40. CHAPTER 40
Kira
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
With Zayne away in the territories, Kira and Adelle planned the escape during long walks around the lake.
“I can use Pixi Dust to manipulate the sensors,” Kira said. “One time, and it seems like a normal occurrence. Twice, and they'll know something is wrong. But if I do it every few sectors, we might get away with it.”
“That's good. Zayne's friend thinks he can manipulate a few too.”
“Where does that leave us?”
“The mountains.” Her voice softened. “The same place your mother got caught.”
“I wish I knew how she got out.”
“I've been working on getting that information.” Adelle paused and withdrew her phone, smiling. “They're back.”
“Safe?”
“I don't know, but Brock and Zayne are on their way. Luke is going home. They're all alive.”
“How do you get used to this?” Kira rubbed her arms. She knew little of what Zayne did, just that it involved her mom. “I keep waiting for terrible news.”
“I don't get used to it. It's always hard.”
They both hurried back to the house. Kira struggled with her nerves the entire time Zayne was away, and her heart pounded now. Were they okay? What about her mom?
Once inside, Kira glimpsed both men standing and relief eased through her body. Adelle hugged them while Kira forced herself to stay in place. They looked tired, especially Zayne, but they seemed okay.
She just hoped her mom was too.
Zayne's gaze caught hers, and her stomach flipped. “You get to see your mom over a video call soon. The United and the Phaedra agreed to terms.”
Her hand pushed against her stomach, steadying herself. “Really?”
“Yes. A security team will be in today setting everything up.”
“What's the price? Nothing is free.”
Zayne walked toward her. “I don't know what will come of the meetings over the next few days. Right now, you just get to see her. It's a sign of good-faith negotiations.”
“Negotiations?”
“The Phaedra and the United are at a stalemate. They'll discuss terms for an exchange.”
Though she knew better than to assume anything, foolish and naive hope fluttered inside of her.
“Things didn't go well on your trip,” she whispered.
The satisfied look in Zayne's eyes said enough. He'd made sure of that, hadn't he?
“I don't want you around the team,” he said. “It's a nice day. Spend time outside.”
Kira backed up. “I don't mind that. You two rest. You look worn out.”
The walk outside rejuvenated her so much while she thought of seeing her mom again. That seemed like an impossible wish for so long, even after being captured and learning Mom was alive. What would she say?
Zayne said they were discussing an exchange.
Kira couldn't let wild chances soften her to the danger ahead, but her imagination swept her away several times while she walked, thinking of a life in the territories with Mom.
She felt like she'd never escape Ciondo.
Something would always go wrong, like the soldiers attacking right when she believed she'd be free. But what if?
Kira and Mom lost an entire life together, but they might have the chance to start a new one and to know each other again.
After an hour, Adelle met her by the wooden fence surrounding the lake. “It's okay to go inside again.” Her voice sounded strained.
“What's wrong?”
She withdrew a small bag from her waistband, hidden beneath her shirt, and clutched it against her. “Zayne is hurt.”
Fear jolted through her. “We just saw him—”
“He can't show it.” Her shoulders were slumped. “I leave supplies hidden for him that look like they go with my sewing and knitting baskets, but the needles are sanitized and the material is for bandages.”
If Zayne needed to hide an injury, then he did something he wasn't supposed to in the territories. That meant he got hurt helping Mom and her. He placed himself in too much danger for her.
“He hides the used bandages in a bundle of clean cloth so I don't see.” Adelle opened the bag. “And I always look so I know what pain my son is hiding.”
Kira held her breath when she leaned forward to see inside the bag. Blood soaked the twisted bandages. Nausea rocked her stomach. “He needs to rest.”
“His father has him busy all day. I hate this.” Adelle picked up rocks and dropped them into the bag. Then she followed the fence until reaching a walking bridge that crossed a stream, where she tossed the bag into the water. “There's a current here that will take it to a deeper part of the lake.”
“How many times have you two done this?” Kira asked, watching the bag with Zayne's blood disappear.
“Too many.”
“It's because of me.” Kira gripped the wooden beam of the fence. “I'll get him killed.”
“This is what Zayne does. Don't do that to yourself.”
“How would you feel if he were risking his life to save you?”
Adelle closed her eyes. “You can't take the blame.”
“I have to try getting him to rest.” Leaving, Kira searched through the house until she found him typing at a desk. For years, he risked himself for her. Now he was sitting there in pain, pretending he was fine. He needed relief.
“It's beautiful out,” she said. “Can't you take a break?”
“No. I'm busy.”
“Come on.” If Kira got him into the woods, she might be able to make him rest. “Thirty minutes. I haven't seen you in days.”
