The Breaker's Resolution: (YA Paranormal Romance) (Fixed Points Book 4) Read Free Page B

He’s trying to manipulate us somehow. You’re not eighteen yet, Cress. You can’t sign for a car.”
    “That’s true,” Jiqui grinned. “At least, not without a co-signer.”
    My eyes flickered over to the other line. Under co-signer, in swooping disgusting typography, sat the name Jiqui Blut.
    He signed it. Sometime in the past, in the time between then and now that I couldn’t remember, I had been in cahoots with this bastard. But what on earth would lead me to make that decision? What had happened?
    “Go ahead,” Jiqui said, his voice drenched in slime and triumph. “Ask me.”
    “What do you know?” I asked through clenched teeth.
    He leaned forward, causing every muscle in my body to tense up. “Me?” He laughed. “Why my poor little niece, I know what I’ve always known. Everything.”
    “Just tell her what-“
    “Quiet!” Jiqui silenced Royce quickly. “It’s my turn to talk now Cowboy. And you’ll listen, because you have no other choice.”
    I moved toward him, crumpling the lease agreement in my hand.
    “You’ve been gone for a month and a half,” he started. “In that time, I and my people have managed to keep you off the radar. We’ve moved you from safe house to safe house. And, in that time, you’ve all lost your memories as well as your composure twice.” He cleared his throat. “Each time, you’ve threatened to kill me, though this was the first time I actually thought you’d go through with it. I suppose the desert air doesn’t agree with you.”
    “How did we get out here?” I asked.
    “You’re actually going to believe this idiot?” Casper balked from beside me.
    “I don’t see where we have much of a choice,” I consented.
    “The hell you don’t!” Casper screamed. “You’re Breakers. You’ve got weird Breaker powers. Dahlia could rub my jacket and tell me what I had for breakfast yesterday morning.” He shrugged. “Which is more information than I can tell you about myself right now. “ He pointed to Jiqui.“But the point is, why not let Dahlia take a crack at that ugly shaved head and see how much truth she comes up with?”
    “Because I’m afraid my powers aren’t working the way they’re supposed to,” Dahlia grumbled. “I’ve been trying to gleam something from Echo’s finger since I came to, and I’ve come up empty. The anchors must have damaged my mind to the point of affecting my powers.”
    “Wrong!” Jiqui said in a victorious singsong voice. “Though you’re on the right track.” He looked to Dahlia, whose scowl could have cut glass. “When we found you, several strong cloaking anchors were placed on your persons. They were meant to keep you effectively invisible to the Council, but the amount of shade needed to do that has the unfortunate side effect of-“
    “Keeping me out too,” Dahlia finished.
    “Right and, as your consort, the same anchors have been placed on me. So,” he pointed to his shaved head. “I’m afraid you’re just going to have to take me at my word.”
    “Which would be easier if you weren’t such a lying sack of-“
    “Why are we in the desert?” I asked, cutting Royce off.
    “Well that’s your own fault,” he answered. “We pleaded with you to stay put; told you that, if you left the safe houses, you’d be more susceptible to the Council. But you do-gooders kept rambling on and on about the Damnatus.”
    The heat of recognition rose in my face. He knew about the Damnatus. But there would be no way for him to know about the Damnatus; not unless we told him.
    “I still don’t trust you,” I answered.
    “That’s probably smart. Reach into your left pocket,” he answered.
    “You work for Allister Leeman,” I said.
    “Allister Leeman is dead. And I never worked for Allister Leeman. I work for Iris. And Iris works for the Raven. Now reach into your left pocket.”
    “I don’t know any damn Iris!” Royce said, finally managing a complete sentence uninterrupted.
    “Yes well, you were