Chapter 50 Chapter 50: Landing
Kalev’s POV
I hated that they sedated her. They did it before I could interject. They just shoved a needle into her neck and within seconds, she collapsed.
“She was hysterical,” one of the medics on the helicopter said. It was true. She had been. She’d been hyperventilating. They’d acted on instinct and sedated her to calm her down.
I didn’t blame her. Not one bit. Everything had happened so fast. One minute, they’d been reaching for the spire. And the next, I’d declared Senna the victor.
Then the helicopters and the guards. Then Thor, tackled to the ground. Thistle had basically been ripped right from her arms.
Somehow, I’d managed to stay calm. There was nothing I could do on the island. I had to wait until we got back to the capital. I could only do damage control from the other side.
But the announcement that Thor was dead had sent her over the edge. That had shocked me to. There was no reason to kill him. It was the capital’s final dig. It was probably Viktor’s idea. A warning to future contestants. Don’t fight against the games. Thistle and Isolde and Korrigan lived, sure. But the capital still had the power to kill whenever they choose.
I glared at her.
I had no idea where they were taking Isolde and Thistle. But I would find out. I would make it my business to find out.
Just then I realized that I didn’t know where Korrigan had gone. I remembered seeing Isolde and Thistle dragged into the helicopter. And I remembered seeing Thor on the beach.
But where was Korrigan?
Had they seized him too? Surely they had. Maybe they’d put him in a different helicopter? It seemed strange though that I had no recollection of them seizing him.
And as for Thor…
He was probably already dead. The moment the feed went out, they probably killed him. Another life lost. For no reason other than to make a point.
My blood boiled.
The medics started working on Senna. They replaced the field dressing I’d given her with something cleaner.
Senna lay strapped into the transport seat beside me, her head tilted slightly to one side, her breathing steady but shallow. Even unconscious, there was tension in her body.
“She’s stable,” one of the medics said. “But her wound is deep. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
I glanced down at her again. Blood had soaked through the bandage already. Her stitches had torn open on the beach. The edges of the bandage were still a bright red, a stark contrast against her pale skin.
Orrin stirred restlessly. He paced, growling, his fur bristled.
“She’ll wake up,” I said quietly. “She’ll be okay.” Orrin didn’t respond. He turned his head away from me. He was angry that I’d let them sedate Senna. He couldn’t reach Verity in this state. He refused to talk to me.
Outside the small window of the helicopter, the island shrank beneath us. The Spire was barely visible now as we left the island in the distance. Behind us, several other helicopters followed. Isolde and Thistle were in those helicopters. The capital would punish them. I knew that much.
The council would be furious about the loophole I’d found.
The only wanted one winner. Everyone else was supposed to die. That’s the way the games were played.
I could only imagine what they’d do to Isolde and Thistle.
“We’re approaching the Capital,” the pilot announced.
I straightened, my attention shifting forward as the transport began its descent.
What would happen when we landed? They’d strip me of my position as architect. That was fine with me. I wanted nothing more to do with these games. Witnessing what it was really like first hand, there on that island…my chest heaved.
The landing pad came into view. Figures were already waiting for us. Viktor, my mother, assorted council members.
I took Senna’s lifeless hand in mine and held it. I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. Not again. Not ever again.
The moment we touched down, the doors opened.
The air outside felt different. It was cleaner and colder, stripped of the thick humid air of the island.
I stood up, unstrapping myself as I did.
“Careful with her,” I said as the medics moved to lift Senna.
They nodded and adjusted their grip.
I stepped down onto the platform. A familiar voice cut through the noise.
“Kalev.”
I didn’t need to look to know who it was.
Viktor approached with his usual ease. He had his hands clasped loosely behind his back, a smile on his face.
“That was quite the stunt you pulled,” he said. His gaze flickered briefly to Senna as she was carried past. “You should have heard them. The viewers. So much drama. They ate it up.”
“I don’t care,” I snapped at him. I tried to brush past him but he stepped out in front of me.
“You’ve caused quite the stir,” he continued. “Well done. The Capital hasn’t been this excited in years. The council however…”
“I didn’t do it for them.” I cut him off.
“No,” Viktor said, his smile softening slightly. “You did it for her.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice so that only I could hear him. I recoiled at his proximity. My eyes were fixed on Senna, behind him. That was all I cared about right now.
“I hope it was worth it,” he said with a mocking smile. “The council is furious. You’ve lost everything. They’ll call for you immediate removal. Your mother, Petra, is not very happy with you right now.”
“Fuck off, Viktor,” I said, meeting his gaze and shooting him daggers with my eyes. “I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“Well I’m giving it to you anyway,” he chuckled sardonically. “What did you think would happen? That they’d just let you get away with this? That they’d celebrate all the people you saved? Reward them? Hell no, Viktor. The people you saved? The capital owns them now.”
“Stay away from me,” I told him. “And stay away from her.”
I moved past him then. But from behind me, he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm:
“Now Viktor, is that anyway to treat a friend?”