Fearful (The Powerless Trilogy #3.5)

by Lauren Roberts

It looks as though she has been exercising. What an unappealing use of life.

“It is not difficult to know more than men.”

“Is that why you are awake? To spend more time with yourself?”

“Of course you would feel that way.” There is a sharp edge to her voice. “You are practically an Ordinary yourself.” “Fine,” the Imperial admits. “I may be next to Ordinary, but you’re the one who is trapped in this room, powerless.”

CLOCK IT

Kai. That is who I do all this for.

My poor lonely baby

“Describe the notes.” “It’s hard to smell anything past the scarf wrapped around my head,” Lenny mumbles. This has Blair scowling. “It doesn’t smell like anything.” “It smells like you.”

Mara is growing rather good at recognizing fear within Kitt, ever since learning of the nightmare that plagues him. But this fear she now senses is nagging, stalking the king in broad daylight. Unlike most, it is not her—Death. But rather, the lack of love from the one person who has seen all of him.

Oh im gonna cry

“Because I have been ordered by the king to guard Blair from any threat,” he says in a shockingly assertive tone. “And that now includes you.”

CLOCK ITTTT

“Oh, yes it does.” The Imperial laughs in disbelief. “It means you care about me, and that is the truth.” “The truth,” Blair says in that patronizing tone, “is that I will snap you in half, gingersnap.” “See, your heart is racing, which makes me think you’re lying—” The Tele launches that purple ball at his face once again (Mara still does not understand where it keeps coming from), effectively shutting him up.

HEEEHEHEHEEH

“It’s not her, necessarily. It’s Kai. I only want Kai, but he wants her. He…” My chest tightens painfully. It’s difficult to breathe, but I spit out the words furiously. “He can’t love her more. This is all for us. I… I need him to choose me.”

What if he hates me for this? What if I fail, and everything I’ve done is for nothing? What if he chooses her?

Like a companion I’ve searched my whole life for, only to find her in Death.

It seems in every instance, in every body, Kai Azer chooses Paedyn Gray.

The Plague is eating away at my mind—don’t take my mind, please—it’s all I have left. Do not take my mind. I blink at the assortment of scribbled words before me. I don’t remember writing them.

Oh m gosh he is so done for

But this Ordinary, as they call those mysteriously untouched by the Plague (Mara would have to ask the trees about that), is not fated for this Azer. Rather, her soul is tethered to his brother. And Kitt’s belongs to Death—eternally.

“No!” Kai cries. “You were supposed to dodge, Kitt!” I prod at the wound, staining my fingers with blood. “I… forgot.” Just as I’ve forgotten everything. My brother catches me when I fall. This is not how I imagined it—dying. The Plague curls up in the corner of my mind, letting me enjoy these last few moments of life. I don’t feel the pain. Not really. This is relief. Death stands over Kai’s shaking shoulders, her pretty face unfeeling. I cling to my fading soul. I am with my brother. I don’t want to be anywhere else.

Paedyn takes her daughter’s hand. “Who are you talking to, Kit?” This name has a smile curling the edges of Death’s lips. It is a bit uninspired, if you ask her.

Thats what IM SAYINGGGGGG

“But I do wonder how you can see me.” “I see you everywhere, Kitt. In every smile, every ripple of water, every blade that I can’t bear to raise.” Kai steps forward, slowly. “And now you’re actually here—”