Heads or Tails (50 page)

‘Well they’re in your hands now,’ Ivyanne whispered huskily. She then turned her face and narrowed her eyes in concentration, staring at Lincoln’s torso as the light bloomed on her fingertips once more. Quickly, the small knife was sucked out of it’s sheath by an invisible wind, but instead of landing in Ivyanne’s hand, it dropped to the floor, inches from Lincoln’s stomach. His mouth opened in dismay, but when he looked at Ivyanne, she winked.

‘Use it.’ She mouthed.

Lincoln let out an exaggerated moan of grief and rolled over, facing the wall, brushing his fingers across the carpet. He felt nothing except terror at first, knowing that if Ardhi looked he’d be caught red-handed. But then Ivyanne let out a seductive gasp and Lincoln took the opportunity to reach a second time. This time, his hand closed around the blade and his heart gave a joyful tug. That was when he realized-Ivyanne had tied the knots tightly, but out of the way, with his wrists crossed so he could maneuver one hand at the rope.

‘You like this?’ Ardhi suddenly panted. ‘You’re enjoying it?’

‘No...!’ She breathed. ‘But... just don’t stop yet, okay? The other one..’

‘Mmm... gladly.’

Lincoln rolled his eyes at Ardhi’s utter naiveté, and turned over once more so that his back was to the wall. He got a hold of the blade and began to rub it against the rope, nipping his finger but not caring. He sawed as gently as he could, biting his lip in focus, staring hatefully at Ardhi’s hands.

‘Mmm…’ Ardhi grinned at Ivyanne. ‘You know what? I think this teasing shit has gone on too far.’ He sat up, unbuckling his pants. ‘I say that I give it to you now, then give you a rest and some more potion, and then start again.’

Lincoln’s heart constricted in terror. ‘No!’ he gasped, his hands stopping. ‘Don’t!’

Ardhi looked over at him, annoyed. ‘What so now you
want
me to take my time?’

Lincoln grit his teeth. ‘No. But I just don’t want you rushing anything and hurting her,’ he lied, frantically glancing at Ivyanne’s white face.

‘She’s not going to hurt. She wants it, don’t you sweetheart?’ he reached down, curling his fingers around the top of her panties. ‘Beg me for it honey.’

Ivyanne flinched. ‘I.. uh..’

Time seemed to stand still for a second as Ardhi slowly lifted his gaze to Ivyanne’s face, his expression clouding. ‘You
do
want it, don’t you?’

Ivyanne’s mouth opened. ‘Well.. maybe just a little more foreplay…’

Ardhi’s eyes narrowed and he leaned closer, scrutinizing her face. ‘Are they
tears
in your eyes?’

‘What?’ Ivyanne squeaked. ‘No! I’m just-’

The slap sent her face sideways. Lincoln grunted and began to saw again, losing his patience entirely, imagining he was throttling Ardhi’s exposed neck.

‘Bitch!’ Ardhi cried. ‘You’re putting this on, aren’t you? Trying to stall me until someone comes looking for you!’

‘No! I swear-’

Ardhi squeezed her chin with his fingers, his knuckles going white. ‘You’re tricking me
again!
Lying to me while you think up some crazy way to get out of this!’ Ardhi growled and wrapped his hands around her throat. ‘What is
wrong
with you?’ He demanded. ‘That shit is supposed to put anyone out of their heads-even
you
!’

Ivyanne’s eyes widened and she spluttered for air.

Ardhi released his grip. ‘What?’

‘I was stung... when I was six. Badly.’ Ivyanne coughed. ‘I’ve have an immunity since Aubrielle treated me then-you should know that. Have I ever
once
freaked out around Irukanji?’

Ardhi studied her thoughtfully, then exhaled a loaded breath. ‘No.’ He pulled the vial out of his pocket and studied it. ‘What if I gave you the
whole
thing?’

‘Go on and see. I’ll be either dead, or as indifferent to you as I am right now.’ Ivyanne narrowed her eyes. ‘If you really want me to enjoy this-get off and let your rival heat me up-because everywhere
you
touch me turns to
stone
.’

