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“What’s John Brown doing here?” Acid flooded my stomach. I glanced at the group Dwivedi had sent with me, wondering how far they’d be willing to go to protect me if this came down to a fight. I suspected it wouldn’t be very far. They didn’t owe me that much.
Bloom craned her neck, searching for John as her eyes filled with dismay. “I don’t know, but it can’t be good.”
“My sentiments exactly.”
Followed by a small troop of soldiers wearing the armor of Moll Grimes’s Forces, John Brown strode from the shadows of a nearby warehouse. Several yards before us, he motioned for the soldiers to stop. Alone, he approached, closing in until he was close enough to reveal his arrogant smile. “The Bliter siblings reunited.” He rested a hand high on his chest and curled his lips into a saccharine smile. “It warms the heart.”
“What do you want, John?” Bloom set her hands on her hips and spread her feet. “The agreement was that I got to meet with Sera without Moll’s interference.”
“I ain’t here to interfere with your meeting. In fact, Moll sent me to make sure you two stay together for a good while longer.”
With his jaw clenched and fists curled, Erik lurched toward John. “Watch yourself, Brown. Moll Grimes has no say over Sera.”
Brown’s face lit up as though he’d won a prize. “Well, hullo there, LeRoux. Ain’t seen you in a while. You got yourself fixed up with these two, have you?” His eyes flashed as a thought passed through his idle brain. “Awfully protective over Sera, ain’tcha? You got designs on her?” Brown clicked his tongue, expressing his disappointment. “What do you think a girl like her is going to do with a ragged scrap of meat like you?”
Erik growled and lunged to strike. I grabbed his shoulder and hauled him back. Who’s the impetuous one now? “That’s right, John. He’s my scrap of meat, and I like him fine that way. So leave him out of this.”
Moll’s chief of security quirked a ginger eyebrow. “Desperate times, eh? I could have done you better, Sera. Ain’t been all chewed up and spat out like that one.”
Rolling my eyes, I sniffed. “Ever look in a mirror, John?”
Bloom stepped between me and John and glowered at him. “If you’re here to take me back, then let’s get going. There’s no need to start trouble with Sera and her friends.”
At that, the group from the College of Kimiyagari shifted forward, their postures menacing as if ready for a fight. John raised a hand, gesturing for them to remain in place. “No need for all that. Moll said to do this clean as possible, and that’s what I intend to do.” He pointed at Dwivedi’s people. “You rabble will back down if you know what’s good for you.” He gestured toward his soldiers. “You ain’t got nothing on twenty of Grimes’s best fighters, and they came with a lot more bullets than you did, I guarantee.”
Bloom bristled, baring her teeth. “What are you up to, John? Making threats like that. Why are you here?”
He executed a gentlemanly bow in my direction. “Ms. Grimes extends her cordial invitation to you, Serendipity Blite, to join your sister in her residence at Mini City.”
I tried to keep my laughter contained, but a mocking snicker leaked out. “Are you serious?”
“Ain’t a laughing matter, Sera. Moll says I’m to escort you back with your sister.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Well, tell her I regretfully decline her invitation.”
Erik stepped closer and put a possessive arm around my waist. For once, I didn’t mind.
“That ain’t an option.” John stepped toward me with an outstretched hand. Before he could clasp it around my arm, Erik drew his pistol and pressed it to the center of John’s forehead. Moll’s troops jumped to action, sliding bolts and shouldering their rifles.
“It looks as though we’ve found ourselves at an impasse,” Erik said. “I’d gladly blow out your brains, John. Even if it means risking my own. My life is forfeit to Sera’s. It always has been.”
For a heartbeat, we all stood poised on the tip of violence. But then I decided to bite the bullet, metaphorically speaking. Curling a hand over the barrel of Erik’s gun, I pushed it away. Moll’s soldiers didn’t relax, though, and I could tell they relished the advantage I’d just given them. Red in the face, jowls quivering, John Brown looked fit to explode.
“What does Moll want with me?” I asked.
John ground the answer between clenched teeth. “She knows about your brush with the unnatural death, and she knows about Dwivedi’s cure.”
“She does?” I glared at Shep, who had stood separate and silent through the entire encounter. “I wonder how she heard about that.”
Shep wouldn’t meet my eyes. Coward.
“Moll wants it,” John said, “and she reckons your boyfriend will be willing to barter all of his magic blood to get you back. If that’s what it takes.”
“Take me, then.” Erik shifted, raising his chin. “Leave Sera and take me. Moll can have all she wants.”
“Huh-uh.” Brown shook his head. “Sera’s the insurance. You want her back? You gotta do like Moll says. You take yourself over to Dwivedi and make as much of that cure as you can. Moll will give your girl back when she’s satisfied.”
“And when is someone like Moll Grimes ever satisfied?” I asked. “What happens if I refuse to go?”
“Moll thought about that.” Brown tapped his temple. “She’s a real thinker, that one.” He pulled his whistle from his waistcoat pocket and gave three short toots. From around the work area, several more men appeared, their rifles carefully trained on Erik, me, and the crew from the College of Kimiyagari. “Snipers,” Brown said. “And these are just the ones you can see. The others put you in their sights the moment you arrived. You won’t get a shot off before they blow Sera’s head from between her ears.” He sucked a tooth. “Now, play nice.”
“Erik, listen to me.” Realizing the futility of fighting, I tugged his arm until he gave me his attention, revealing his fear and resentment for John Brown in his gaze. I also saw his love and concern for me. “He’s got the ace. He wins. For now.”
“No, Sera.” He shook his head. “I’m not letting you go.”
“If you don’t, one of us is going to wind up dead. Probably me, and I’ve already been there and done that. I don’t want to do it again.” Dead by bullet was a lot more permanent, and I was certain Dwivedi had no cure for it. “You almost lost me once—you won’t let it happen again. I know it. Now that I’m resolved to loving you, I’m not willing to risk losing you either.” Taking him by his jaw, I pulled his head close and whispered harshly in his ear. “Don’t you dare do anything that’s going to get you killed. You’re right. I do need you, and I am not going to let it end this way. Please. Play along with this and buy us some time. We’ll think of something.”
Erik rested his forehead against mine, squeezing his eyes shut. “I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t. I promise.” I pressed my lips to his, and he kissed me back. My heart fluttered into my throat, and all I could think was how I wished we could have more time. The sensation was so new, and I hadn’t had nearly long enough to explore it before I had to let it go.
“Sera.” Bloom’s urgency broke us apart. “I’ll talk to Moll. We’ll work something out. I won’t let her do anything to you.”
I kept my eyes pinned on Erik, trying to memorize his face. “It isn’t me I’m worried about.”
Erik kissed me one last time before I gave myself over to John Brown’s clutches.
Stoically, Erik watched as John Brown dragged me away. My last sight was of Dwivedi’s men swarming around Erik, speaking to him with urgent gestures.
Then we turned a corner, and I could see him no more.