want to be sure.”

“Why?” he snaps. “So you can tell me I’m too dangerous and—”

“So I can wear the right I heart my dog T-shirt.”

He snorts. “I sneaked a smell of your butt when you weren’t looking, so we’re past rude, I’m thinking. I’m a mutt. A mix of everything, but mostly pit bull, shitzu and...poodle.” He grumbles the last, as if it’s a shameful secret.

I press my lips together. Do not laugh. “Poodles are the worst of the worst, huh?”

He snaps his teeth at me, and I can’t stop my laugh this time.

“I’m foaming at the mouth with envy right now,” Archer says, and I swear he’s almost pouting. “I want a guardian animal.”

“You have one,” Biscuit says. “She’s waiting for you at our destination, guarding the Myriadian.”

He rubs his hands together with glee. “What is she? A bear? Lion? Cheetah?”

“No, she’s worse. Her name is Beast.”

My dog—mine!—says no more, but no other words are needed. Archer is vibrating with eagerness.

As we whiz past a pile of rubble, my amusement fades, and sadness swells inside of me. All this debris... How many citizens did we lose? At least I can stop wondering about Nico. He may hate me, for whatever reason, but at least I know he isn’t trapped.

I also ache for the realm itself. The Tower of Might used to be a treasure trove of skyscrapers and arenas. A blend of futuristic and ancient Rome.

General Levi Nanne trained me in this city. He taught me how to enter and remain inside a Shell, which is a lot more difficult than it looks. He forced me to run for hours at a time, building my stamina. Mostly, he showed me that it’s okay to ask for help. Knowing your limits doesn’t make you weak—it makes you wise. And here...here is where Killian saved my life.

Myriad armies surrounded the realm, their shadows obscuring our outer Light. Victor—Archer’s younger brother—lured me here in order to kill me. If Killian hadn’t fought his own men outside the realm, allowing a beam of Light to shine through, strengthening me, Victor would have succeeded.

Poor Archer. He must know about his baby bro, and oh, it must hurt.

“Archer—” I begin.

“Tell me about Killian,” he demands. “About the bond.”

I’d say I can’t catch a break, but I’m currently on the back of a zebra, escaping an enraged mob. “I thought you knew everything already. And what’s your new beef with him? I asked before, but you never got a chance to answer.”

“I learned some things while I was in the Rest. Things he did to hurt others.”

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