Don’t piss him off too much yet!
Lincoln thought desperately.
I’m not quite there! And my legs are still stuck!

‘You’re right! You’re nothing but a stone cold
liar
.’ Ardhi violently lifted her face by her hair, yanking it towards him, stretching her arms out behind her back, making Lincoln wince in sympathy. ‘I don’t know why I want you at all!’ He glared at her. ‘What would you have done if I’d gotten you pregnant, huh?’

Ivyanne smiled cruelly. ‘Let’s just say the Court line would have come to an official end. I know Anna would have forgiven me-you’re every bit as cruel as the man who started this-I see that now. Maybe only when you and I are
both
dead, will the bloodlines be pure.’

Lincoln began to saw much more urgently, knowing that Ivyanne was dead serious. If Ardhi had his way with her regardless of her stinging rejection-Lincoln would lose her forever.

‘You’d sooner smash the foundations out from under this species than
raise my child?
’ he demanded.

‘In a heartbeat!’

Ardhi blanched. ‘You know I blamed Tristan for taking your innocence. But now that I know you’re going to choose
this
one-’ Ardhi reached for the gun and swung back to Lincoln’s head. ‘I
see
where the problem started. You’ve been traitorous to the Marked from the day you met him!’ He shook his head. ‘And to think I had some glad tidings for you Lincoln. Screw that. You deserve the fate you’ve begged for!

She’s choosing me?!
Lincoln thought, torn between terror and elation as the gun waved in front of his face.
How can he know that?
Despite the awfulness of his predicament, Lincoln’s heart gave a grateful thump
.

‘Yeah-
you
.’ Ardhi’s nostrils flared. ‘And I wouldn’t be smiling if
I
were you! I came here to teach Ivyanne a lesson, but now I see that
you’ll
have to die if she’s going to learn
any
thing.’

Lincoln felt like an electric current was crawling over his scalp.

‘
No!
’ Ivyanne whispered. ‘You’re signing your own death warrant if you do!’

‘I’m already dead.’ Ardhi’s eyes didn’t leave Lincoln’s. ‘Got anything touchingly sweet to say, Yoko?’

Lincoln felt like he was already leaving his body. All he could hope for was that Ardhi would leave Ivyanne alive, as punishment. He looked at Ivyanne, shrugging helplessly, and smiled.

‘I love you.’ He whispered, his eyes filling with tears. ‘You were worth this.’

Ardhi smiled.

*

Tristan stood in the rain for ten minutes, watching the lightning flash in the sky, wondering if Ardhi was already nearby, and watching him.

Kill me.
Tristan thought quietly.
If you have an ounce of humanity left in you-just put me out of my misery.

A shadow moved across the pool. Tristan had his gun out in a heartbeat, aiming it at the bushes beyond. But there was no one there. He looked at the square of light on the pool, then followed it up to Ivyanne’s window, seeing the curtain twitch. The blinds were drawn, but it was obvious that her light was on behind it-as was the one in her bathroom. Tristan frowned, wondering why she’d have the lights on when Garridan had ordered her not to. Was she still up and about?

Despite himself, a coal of hope flared into a flame in the pit of his gut-for there was nothing romantic about a fully lit room.

Maybe they’re just talking.
Tristan thought, edging towards the house. Maybe he was about to sneak up on something he’d never be able to burn from his mind, but he couldn’t turn away. He had to know.

Tristan took his shoes off and crept towards the down pipe just down from the door on the wet tiles. He was usually quick at getting up there, but it was slippery. He grunted, trying a third and fourth time, before making it to the second floor balcony outside Sahori and Grace’s room. By the time he was over the railing-the back of his shirt was soaked through.

He stepped up onto the wet, cold balcony railing and vaulted himself onto the roof, trying to make us little noise as possible as his hands slapped against the slick surface of the color bond, searching for a bolt to brace his weight on. When he found one, he pulled himself up, scratching his chest on another bolt, but ignoring the sting.

Just one peek.
He thought silently, steeling himself.
If I’m wrong again, then seeing her in his arms will cure me of this strange idea that she’s meant for me, once and for all.

