Onyx Eclipse (The Raven Queen's Harem 5)
“Just in case,” I say to them. Now that we know what it can do, every soldier should carry it on their person.
I hold back emotion as I tuck a vial of water in each and every one of their breast pockets. I take a moment to check their gear. Kiss their mouths. I’m almost at full strength, only lacking the final link in the circle. Bunny’s betrayal has weakened me—us—in a way I didn’t know was possible. It helps me understand the pain the Morrigan felt when Cu tossed her aside at the river. Sympathetic, even.
We stand before the tunnel and the Ravens enter. Dylan, Sam, Damien…Clinton waits for Bunny to enter but I tug my betrayer by the sleeve and say, “Go first,” to Clinton. He narrows his eyes and hesitates.
“He’s a traitor.” Clinton makes no effort to lower his voice. Damien looks over at the sound of his voice.
“He is and I’m going to deal with that. That’s my job. You all have a different one.”
“Deliver the cure,” he replies. “It won’t matter if Bunny fucks it up.”
“It will matter. But that’s not all I need from you. We’re going to need to build an army.”
“An army?” He laughs. “Where the hell are we going to get one of those?” I don’t reply and finally he sighs. “We should bomb this place and never look back,” he says, finally stepping into darkness.
“What was that?” Bunny asks.
“No questions. Follow orders. Remember that?”
He silently nods.
I grip his arm tighter, my nails threatening to spike. “The choices you make today will determine your future, Bunny. Don’t fuck that up. Not again.”
His eyes burn with pain and I release him. He’s not the only one that will have regrets by the time the day is over.
*
One of Nevis’ men leads the way down the long tunnel with a torch doused in oil. Once my men have travelled deep, I allow them to get a bit ahead. When no one notices, I stop abruptly. Bunny crashes into me and whispers quietly in my ear, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” The air shifts near me, turning cool. Bunny tenses behind me. He feels it. I reach out my hand, searching for the wall that should be there—and was moments ago. Now there’s an empty gap.
“What?”
“Turn right.” I glance over my shoulder. The faint light of the torches fades into the distance. My voice is barely above a whisper. “Now.”
He does as I say, his toes clipping my heels. There’s the faintest sound of grating stone. I reach back and the opening is gone. I count to ten and Nevis appears, holding a torch.
“They can’t find us?” I ask her.
“No. And I’ve barricaded the entry into the caverns as well. There’s only one way out and that’s through The Nead.”
“Good,” I tell her. “Bolt that door, seal it or destroy it. Whatever it takes, and no matter what, do not let them back in.”
“What have you done?” Bunny asks. His forehead is furrowed in confusion.
“That tunnel will lead them back to The Nead. Sue and Davis will intercept them.”
“And what about us?” The fear in his eyes tells me he already knows. He shakes his head in disbelief. “No. This is not a good idea.”
“It’s the only idea,” I tell him, gesturing to Nevis to lead the way. She takes us to a ladder bolted into the cavern walls that leads straight up into a dark hole. “It’s the only one I’ve had since I gained passage into this realm. I never intended on going back.”
“You didn’t?”
“No. My goal was to come here and save them.” I stare at Bunny in the flickering torch-light. His glasses reflect the flame. “Do I have your trust, Bunny?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then get ready to earn back mine.”