Oberon Reformatory Book Three: Final Offense Page 10

  I breathe a sigh of relief as the words flow through my lips. Several gasps of surprise meet my ears, followed by rapid fire questions. Does he know who I am? Will he try to lock me up, too? How are we going to hide Robbie from him? What’s the plan?

  I wait until the fervor starts to die down, then hold up a hand. When everyone falls silent, I retake Robbie’s hands and speak.

  “Echo is using this prison as a training ground for his very own army. He needs the strongest, most talented faeries, but he wants them young enough to appear innocent and not be suspected of foul play.”

  “For what purpose?” Robbie asks, her face paling as if she’s figured it out.

  “To defeat our family and take the throne for himself. He wants to return things to the way they were before Mom defeated Sebille, and she and Dad started trying to unite the world.”

  You could hear a pin drop as everyone absorbs this new information. I can barely contain my excitement over the fact that I found a way to tell them, but that excitement quickly snuffs out at the horror on everyone’s faces.

  “He wants to use us to bring down the monarchy?” Acadia asks, as if she’s sure she must have misunderstood me.

  “That’s right,” I confirm. “With me leading the charge.”

  “What are we going to do?” Robbie asks. “We have to stop him.”

  I’m shaking my head before she even finishes. “We don’t have to do anything except get this information to Great-grandpa Robin. Once he knows Echo’s plan, he can take care of it.”

  “But…how?” she asks.

  “Jax,” I say, my voice firm. “I’ll tell him we need to speak with Puck, and he’ll get him here. Then, together, we can tell him everything.”

  I squeeze her hands for emphasis, and she nods. When I release my grip and cut off the contact, the others’ faces screw up with confusion.

  “Weren’t you going to tell us something?” Lark asks. “What are you waiting for?”

  “What?” I chirp, panic lacing through me. “I just told you everything.”

  She shakes her head, and as my gaze moves to Asher, he frowns. Cedric, Jolene, and Acadia just look confused. I turn my focus to Robbie, and she stares back at me anxiously.

  “It must be the magic,” she says. “They’ve already forgotten everything.”

  “But you haven’t?” I ask, and she shakes her head. She remembers everything.

  “What are you talking about?” Asher demands. “You haven’t told us anything.”

  Robbie holds out her hands to me, and I take them. Gasps ring out around us, and Asher mumbles a curse.

  “Oh, my God,” Lark mutters. “As soon as you two broke your connection, everything went blank. Now that you’re touching again, it all came rushing back.”

  “How’s this going to work, Finley?” Robbie asks in a small voice. “We can’t hold hands forever.”

  “I don’t know,” I reply, suddenly feeling exhausted. “But we’ll figure this out.”

  “Just don’t let go until we’re done here,” Jolene suggests. “We need to figure out what to do with April and Cassie.”

  I look over at Cassie, who has a strange mix of fear and determination on her young face. She nods, telling me without words that she trusts me and my friends, and will go along with whatever we suggest. My anxiety ratchets up a few notches. She’s counting on me. They all are.

  I can’t screw this up.

  I take a deep breath and let it out slowly before saying, “We have to act fast. If Echo hasn’t realized these two are missing, he will soon, and there will be no place to hide. Glamour will only go so far. While it might fool the naked eye, there’s no fooling the cameras.”

  And I have no doubt he’ll use those devices to cover every nook and cranny of this place until he finds them.

  “That, and he’s going to immediately suspect you,” Robbie adds, giving me a pointed look as she tightens her grip on my fingers. “You’re the only inmate here with access to magic. At least, as far as the headmaster knows.”

  “He could think it was a guard…” I start, but my words trail off when I realize how unlikely that scenario is.

  Echo’s guards have all worked here for years. No. When he realizes two of his prisoners are missing from solitary, he’s going to assume it was me. I’m the only new variable that makes any sense.

  “We have to act fast,” I say, looking at each of the faces around me.