*

‘Ardhi
don’t
!’ Ivyanne squealed. ‘Lincoln doesn’t deserve to die! Not for me! I’ve hurt
him
as much as I’ve hurt
you
!’

Ardhi’s head snapped around to look at Ivyanne. ‘If that was the case he’d have the gun aimed at
your
head, wouldn’t he?’

‘Maybe he’ll
want
to,’ Ivyanne agreed, and then her eyes fell to her knees. ‘When he finds out that I’ve chosen
Tristan
.’

Lincoln stopped breathing.

‘What?!’ Ardhi’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘You’re lying! I
heard
you before, you stupid bitch. On the phone to Saraya. You
said
you didn’t want to get married at The Seaview because me and mine have sullied the place you fell in love!’

Tears spilled down Ivyanne’s cheeks, and her face crumpled. ‘Well...I fell in love with Tristan there too, didn’t I?’ She shot a mortified look in Lincoln’s direction, and her gaze was so heavy with sorrow that it fell to his chest under the weight of guilt. ‘I phrased it that way hoping to throw Saraya off. I didn’t know you were in the closet signing a death warrant for the recipient of your deductions or I wouldn’t have made that call at all!’ She exhaled, shaking her head. ‘Interpret my words as you please, but the
truth
is that the Seaview belongs to Link and I and to the past regardless of the lives you took there.’ She wet her lips. ‘And the past is all Lincoln will have left of us after tonight. I couldn’t possibly marry Tristan there.’

She’s lying!
Lincoln thought desperately, unable to hear her words.
She has to be! That’s why she can’t look me in the eye!

‘I’m not buying it!’ Ardhi declared. ‘You also said that you didn’t want to get married at the Londeree’s resort either-you said
that
would be tacky because of who you
might
have married! If it was Tristan you were choosing, you wouldn’t baulk at marrying at his sister’s resort, would you? So it has to be Link!’

Lincoln swallowed, hoping Ivyanne had an even worse lie this time-one he
couldn’t
swallow. He’d sooner take a bullet than hear that he’d lost after believing that he’d won only minutes before.

‘When I said who I might have married, I was referring to Isabelle’s other brother, Nigara.
Think
Ardhi-we were to be married there this year-at
that
resort. You were invited, remember?’ Ivyanne sniffled. ‘I didn’t want Tristan to have a hand-me-down wedding day as
well
as a recycled bride! I wanted somewhere
fresh
for us to start our lives together.’

Lincoln really felt like he was going to be sick. He folded in half, trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing. The gun, Ardhi-everything else seemed to slip away. ‘Ivyanne if you’re lying to save me... you’re failing because I’m dying on the inside.’ He said brokenly.

Ivyanne turned her face sideways to look at Lincoln finally. Tears were running down her cheeks like a river. ‘I’m
so sorry
. I never thought I’d say this to you,’ she whispered. ‘But there’s literally a gun at both of our heads, so I must.’

Lincoln sucked in a breath, feeling her energy tugging gently at him, coaxing him, and her words gave him pause. What if she was lying? No one thought faster on their feet than Ivyanne. He turned his face away, not wanting Ardhi to catch the glimmer of hope on his face.

‘Well, this is highly entertaining. And I think I might keep ‘ol Link here alive, just to enjoy that look on his face-the one I’ve been wearing for
nine months.
’ There was a pause. ‘But Ivyanne, darling, surely you know that there’s no way I’m going to let you live long enough to bring a Loveridge in the world, right, and break my sister’s heart any more than you already have?’

‘I told you to kill me twenty minutes ago.’ Ivyanne said softly. ‘So just do it.’

‘What? Right now? After I’ve gone to all of this trouble?’ There was a smacking sound. ‘No I’m going to have a little fun with you first.’

Lincoln heard Ivyanne begin to cry. He looked over to see Ardhi’s mouth press against Ivyanne’s lower stomach. The skin on her upper thigh was flushed with a scarlet handprint from where Ardhi had smacked her. Hatred made his blood boil.