Page 190 of Reverie

Once.

Twice.

Again and again until his face is nothing more than bloody pulp.

And then, silence.

Nothing stops The Architect.

Except me.

Winter makes a sound in her throat, and I whirl around and exhale as Marcus removes the tape from her face in a violent jerk.

I rush to her, falling onto my knees as I grasp her cheeks. Talking to Marcus, I say, “You couldn’t tell anyone about the change in plans?”

Marcus slides a blade between Winter’s wrists and the zip tie, and when she’s freed, she wraps her arms around my neck, and I hate myself greatly for the distress I’ve caused her.

“It was either let her be killed or take her with me,” Marcus says with a shrug. “You’re welcome.”

“What did you give her? If she or our baby are hurt?—”

“Calm down, asshole. I gave her a little midazolam. Just enough to knock her out, but it’s not gonna hurt her or your kid. They use it in hospitals for pregnant people and kids all the time.”

I gape at him for a heartbeat.

“Hunter, what the fuck,” Winter slurs, trembling so badly that I pull back from her to make sure she’s not having a seizure.

“No time for lovey-dovey shit. You two need to go ‘cause this place is about to blow.” Marcus helps Winter stand, and I pick her up despite her protests.

“I’ve got your six,” Marcus says, and I take a beat to assess if I can trust him.

I don’t have any choice, do I?

Hefting Winter into a better position, I run back down the corridor to the alcove where I docked the boat.

The control panel of the speed boat blinks, a notification from Misha and the rest of the team to get the fuck out of there. Settling Winter in, I talk to Marcus over my shoulder as I fit her with a life jacket.

“Come with us,” I say, but he gives me a strange look and then looks off toward the flames currently consuming the island.

A shockwave causes the air to vibrate, accompanying a bright flash much closer to the mansion.

Lights flicker in the mansion, and even from a distance, I hear shouting, which makes me want to smile. I can imagine the gilded elite running around in a panic, trying to escape from where they’re trapped in the massive playroom, herded there like cattle by the attendants assigned to see to their every need.

They’re locked in their new prison, awaiting their death by fire.

“Don’t worry about it,” he replies. Swinging into the boat, I turn back to him after checking Winter’s position on the bench. “In fact, forget you ever saw me tonight…but don’t forget that you owe me one, Brigham.”

He takes a few steps away from the shore before spinning back to me.

“See ‘ya around,” he says before tipping his chin down and walking into the burning jungle.

“I’m letting you off easy right now, but you’re gonna hear me yell when I get back to a hundred percent,” Winter mumbles behind me as I start the speed boat.

“I look forward to it, Sunbeam,” I say, the drop in adrenaline causing everything within me to shake. I jet us off into the ocean, and after we’re nearly a mile away from the island, I angle us to witness the island’s death.

“What are you doing?” Winter asks, sounding more alert.

In three, two, one—the remaining chain of bombs detonates, and flames consume the entirety of the island.