  It humbles me, seeing the determination and eagerness emanating from all of them. This whole experience may have started from the stuff of nightmares, but I’ve gained so much that I can’t bring myself to be sorry.

  I was more a prisoner of my old life than I am now, stuck in actual prison. Sure, I have my family, but there’s no denying the power of real friendship. Of loyalty and laughter. Of knowing these faeries care about me, and who my parents are doesn’t matter nearly as much as who I am.

  My eyes drift to Asher’s face. His intense blue gaze spears me straight through the heart. This boy, who wanted so badly to hate me, fell in love with Rory Finley and doesn’t give a crap that I’m Finley Oberon. He loves me for me and has no ambitions of becoming king.

  Oh, hold up a minute there, Finley.

  I blink and look away from him, my cheeks heating. Was I just thinking about marriage? We’re much too young for that…even if my parents got married when they were around my age. The Fae marry for life. There’s no such thing as faery divorce, and once that bond is made, only death can part those who are mated. So obviously, most faeries wait until they’re at least a hundred before making that commitment. Both parties involved have to be really sure, because it’s a three to four-hundred year unbreakable vow.

  My eyes move back to Asher, and my heart picks up speed. I know I’m young and naïve. He’s my first love, and if I don’t count the human I accidentally killed at that club—and I don’t—he was my first kiss. We came together under the strangest of circumstances, stuck together in a prison neither of us really belongs in. But it doesn’t matter to my heart.

  Deep down inside, I know he’s the one for me. The only one.

  And being free isn’t going to change that. I just hope he feels the same.

  “We need to get to combat training before we’re missed,” Lark says, pulling me out of my thoughts. “One or two of us being absent wouldn’t raise any eyebrows, but all of us? Echo will know something’s up, for sure.”

  “You’re right,” I reply, “but this is where it’s going to get tricky. As soon as Robbie and I release each other, you’re going to forget everything.”

  “I know,” Robbie exclaims, her eyes turning glassy and unfocused as I watch. Suddenly, a stack of paper and several pencils appear on the floor in front of us. “Everyone write down what Rory just told us and hold it in your hand.”

  We wait a few moments while the others scribble across their papers. When everyone finishes, I look at Robbie and she nods. We release hands, and our friends expressions immediately morph from determined to confused.

  “Read what you wrote,” Robbie says, giving them each an encouraging nod.

  As I watch, several sets of eyes widen before shooting up to meet my gaze. I look at Robbie and give her a small smile. This was a great idea.

  “I don’t know how quickly the magic in these walls will make you forget what you just read, or if reading it, rather than hearing it will make a difference,” I say, my eyes scanning each of them. “Put those notes in your pocket. If you do forget, each time you read it, you’ll be reminded. We need to go to training and try to rally the others. If we’re going to defeat Echo and those loyal to him, we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

  “Wait,” Robbie says, holding out a hand in front of her as she closes her eyes. “I have an idea.”

  A basket appears from nowhere, the handle clenched firmly in her grip. As we all watch, the basket fills with chocolate bars, each one wrapped in a paper printed with a familiar black logo. They look like she walked into a store and bought them.

  “Here,” she says, handing me the basket when she’s finished conjuring the sweets. “Hand these out. Echo will think you’re reinforcing your Glamour in accordance with his plans, but…”

  Her words trail off as she plucks a bar from the basket and rips it open. Printed into the chocolate, itself, are the words, “Meet in the common room after dinner.”

  “You think they’ll all come?” I ask, arching a brow at her.

  “Of course, they will. They already trust you. If they see this message, they’ll come. We just have to figure out how to stop Echo from finding out and spying with his cameras.”

  “I’ll talk to Jax,” I say, nodding. “Thanks, Robbie.”

  “Cassie and I need somewhere to hide,” she says with a nod at my thanks. “Lark’s room is too obvious, after all the public affection we’ve been showing each other.”

  “You should get out of here,” I say. “Take Cassie with you. Go to Mom and Dad and tell them everything.”

