78 The Chapter In Which Mikaela Finally Ends This Book

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Jonas~~

Three days after Iris's and my date, Colton and Tobias drag the Amorian I've been searching for into my office at the Estate in Elleany. A gag is threaded between his lips and around his head.

The soldiers finished processing the prisoners when they were boarding them onto the planes. I saw this one's face and name come up in the system while I was seated on a private plane with my family, Iris, Vienna, and Alastair. Once we arrived home, the first order of business was sending my brother and cousin for the Amoris named Illias.

I remain seated behind my desk, eyes locked onto the purple ones with which Illias uses to glare at me. There's no reason now to hide from him what I am, and I really do relish the power that comes with direct eye contact.

His expression wavers, and he shrinks back from me as far as Tobias's and Colton's grip will allow.

"I want him kept in a cell away from other prisoners."

"Yes, Preeminence," they both say.

"The two of you and Sebastian will be the ones to look after him."

"If you're worried about him talking"—Colton's grip tightens on the man—"I could always cut out his tongue."

It's a mystery how I don't wince. "That won't be necessary." I'm not a brute. I won't stoop to the level of my father's Order. "Remove his gag," I say, and as they do so, I fold my hands, resting them on the desk as I wait.

Once the gag is off, Illias remains quiet.

"I may have no plans to remove your tongue, but I can still make your stay here unhospitable."

"I have done nothing," he says in Amorian. "I did not ask to know your secret."

"You served Odette Clarignon."

"I was born in France. Why should I have had to hide in fear in my own homeland while humans did not?" He shakes his head, laughing, disgust lacing the sound. "They would have tortured us until our Expiration Dates if we had revealed what we were. How is that fair?"

Tobias digs his fingers into Illias's arm. "So your plan was to kill them first?"

Illias remains silent.

"You and your fellow Amorians aided her in capturing innocent people and stood by as she slaughtered them." And forced Iris and Bently to watch. I clench my hands together. "Now how many did you tell my secret to?"

"Preeminence Clarignon wasn't the only one interested in your fiancée. We all were, and not many of us thought she should die only because her Expiration Date was wrong. It was something that should be celebrated."

"Who did you tell?"

"No one, Preeminence."

I narrow my eyes. "Who?"

"No one."

Colton punches Illias in the jaw, and the Amoris's knees buckle, collapsing to the floor when Tobias lets go of him.

My cousin tilts his head, looking down at the man. "I was expecting a little more spunk."

"So was I," Colton nudges Illias with the toe of his shoe. Cupping his jaw, Illias glares up at him.

I'd keep all of Odette's Amoris here on Earth if Amoria would allow it. As it stands, I have less than a day before they depart.

"I told no one, but if I did, I am sure you will find out who I spoke to soon enough."

I slide my gaze to my brother. "You know what to do, khaleedi."

*****

The next morning Iris and I stand side by side on the tarmac at a private airport. The prisoners have already been loaded onto the ships that are designed to look like airplanes—an example of Amoria's advance technology that is useful for blending in while visiting Earth. Odette, Anastasie, and Isabeau were boarded before the other prisoners.

Colton informed me that he and Sebastian spent the night torturing Illias, which proved futile in every area except for giving the two cousins a chance to bond, so I suppose that's . . . good.

Erik's off to the side talking with his parents—my aunt and uncle. The Society is giving him enough funds to give him a chance to get settled somewhere on Amoria. Alastair has promised to help him.

The heir currently speaks with my sister who says something that makes him tilt his head back and laugh. He's also promised to return for my wedding.

Iris squeezes my hand, a silent reminder that she's here with me and for me. My mother and father stand on my other side, silent, watching the loading of the prisoners. It's probably best I don't bring up the philanthropy and charity plans to my father. He would only try to talk me out of them. It would be better to go ahead and plan the philanthropies and let him find out about the events while I'm attending them.

The rest of my Order, including my brother, stand a few feet behind us.

Vienna's away visiting her family. I'm not sure who is happier she's back in Elleany, she or Colton. I know he has his heart set on marrying her, and I do hope he can find a way, but no matter how selfish it is, I can't give Iris up.

I can't and I won't.

"What do you think he'll do on Amoria?" Iris says, a hand shielding her eyes from the sun as she watches him speak with his parents.

Though I think the question is intended for me, Percy answers, "Drink."

Eli snorts.

"Give him some credit," Riley says, and with his tone, I'm certain he rolled his eyes.

"Maybe he'll find a job," Enzo suggests.

"Yeah in a pub," Eli counters. "So he can siphon shots."

"Eli," Tobias sounds tired.

"Don't you think that's what Enzo meant to say?"

"No," Enzo answers. "I could see him working in their tech industry."

"Though you have to admit Erik would make an excellent bartender," Seong-ho says, almost wistfully. "He made me the best cocktail at Colton's nineteenth birthday."

"Yeah because he's a bit heavy handed on the alcohol," Eli mutters.

