His furrowed brow voices his displeasure with this idea. I shrug. “If they get to me, you can get her out of here. We might need her.”
Whether it’s a sound strategy or he’s losing patience, I’m not sure. But he just grunts and leads the councilor ahead of me. I smile.
I fall in behind our party moving through the corridor. “Do we have any kind of plan? Where are we going from here?”
“One of three down,” Caben says, holding up three fingers as he jogs in a drunken pattern in front of us.
I look to Bax for an explanation. “You and the Perinyian queen are two. Three is my family,” he says.
Of course. And the Nactue make this retreating party of traitors complete. At some point, I figure we’ll all meet up and…await Caben’s transformation into the damned goddess. But at least we’ll be away from those who would kill anyone in order to see that fail. There’s no solution yet, but maybe now we can find one.
With that thought, I glance at Teagan. I’ll find a way to stall Bale, even if that means tearing the cursed moon from the sky.
? 21 ?
Caben
TAKING A SWIG OF liquor from my flask, I peer at Kal over the rim. That’s not an easy task to perform while dashing through hallways and down stairways. With a mismatched party of fugitives. And mutants.
But my eyes always find her.
She’s the light to my dark. Everything within me gravitates toward her—wants to be bathed in her brilliance.
My booted foot trips over a step, and I nearly fall face first into the marble floor. I right myself at the last moment, earning a bemused look from the object of my obsession. Serves me right. I sound like a whipped husband from Cavan.
I need to stay focused. Well, as focused as I can while drinking unduly. Our quickly hatched plan has gone well. So far. But that’s only because the Councils weren’t expecting the Nactue to side with me. Not that they did, of course. It was all for Kal. Their leader. But her faith in my recovery, from what Bax said, is why they agreed to this madness.
My scout reported that, as Bax claimed, Kal had been taken prisoner. Not only her, but my new accomplice, also. With both Councilor Teagan and Kal locked away, that left us with few options. And zero allies. However, Kal’s best friend Lilly proved to be a useful alliance. I suppose she thrilled at the prospect of Kal becoming Bale’s new vessel.
Truly, I should punish my scout for getting caught. I know Bale would have me do just that. But I believe my leadership role is about to become null anyway. Everything is going according to a new and better—although hastened—plan. As long as the Nactue make sure my mother’s safe, I can leave this world…content. Maybe even satisfied.
And they are all about their honor, right? They have to keep their word.
Getting Bax’s family out of harm’s way is the final step before we leave the disaster-riddled country—what’s left of my country. For his ultimate bravery, a near sacrifice in coming to my den, he’s at least earned the safety of his family.
As we round the corner toward their chamber, I decide it’s nearly time.
With a relieved sigh, Bax raises his thick hand and knocks on the door. Three quick raps followed by three slower ones. His family’s secret knock. How special.
The door opens, and Bax’s wife—I assume—falls into his arms. They whisper words of reassurance to one another as his father within the room cradles their baby son. All important possessions have been packed and placed at the ready.
I envy Bax in this moment. Able to feel, caress, touch the ones he loves. Hell, it’s more than envy.
Covet.
Sending a sideways glance at Kal, I accept that my feelings for her are more powerful than love—all white, flowery bullshit. That desolate darkness still lurks inside me…I know. Alcohol can’t void such power. But the combination of all that’s light and dark; good and wicked—whatever stirs within, it’s heightened my emotions for her infinitely.
They’re more raw. Tantalizing. Consuming. They take hold of me and I’m at their mercy. It’s why I don’t have to rationalize my next move.
Taking one last sip from my flask for courage rather than sanity, I hold the cool silver to my lips, savoring. Then I slip it into my pack. I draw my sword. Bax is the first to recognize this action, and he slowly separates from his wife and shields her behind his back. Yes, love. There’s the selfless act of it.
He cares for Kal, too. And would attempt to stop me, if not for being hindered by the woman chained to his side.
“Now, Lake!” I shout, and reach for Kal. I’ve got her unarmed and locked in my arms, forearm anchored around her chest, before Bax can make his move. I kick her sword, sending it farther across the corridor.
Lake’s sword is drawn and aimed at not Bax, but his wife. I give Lake another mental applaud. He went for the hurt instead of the kill.
Kal’s breaths quicken. Her body hums against mine. I can feel the mercury beneath her skin heating, building, summoning strength for the fight. Only she won’t need it. There’s no duel here, only a lost man trying desperately to feed his addiction.