  “Finley, no,” Robbie says, her expression turning mulish. “I’m not leaving here without you.”

  “Go to my room,” Acadia says, cutting off any further argument.

  “That could work,” I say, sighing as I walk to the door. I know my sister. She’s not going to leave.

  Poking my head out, I expand my senses to feel out any Glamour in the hall. Finding none, I look back at my sister and Cassie.

  “It’s all clear. Run to Acadia’s room and hide under the bed. Make sure no part of you is visible from the ceiling, which is where any camera would appear if Echo starts searching the prison. I’ll come get you as soon as I can.”

  I give them each a hug before they leave, sprinting down the hall hand-in-hand. When they turn a co
rner and disappear from sight, I look back at the others.

  “Ready?” I ask the room at large.

  “Ready,” they each repeat back to me, matching looks of determination on their faces.

  “Okay. Let’s do this.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Come and get it.”

  I smile at Asher’s words as he waves me forward and drops into a defensive stance. Chase had paired us together after admonishing our group for trailing in late. We didn’t even pretend to not be together. The time for pretenses was nearly over, anyway.

  Tonight, we take the prison and bring Echo down.

  Jax stood just inside the gym doors, keeping an eye on the inmates. I’d quickly conjured two notes and slipped them to him—one asking him to disable the cameras in the common room after dinner, the other begging him to bring Puck here as soon as possible. I’d have to speak quickly once the inmates all gathered there, because the lack of surveillance wouldn’t be missed for long.

  The timing had to be perfect, and I would only have a few minutes, at most, to convince everyone to rise up against Echo.

  But right now, I need to focus on the hot faery in front of me. Asher is waiting for me to attack, and since this is a physical combat session and the inmates’ bracelets have not been deactivated, I have to refrain from using my magic. Or at least, make it unnoticeable to the casual observer.

  With that thought, I launch myself at Asher, hoping I can take him down without resorting to cheating. I wrap my arms around his waist and drive my shoulder into his gut, digging my feet in and pushing as hard as I can.

  I squeal with surprise as he topples over, and I land with a grunt on top of him. Before I can gloat, he hugs me to his chest and rolls. I find myself on the mats, his heavy weight igniting sparks inside me I have no business feeling at the moment.

  He must sense my excitement, because a fire sparks in his eyes and he looks for all the world like he’s going to kiss me right here in front of everyone. I can use this. Tamping down my own desire, I let my eyes drop half-closed and dart my tongue out to wet my lips. Asher’s nostrils flare as he inhales sharply, and I know I’ve got him distracted.

  Digging my heels into the mats, I lift my hips and pivot sideways. Surprised, Asher rolls right off of me to land on his back. I quickly straddle him, pinning his hands under my knees while pressing my palms against this shoulders.

  “Yield,” I order, unable to keep the smile from my lips.

  “That was a dirty trick,” he accused, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “All’s fair in love and war,” I smirk. “Now, yield.”

  “Never,” he hisses dramatically before pushing up on my knees as if I weigh nothing.

  Before I know it, he’s upright and tumbling me backwards to once again take the upper position. His hands grip my wrists in a firm, yet gentle hold, pinning them over my head. He brings his face close to mine and stares into my eyes, making my heart beat much too fast.

  “I win,” he whispers, and somehow, I know the words aren’t related to our sparring match.

  Something in his expression, a glint in his eyes, a waver in his voice…all of those things combined tell me that he’s talking about us. That finding me, here in Oberon Reformatory of all places, has been his victory. Falling in love has been the prize.

  I feel the same way. Tears sting my eyes as I mouth, “I love you, Asher York.”

  His smile blinds me before he mouths back, “I love you, Finley Oberon.”

  My heart soars for a moment before panic sets in. My head pivots from left to right, searching for anyone who may be watching us. It’s unlikely anyone could’ve read Asher’s lips to decipher my real name, but I have to make sure, just the same.

