Everlost (The Night Watchmen Series Book 3) by Candace Knoebel Read Free Book Online Page A

finish,” I cut in, using Weldon’s momentum. “The Veil is already partially broken, and the only way to return it to its natural state is to finish what we started. The only way we’re going to figure out what the hell is really going on, is to keep going. The only difference between before and now is that now we have two enemies—the Priesthood and the Darkyns. Both want the Exanimator, and both will never obtain it if I have anything to do with it.”
    “You make it sound as if adding the Priesthood to our enemy list is something small,” Cassie says incredulously. “They’re an established society. A strong government with overflowing amounts of intel and soldiers at their disposal. They’re ten times worse than the Watchmen!”
    “Watchmen?” Gavin asks.
    Cassie stares at him for a moment like she doesn’t understand the question.
    “You said Watchmen.”
    “No, I didn’t,” she says, shaking her head. “I said Darkyns.” She turns to us.
    “You said Watchmen,” Jezi says, staring at her. Her face has paled a shade.
    Cassie laughs dismissively. “Yeah, okay. Whatever you guys say. I said Darkyns. Why would I say otherwise?”
    “You tell me,” Gavin says, looking at her in concern.
    “You’ve been scrambling your words all morning,” Jezi says, looking at Cassie in concern. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
    Cassie looks up at me, asking me to continue. To take the light off her.
    “If-if the Priesthood is as strong as you say, then why haven’t they destroyed the Darkyns yet?” I retort, trying to pick up where we left off, throwing out her entire argument.
    The room goes silent. Her eyes narrow on me before looking away.
    “They aren’t strong, Cassie. It’s clear in just how easy it was for a handful of us to shake up the entire foundation.”
    “We don’t know that we did,” she says, this time her voice lower, more unsure. “The Night Watchmen News shows them healthy and stronger than ever… digging our graves as we speak.”
    I level my gaze on her. Place my hands on my hips. “That’s what they want us to see, Cassie. A solid, trusting government doesn’t have rebels waiting in the shadows to pounce. All we did was expose that small crack in their foundation, and it’s our duties as Watchmen to finish what we started. Without fear,” I add.
    She swears under her breath as she turns away from me and into Gavin’s arms. Although he’s consoling her, I can see in his eyes that he’s on my side. He’d rather die fighting for what’s right, than hiding from what’s wrong.
    “I can shadow walk into the city and find the general,” Weldon offers. He finishes off his glass, and then sets it down on the counter before walking over to stand near Jezi. “That way, no one gets hurt.”
    I turn to look at him, knowing what I’m about to say will piss off the entire room, but saying it anyway. “You’re not going alone.”
    Jaxen’s hand wraps around my arm. “You’re not going with him.”
    Again with the orders.
    I turn and look up at him, matching his heated glare. Count to three in my head, telling myself to take it easy. He’s just upset because he cares. That he means well. “He’s my partner.”
    “I don’t care.”
    I roll my eyes. Huff out a breath. “Seriously? Again with this?”
    He huffs equally as loudly, pressing the heel of his hand to his eyes. “This is different. On so many levels, Faye. This isn’t a control thing… this is a you’re-the-most-wanted-Watchmen-known-in-history-out-to-kill-yourself kind of thing. You’re the reason we’re all here—” He sees my face tense at the insult and quickly adds, “and I don’t mean that as an insult, or to imply that it’s your fault. I’m just saying, without you, we have nothing. You’re the weapon both sides are after… and you’re the glue holding us together.”
    His deep green eyes swim in agony and fear, drowning in the many outcomes his mind has dreamed up that most likely