“But it’s something, right?” I ask. Hating with every fiber of my being that I sound so wanting.
With a thick sigh, Bax says, “It’s something. Maybe. Drenching his brain with alcohol at least keeps Bale in the dark.” He chuckles, and I glare. “Sorry. Badly timed pun.”
In spite of the shuddering and commotion invading the room, I hold my place. I advert my gaze to watch Caben stumble to the wall monitor, and with some difficulty, flip it on. For now, he’s lost interest in me and is yelling at the screen, demanding something of it.
I turn away from my friend and start toward the monitor when Bax says, “Just be careful.” I glance back at him at once. “Caben is present. In his mind. But Bale’s hold on him, the power saturating his mind and will…he’s not the same, Kal. Please don’t make that mistake.”
As always, Bax offers sound advice. And I try, truly, to take it. But having Caben back—in any way or form that I can, sane or not—I’m afraid is too tempting. Again, I’m the furthest thing from a saint. I’m not divine or without flaws. I’m human. And what’s more dangerous—a human in love.
Ballads have been written about the obsessively dumb actions taken by people in love. Their stories never end well.
The monitor flickers as Caben finds the transmission he’s seeking. The chaos outside is affecting the signal, but I can still make out what’s happening. My stomach lurches as the camera pans the inner-court, then hones in on a group of women standing atop the dais.
“The battle hasn’t found its way into the Court yet, then?” I say. “What’s going on? Why hasn’t everywhere been evacuated?”
Caben’s angry roar crackles in my ears, and I squint at the monitor, trying to see what he does.
Oh, no. No.
I’d nearly forgotten all about Councilor Teagan in the midst of the chaos and a drunk Caben. But now I spin and find her leaning against the door to her cell. A solemn, justified expression on her face. Cleansing the madness, she said.
That’s what the empress and Councils have planned. They’re executing the mental ward patients. Executing Caben’s mother.
But that’s only to lure him here—their plan to get Caben close to me. They can’t have any real intention of goin
g through with this. I’ve lost some faith in my leaders recently, but I can’t believe they’d all out fail me.
“Liars!” Caben shouts.
Bax is at his side quickly, trying to turn his attention away from the monitor. “She will make it, Prince. We need to leave.”
We do. Because their plan was successful. Caben has found me—he’s now in my presence. “Bax, this is what they want. For Caben to be here.”
He nods and waves his hand toward the screen. “Yes, but they’re expecting him to try to save his mother. The inner-court is heavily guarded, awaiting him.” He cocks his head toward the door. “We have some time.”
Right. I gather my thoughts, only coming up empty. What is our plan? Bax and I to escape with Caben? And Lake? And the Otherworlder army? To go where? This can’t be right. As much as I want to be with Caben, was going to track him and would do anything to save him, I hadn’t thought much past that.
Anywhere we go, the armies will follow.
But all my scrambled thoughts cease when figures appear on the screen. They climb onto the platform. Dark uniforms, swords slashing at the guards holding Caben’s mother captive. The Nactue. My Nactue are fighting our own people.
“You see,” Bax tells Caben. “Like clockwork. There are a few you can still count on.” He winks at me.
My stunned silence is all that answers him. What the hell is going on?
Bax manages to pull Caben away from the screen now displaying his mother’s escape. Through all the chaos and my own confusion, I’m relieved for her, and for him. I should never have doubted my friends. Then Kai’s last moments here, when she was trying to convey something to me, suddenly make sense.
They are standing with me.
And doing the right thing; supporting Caben. The quick relief washing over me, unlocking my tight muscles, doesn’t last long, though. Once word of their rebellion reaches what’s left of the Cavan Council—I fear for them.
Before we’re through the door, a tugging grips my stomach. I glance at Teagan. She’s staring right back at me. I don’t know why I do this now, other than she has information, and maybe, possibly, I’ll need it. In her own misguided way, she believes in her cause. That she’s helping the world with her actions. And maybe because she’s the only one so far to be completely honest with me.
“Wait one second,” I say to Bax and the others. Bax must understand my intent, because without asking, he takes the key from Caben and hands it to me. I give him a quick nod.
Then I ready my sword as I walk toward Teagan’s cell. I give her a stern glare, and unlock the door. “This means nothing other than I believe I may need you. And I don’t want any of your sordid knowledge falling into the wrong hands.” Like our Council’s, or Julian’s, when they discover Caben is long gone and I’ve escaped.
Her lips spread into a slow, creepy smile, and I almost regret my decision. Grabbing her arm, I lead her toward Bax and then take one of the chained cuffs from his belt. I’m sure they’re what Caben used to hold him hostage…but I drive that from my head. My range of emotions has already spread me thin. I only cuff one of her wrists, so she can run if needed, but link the other to Bax’s belt.