After hesitating, Zayne rose, seeming to catch that she needed something. “Fine.”
On their way outside, she searched his face, his body, for signs of pain. He'd lost all that blood. What happened, and where was he injured?
“What?” Zayne asked as they walked across the courtyard.
“Nothing.”
“You keep looking at me.”
No limp. So likely not a leg. “I'm not.”
A quiet groan. Once they traveled into the woods, he glared at her. “Why did you drag me out here?”
“You're exhausted.” She met his eyes. “Sleep. I'll tell you if anyone approaches.”
He looked at her like she'd lost her mind. “Tell me you're joking.”
“I'm not. You need rest.”
“What's gotten into you?” He started back toward the house.
If Kira hadn't seen the evidence for herself, she wouldn't believe it by how convincing he acted. “I saw the bloody bandages.”
An icy moment of silence chilled her, and then came the low, exacerbated growl. Kira thought she heard him mutter something under his breath about his mother before he issued a cutting order. “You saw nothing.”
Kira jabbed her finger toward a tree. “Sit. Now.”
He strode toward her. “You understand I'm concealing my injuries for a reason.”
“I do.”
“Knowing about them places you in danger. Do you and my mother no longer care about that?”
An ache dug into her chest. “What about the danger you're in? Before you run through a playlist of your favorite lines about how you're a soldier, this is war, blah, blah, blah… You're also a son. You're also loved.” Kira tightened her expression. “Let your mom do her part in taking care of you.”
“She handles my bandages and hides my secrets. That's more than I should ask for.”
“Why are you wasting your energy fighting me? Didn't I tell you to sit?” Kira snapped at the tree this time. “Go.”
“I can do this without your help.”
“So? It's a long day. You're hurt and exhausted. Keep living like this, and you'll be dead before you make an impact on the empire.”
He quieted at that.
She sighed and dropped to sit by a tree, running her hands through her hair. “What if I got hurt helping you? Do you know what this is like? I can't even stop you. You'll do it no matter what I say.”
It seemed Zayne was determined to fight her, so it shocked her when he lowered himself as well, leaning his side against the tree she'd been pointing at. A subtle look of pain tightened his eyes and lips.
“I'll rest if you stop blaming yourself,” he said.
That wasn't easy to do. “Sleep. I'll keep watch for you.”
His gray eyes shifted to the canopy of young leaves above them, looking heavy. “I don't want to sleep.”
Whether that had to do with letting Kira witness the vulnerability of sleep or for some other reason, she couldn't know. He was resting, so she wouldn't frustrate him. “Where are you hurt? Do you need help with bandages?”
Zayne shook his head, eyes closing. “I took care of it. Thank you, though.”
He thanked her so rarely that it took a few seconds to notice he didn't answer her other question. Did Kira do the wrong thing before when she promised not to hurt herself? What if he had complications? What if he died next time?
After a few seconds, his eyes snapped open right before Kira heard footsteps.
“So this is what you two do out here.” Brock chuckled. “Nap time.”
Zayne kept his eyes open long enough to look distinctly annoyed.
“I know he's hurt,” Kira said. “I want to know what happened and how bad it is.”
“You don't need to know anything.” Zayne waved a dismissive hand at her. “I'm fine.”
Brock sat beside him. “Let me check it out.”
“I changed bandages an hour ago. That's why I'm out here dealing with this. My mom told her. It looks good.”
“You're not the medic. I decide what looks good.”
“I'm trying to sleep.” He closed his eyes.
“He's not.” Kira glared. “He refuses to sleep. He's trying to get rid of you.”
“One peek,” Brock said. “Then I'll leave you alone.”
“It's annoying to undo the bandages.”
Rolling his eyes, Brock looked at Kira. “He got stabbed. Work your magic on him and make him comply.”
The blood drained her face in a cool rush. Kira scurried to her knees, scanning his body. He shouldn't be up at all. “Zayne!”
“I did not get stabbed.” Zayne scowled. “Don't tell her that. You'll scare her.”
Brock tilted his head to the side. “What do you call it?”
“It's a cut.”
“A cut?”
“That's what I said.”
“So Zayne was cut.” A glance at Kira. “Inside of his body with a knife.”
“Go to bed.” Kira pointed toward the house. “Now.”
A quiet rebuke brewed when Zayne scowled at Brock. “It entered at an angle and didn't go in deep.”
“Oh well, in that case…” Her fists tightened. “Go to bed now!”
Kira knew little about medicine, but infections were serious. What a mistake in bringing him to the woods. She was so foolish.
“I have business to deal with,” Zayne said.
“Then you can get out of bed when the business starts.”