"That's what makes him good," August says. "I'm sorry you can't mix a proper drink even if the world depended on it."

Sebastian sighs. "I'm surrounded by children."

Do I even want to know what my parents must think of my Order?

"After they depart, come see me," Colton says to all of them, "and we'll place bets on if he'll work in a bar or not."

"I'm in," Eli says immediately.

"And I," Tobias and Enzo answer at the same time.

"I suppose I'll join in," Sebastian says with another sigh.

"Might as well," Riley says.

"Count me in," August says with a slight laugh. "Percy's in too, right?"

"Of course, I am."

"Seong-ho, Bently?" Colton asks.

"Sure," they both answer.

"Jonas?" Percy asks.

"No, thank you."

Iris looks back at them over her shoulder. "Fifty dollars that Enzo's right."

Erik nods to both of his parents and makes his way over to us. "What are you all talking about?"

"We're betting on where the two of them will go for their honeymoon," Eli lies smoothly, which is probably for the best. If Erik knew they were betting on him, it might diminish his desire to find any kind of job, knowing the way Erik's mind works.

Enzo takes a step forward toward Erik. "Will you be returning with Alastair for the wedding?"

Erik shakes his head. "That would be a month-round trip. I'll just be settling down by the time I'd have to leave. I won't want to waste my time just to see that trainwreck."

My father cuts him a glare while my mother's lips inch up to the side. "I heard they're working on a new ship that would bring the trip down to a week and half rather than two," she says.

"Maybe I'll come to visit once in a while." Erik looks at our cousins. "Try not to miss me too hard." His gaze slips to Iris. "Stay safe, okay?"

Iris laughs, though it sounds strained as if she's holding back tears. "I'll try, but you know me."

"And, Jonas"—Erik steps toward me—"maybe invite Basile to the wedding. I actually kind of liked the guy."

"And not Andrew?" Bently asks.

"Unless you're looking to hear the worst reception speech ever."

"A pity you won't be here." Bently lets out a dramatic sigh. "I was so looking forward to yours."

Eli snickers.

Erik rolls his eyes and holds out his hand to Iris. She takes it and pulls him into a hug.

"Bye," she whispers to him.

He nods, his chin on her shoulder, before pulling away.

After he boards the ship, Alastair and Gwen walk over to us, side by side, though not close enough that they're touching.

Alastair bows to me. "It's been a pleasure."

I return his bow. "Likewise."

He faces Iris. "I'm glad we had the chance to meet. I look forward to attending your wedding."

"Thank you. We look forward to having you."

I slip my hand around Iris's waist. "Take care of my cousin?" I ask him.

"I will certainly do my best." He holds out his hand to Gwen. She clasps hers in his as if they were going to shake hands but they both remain still. "Thank you for all your help, Tresais."

"I only did my job."

"Still, I appreciated it." His eyes drop to her wrist that has a brace slipped around it. "If your wrist is mended by the time I return, perhaps you could show me your shooting range?"

Is he asking my sister on a date?

I glance behind me to see Colton looking rather alarmed.

"Alastair," Gwen says slowly, "I could still best you even with this wrist injured." It's the wrist she usually uses to shoot.

"I look forward to taking you up on that challenge." He bows to her, and Gwen dips into a slight curtsy, her emerald green dress, swaying as it settles back in place when she straightens.

Alastair boards the ship that Erik's on, and we return to the cars waiting for us so we can watch the ships take off from a safe distance.

Besides for the driver, it's only Colton and Gwen inside the car with us. Alastair and Erik rode with us earlier.

As we watch the planes take off one after the other, I ask Iris if she's all right.

"Yes. Are you?"

I stare out at the blue sky, watching as a ship disappears into the distance. "I'm not sure."

Though Erik's Expiration Date isn't for a long time, I don't know when mine will be. I miss the days growing up with him, my cousin, a close friend at my side. I miss being able to make him laugh, to talk with him without facing his ridicule.

I would have liked for him to be a part of my second chance at life.

I thread my fingers through Iris's, and she leans her head on my shoulder.

Fate. We both cheated it, but sometimes I wonder if it was always our destiny to do so. For others, we're meant to be alive or we'd be able to interfere with their Expiration Dates, and that would be a tremendous power and a humbling burden to bear.

I kiss my fiancée's forehead, letting myself relax as the last ship fades away in the sky.

Our fate was to die.

But I'm certain our destiny is to live.


This book is Expired.


Book 4, Exposed, is already posted! You can read the first chapter now, and over the next two days, chapter two and three will be posted. You can find Exposed on my profile.



Wow, what can I say? How can I ever thank you enough for making it all the way to the end of book THREE?! I mean, WHAT? Thank you all so so much. You have no idea how much it means that you've decided to take the time to live in this world that I've created and to get to know my characters. If you had told fourteen-year-old, new-writer me that anyone would care to read a third or fourth book in a series of mine (or that I would be working on a third and fourth book in a series), I wouldn't have believed them. So from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

Love,
Mikaela


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