  No one seems to be paying us any attention, but my sigh of relief is cut short when I spot a pair of navy blue eyes narrowed on us from the doorway. Tiana Avery shoots a snarl in my direction before spinning and disappearing through the double doors.

  “What do you think she’s up to?” Asher asks as he leaps up and pulls me to my feet.

  “I don’t know, but it can’t be anything good.”

  My nerves are on edge as the common room starts to fill with faeries wearing curious expressions. I’d handed out those chocolate bars after class ended, and it looked like most of the inmates got the message and decided to come.

  I can’t tell them Echo’s master plan without Robbie, and there’s no way I’m pulling her out of hiding to show her face in here. Even though the cameras should be inactive—assuming Jax came through for me—I refuse to risk my sister’s safety like that.

  So, my big plan is to try to initiate a revolution without explaining the truth. Most of the faeries here were incarcerated without just cause. Echo has paid people to set faeries up for crimes they didn’t commit and bribed judges to sentence those faeries to be sent here. And while I can’t tell them why he did that, I think I can convince them they don’t belong here and deserve to be free.

  I’m even prepared to show a little magic if my words aren’t convincing enough.

  As the room continues to fill up, I pull back the Glamour to observe the cameras attached to the ceiling. None appear to be moving. I hope this means Jax has come through, because if he hasn’t, I’m going to have to bust out of here with my sister and come back for the others with an army of my own—my family.

  But I hope it doesn’t actually come to that.

  “Thank you for coming everyone,” I call out, and the room falls silent. I clear my throat once, twice, three times before taking a deep breath and locking eyes with Asher across the room. He nods and smiles, and I feel my confidence strengthen under his belief in me.

  “How many of you feel like you were sentenced to Oberon Reformatory without just cause?”

  All of my friends’ hands shoot into the air. My eyes travel expectantly over the rest of the faces crowded around me, and the room slowly starts to fill with raised hands.

  “That’s what I thought,” I say, nodding. “Most of you are here for petty crimes, some of which you didn’t even commit. Accidents and acts of self-defense make up the rest. Most of us don’t belong here.”

  Heads begin to nod as muttered agreements fill the air around me. I find it hard to stifle my smile, but I manage. This is working, and I need to push forward.

  “I want to go home,” I say. “I want us all to go home. To our families. Our loved ones. Back to our lives.”

  Several inmates clap after those words, and a few cheers ring out. I’m getting them all worked up, priming them for the fight that’s sure to come. Then a voice rings out above the others.

  “But, Rory, how can we do anything with these bracelets? We can’t use our magic. We’re useless,” a Zephyr in the back of the room calls out.

  “We are not useless,” I reply, my voice rising above the others. “We can fight.”

  “It’s not enough,” A Sylph girl calls out.

  Okay. I guess it’s show time.

  Holding out my palm, I call to fire, and a blue flame bursts to life above my hand before racing toward the ceiling and exploding in a shower of sparks.

  “We are not useless,” I repeat.

  “How did you do that?” someone calls out.

  “My bracelet doesn’t work,” I say. “It…malfunctioned.” A lie is better than either truth—that it never worked because of who I am, or that Echo deactivated it because he thought I was working for him. “And I can deactivate all of yours and give you access to your powers.”

  “Well, isn’t that good to know,” a deep voice rings out from the doorway, startling everyone in the room, me included.

  Oh, no. No. No. No.

  Echo marches forward, the crowd parting to clear a path from the door straight to me. He’s not frowning, but he’s not smiling, either. There’s a sort of expectant, maniacal gleam in his gray eyes that scares me more than anything else could.

  “Well, well, well, Miss Finley,” Echo chants as he comes to a stop before me. “Isn’t this an interesting turn of events?”

  “Headmaster…I—”

  “Do not belittle yourself or my intelligence by kowtowing to me or trying to make excuses, Rory. I know what you’re doing, and I know what you’ve done.”