Chapter Thirty-Six
“I can't let these people leave like this,” I whispered to Vas.
“What are you saying?” Vas asked out of the side of his mouth.
“We're freeing them tonight. All of them.”
“Kat, that could expose us. It would ruin our chances of finding proof of Bara's crimes.”
“How will he know it's us? I will get freed too.” I winked at him. “And we won't be seen anywhere near the captives.”
Vasren's eyes twitched. “It's your decision. If that's what you want to do, I will play along.”
“Thank you.” Then I made a subtle hand signal to summon the Raltven. When I felt them touch my arm—one, two, three of them—I whispered, “Remove the ribbons from the wrists of the captives. Do it quickly and quietly. And one of you needs to start with Eliel. Go!”
I felt the breeze of their passing.
Vas and I waited, strolling through the room of auction items. I expected a great commotion to occur as the captives were freed.
But there was nothing. I looked around. Then I met Eliel's stare.
It was clear and glossy with tears. He nodded to me, but other than that, he didn't move.
When I frowned at him, he shook his head.
Another look around the room showed me that every captive there, including those who weren't Lelurra, was biding their time. The signs were there—shocked expressions and blinking eyes—but they didn't run, and their masters didn't notice.
“Done, boss,” Navin whispered into my ear. “We told them not to run until they had a chance of escaping. Too many guards in here.”
Well, that explained it. The wisdom had come from my team, not the captives. It had to be excruciatingly difficult for them to pretend to be enslaved when all they wanted to do was escape. But if they saw this as their only chance, they wouldn't want to waste it.
“Well done. I should have thought to advise them.” And then I grinned. “Maybe I can give them that opportunity.”
“What do you need from us, boss?” Cesha asked.
“Go outside and warn Tesal and Behez to prepare for a rush of people leaving the warehouse. Tell them to help those trying to escape. I want them to take down the guards and anyone else trying to stop others from leaving. And I need the three of you to warn the captives that their chance is coming. Tell them to be ready to run when I make a distraction. And clear the way for them if you can.”
“Yes, boss!” They whispered.
“Are you sure about this?” Vas asked as his stare shot around the room. “We're outnumbered.”
“Can you help without looking like you're helping?” I asked.
He slid a look at me. “Of course. I'm a fucking Dragon.”
“All right. Let's give the Raltven time to warn the captives.” I leaned into Vasren's chest and surreptitiously watched for signs that the message was spreading.
They were subtle, but I saw them. When I was certain everyone was prepared—wings pulling in tightly against slender backs and fists clenched—I secretly removed my ribbon.
As it fell to the floor, I shouted, “What the actual fuck, Varra?!”
Vasren jerked back, no need for acting. I had shocked the shit out of him.
I bent and picked up the ribbon to wave it in his face. “Was it this thing? Is this fucking ribbon enchanted?”
“How did you get that off?” Vasren growled.
“Someone just fucking pulled it off me.” I looked around as if searching for them.
“Whoever you are, thank you!” Then I returned to glaring at him.
“That someone should have been you, asshole!
No, you should never have put it on me. What the fuck is wrong with you?
We're mated. But what—I'm not submissive enough? Am I not what you fucking expected, Varra?” Yeah, the words were a little too close to the truth—or rather, what I had once believed was the truth—but that's what made them sound so convincing.
Around the room, people flinched. Then they gaped. Then they stared. Bara started toward us, not noticing that Eliel didn't follow him.
“Get away from me!” I shoved Vasren and then turned to storm away in the opposite direction of the exit. I needed to draw everyone's attention away from that door.
Sure enough, not only did Bara head toward us, but so did his guards. I assumed not all of his guards were visible, but hopefully, they were following their boss's lead.
“Kailan, stop!” Vas grabbed my arm. “You're making a scene.”
“I'm making a scene?” I flung out my arms. “Oh, Gods forbid I draw attention to the great Lord Varra, Dragon lover extraordinaire. Go away! Go! Leave!” I wasn't just acting, I was shouting at the captives to run.
And they got the message.
The freed slaves had already been easing away from their masters.
At my scream to leave, they ran for the exit.
No one tried to stop them. Everyone had been staring at me.
The mass exodus did catch their attention, but much too late.
Masters gaped after their fleeing captives, too shocked to give chase.
I heard shouts coming from outside, but the flow didn't stop.
My lips twitched as I imagined Tesal and Behez taking down the Hulfrin guards while they were distracted by the freed slaves.
Then a Lelurra was flung about by someone unseen. She screamed and fought. Suddenly, she was free, looking as if she were leaning on the air. And the air led her to the exit. More guards, both visible and invisible, tried to stop the tide but were thwarted by my Raltven.
With the attention turning fully to the fleeing captives, I shoved Vasren in the chest and ran after them as if I'd just realized I should be leaving too. He gave chase, barreling aside Bara's guards in his “haste” to get to me.
“Come back here!” Vasren shouted even as he elbowed a Hulfrin who'd been reaching for a Lelurra. “Kailan!” He took another of the masters down—a Ricarri nearly as big as Vas. “Kai!” He bashed a Hulfrin guard into another.
My mate was damn impressive. But I didn't have time to watch him work. I left him behind and rushed outside to find Bara's two door-guards piled in a heap. Tesal and Behez were directing the fleeing captives, pausing only to punch anyone who tried to stop them.
Then I saw Eliel. He fell. At first, it looked as if he had tripped. Then I realized an unseen guard had grabbed him. Eliel spun and yanked the man's cloak from him. A Hulfrin was revealed, snarling at the Lelurra man.
I jumped onto the Hulfrin's back and stabbed a dagger into his neck. As we tumbled together, I shouted, “Fly! Go, Eliel!”
“Thank you!” Eliel launched into the air.
I looked up as the man beneath me went still, and peace washed over me.
The night sky was full of wings. Moonlight gleamed off feathers of all colors.
So beautiful. The sound of their freedom flight became thunderous as I stood, my stare locked on them.
And they weren't alone. Some of the Lelurras carried non-Lelurras between them—the few captives who were of other races.
Tears slid down my cheeks when I saw a Deldin woman beaming up at the two Lelurra carrying her, her ears blowing back in the wind along with her hair.
It felt as if I had freed myself. As if I flew away with them.
Then a pair of thick arms picked me up and carried me off.
I knew who held me—our bond warned me of his approach.
So, I didn't fight as Vasren roared at the Brandva to get back to the carriage.
Behez jumped up to the driver's platform and yanked the reins away from the wide-eyed driver as Tesal went for the back ledge.
Vas tossed me inside the carriage and climbed in after me.
“Wait!” I cried out. “Are they all free? Did all of them get away? We can't leave until they've all escaped!”
“They're free, Kat.” Vas cupped my cheek. “We freed them.” Then he pounded the carriage roof and shouted, “Go!”
I collapsed back against the bench and sighed. I never veered from my plans, never let my emotions alter what I knew was the best move. Not until a Lelurra man had looked at me with despair. It could have gone so poorly. But it hadn't. Because I had the right people helping me.
I looked over at Vasren. He was staring out the window, making sure we weren't being followed.
Yes, I had the perfect crew. And the perfect mate. But this was far from over.