Judgment (The Alternate Earth Series, Book 3) by S.J. West Page A

Ravan and Lucian. I can only imagine how angry Lucian is right now. I’m sure he’s viewing this message, just like the rest of the world is. His true nature is about to be uncovered for the entire world to see. He will be identified as the villain of the story, just as he should be.
    Once my part of the video ends, Jai Lin reappears on the screen.
    “What you just witnessed was not staged or fabricated. All of it is true.” Jai Lin turns fully to the camera and stares deeply into its lens, connecting with her audience. The music Chandler plays in the background of the video takes on a faster beat, like a drum of war, making my heart race with anticipation. “You and I must stand together and fight against Ravan and those who help her rule this world. If we don’t do something now, it’s quite possible we won’t have a world left to live in. Think about your children and loved ones. Don’t you want to leave them a world where a tyrant isn’t telling you how you should live, where you should work, what you can buy? I refused to allow my people to be marked by President Draeke’s red dragon tattoo. It is a symbol of evil, and I have not allowed it to be flown from any building in China. Tear down these symbols of hate, and show her that humanity is stronger than she thinks. Rise up and defend the world you live in. Stand by my side and fight alongside me and my people, to retake what rightfully belongs to us. Join our cause and save our world!”
    The screen goes black again. Everyone in the room begins to clap and whistle. They all turn to Jai Lin and bow in her direction. She, in turn, bows to them, showing her respect f or them as well.
    “How many people do you think just saw that?” I ask Mason.
    “Enough, I hope,” he replies, not sounding as confident as everyone else in the room seems.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “It’s always dangerous to stir up a hornets’ nest,” he tells me. “And we’ve just rattled the largest one of all. If Lucian wasn’t out for our blood before, he certainly will be now. I’m not sure he’ll let any of us live if he ever catches us.”
    “Then we just don’t let him catch us,” I say, thinking it’s the perfect solution to the problem.
    “That might be easier said than done,” Mason counters. “First, we embarrassed him at the party for Xavier, and now this. I’m just glad he doesn’t know where we are right now.”
    “Well, maybe we shouldn’t dwell on things that we can’t exactly prepare for beforehand,” I tell Mason.
    He looks down at me and nods. “You’re right. We probably shouldn’t. We seem to have our own problems to work out at the moment.”
    “I wouldn’t exactly call it a problem. It’s just an awkward situation that we need to find the solution to.”
    “Solution?” Malcolm says to us, obviously overhearing our conversation. “What do you need help with?”
    “It’s really not something you can help with, Malcolm,” Mason replies, looking uncomfortable talking about my possible cure.
    “Try me,” Malcolm challenges. “I’ve never met a problem I couldn’t find a solution to. What do you need?”
    “Matches,” I say with a sigh, confident Malcolm won’t understand what I’m talking about.
    Malcolm looks at me in shock, causing me to laugh out loud.
    Apparently, our super-secret code word isn’t entirely secret; at least not to our friends. For that, I’m silently grateful because I really didn’t want to have to spell it out for him.
    Thank God, I didn’t have to mime it.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    “So you and Jess need to have sex,” Malcolm says matter-of-factly without lowering the timbre of his voice. Of course, his choice of words draws the attention of those around us. “What’s the problem? It’s not like the two of you don’t go at it like rabbits every chance you get.”
    “Malcolm,” Mason says, like a warning of imminent bodily harm, “Jess doesn’t exactly remember who she is, much less who I am. Not within