Chapter 26
ISLA
“This is infuriating.”
Isla glanced over at the growling Ameera, glowering at the dazzling mess her hands had become. Her partially decorated lantern sat on the table before her. “And I’m covered in glitter.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a little sparkle, Meera,” Davina chimed, tiny flecks of luster joining the freckles on her cheeks.
“You’ve never made one of these before?” Isla asked the general.
“No,” Ameera said, wiping her hands on the cloth meant to dry her paintbrushes. Her features soured. “My mother usually does.”
“Oh.” Isla's stomach twisted, and she wanted nothing more than to take those words and rip them out of existence.
She knew things between Ameera and her mother had been tense since Ezekiel was locked away.
From the small bits the general had disclosed and what Kai had figured, Ameera’s mother saw Kai’s actions as a betrayal of their family, and Ameera was complicit in that—a traitor to a traitor.
There was no reasoning with her mother that Ezekiel had put the entire pack in danger with his secrets and lies, and that he continued to do so if he was still withholding more.
Isla drew her eyes over her lantern again, along the swirls and symbols she’d drawn reminiscent of lumerosi.
Reminiscent of the ancient language of the marker and the book.
It was the product of a meandering mind that would not rest. Perhaps the glittering ash that would rain down as she sent the lantern up to burn away would bring some clarity, some answers. Some peace.
Thunder crashed like a hammer upon the world, and the crowd around her sputtered and groaned.
“For the love of the Goddess,” Ameera grumbled amongst them, throwing out her arms and lifting her head to the sky. “Haven’t we had enough? The goddesses need to give it a rest!”
Isla held back her smile, training her eyes across the night sky. It might be best not to mention that she didn’t mind it at all.
Something glimmered in the corner of her vision, and she turned to catch a glimpse of the Pack Hall’s window, which seemed to shine despite the minimal moonlight.
A violent tug in her gut, at her wolf, suddenly lashed through her side, buckling her, and then there was that tap, tap, tapping at her skull again. A thought, a presence, just at the edge of her mind.
Kai?
“Your Majesty… Your Majesty.”
For a moment, Isla had forgotten the address was hers, and she lowered her head to find Ameera and Davina had closed in, their eyes fixed on whoever spoke behind her. The former became a picture of lethality and grace, her eyes narrowed and arms crossed.
Isla spun, jerking back slightly when she came face-to-face with General Eli.
“General,” Isla snapped, her eyes questioning. Any anger and suspicion she’d felt towards him bubbled violently to the surface and likely rippled across her face.
“General,” Ameera echoed, nearly growling.
Isla could feel her take up the spot at her back.
Months ago, she’d effectively gathered that the two warrior generals hated each other—Ameera deeming Eli “General Social Climber” while he’d attempted to court Isla.
Passive-aggressive conversation had become an art form for the two of them.
Davina remained quiet, likely wary of whether she could trust the general, given his loyalty to Cassius.
As Eli surveyed each of them, Isla did him the honor of returning his pointed inspection.
He looked haggard, unkempt. His hair was mussed in a way she knew was from his own exasperated hands, and the fear and wildness shining in his slightly bloodshot, dark-circled eyes set her warrior’s heart beating.
What the hell had happened to him?
He eventually bowed low. “Apologies, Luna.”
Goddess, that sounded strange coming out of his mouth.
Isla did her best not to let her unease show. “Can I help you with something, General?”
Eli rose and placed his hands behind his back. “May I have a word with you?”
“A word?”
“Please.”
Desperation dripped from his tone. If it was a strategy to catch her interest, it worked. She really did need to address her bleeding heart.
He added, “It’s urgent, and I’ve heard my days here may be numbered.”
They hadn’t made any formal announcements about the warriors yet, but it seemed the rumor had spread.
Isla straightened, inclining her head in a way she imagined a queen would, and hoped she didn’t look ridiculous. “I’m listening.”
“Alone, preferably.” Eli glanced at Ameera. “It’s a sensitive matter.”
Ameera’s nostrils flared. “If you need a private audience—or any audience—with the luna, you can make an appointment like everyone else, General.”
Harsh, though she did have a point. If Isla had felt like being an asshole, she would’ve told Eli to take a hike and speak to Marin about her availability.
But she’d been trying to catch the general since she and Kai had trailed him through Abalys a couple of nights ago, and here he was, delivered right to her.
Seconds away, it seemed, from getting on his knees.
“Just a few minutes of your time,” Eli proposed again before she could end his suffering, his voice straining. For the briefest moment, his gaze flitted around them, searching and fearful. Odd. “It’s all I ask.”
“Very well,” Isla said flippantly. Ameera let out a small grumble behind her. “Should I get Kai?”
“If you must, but I’d rather speak quickly.”
Again, that shifty look, but his answer was enough to tell her that he’d be open to Kai hearing what he had to say.
“I’ll let him know later.” Hopefully, Kai wouldn’t be too upset about her leaving him out. She took stock of her own body. No more tapping, no more tugs, and he was still… there. Whatever had been vying for her attention had ceased.
Her gaze locked on a closed shop a few yards away that had been left unlocked for festival-goers to use the facilities. “We can go in there.”
Ameera said, “I’m staying close,” and the undisclosed warning hung heavily between them. If you do anything to her, I’ll wring your neck before Kai even has the chance to.
Eli swallowed. “Good.”
It almost frightened her how genuinely he meant it.
On their short walk to the store, Isla clocked two guards she hadn’t noticed earlier, watching her closely.
Her mate’s doing, most likely. But perhaps it worked out well in her favor.
With the two of them on standby, she and Eli disappeared into what appeared to be an antique hub.
Unlike Jonah’s bookshop that boasted the continent’s recent feats in innovation, from cars to small planes, telephones and radios, here commemorated the more distant past. She resisted the urge to flick at a gas lamp as she leaned against the artfully cluttered cashier’s counter.
Eli stood opposite her, his body rigid and his hands clasping and releasing at his sides. Once, she’d needed to tread so carefully around him, her commander who held her dreams and life’s ambition in his hands. But now, here, she held all the power.
“So, does this have anything to do with why you’ve been sneaking around my pack?” Eli’s eyes flashed in surprise. “Always expect to have eyes on you. We were likely spotted now, too, and I’ll probably deal with hell for taking this meeting.”
She could’ve been dreaming it, but she could’ve sworn Eli cracked a small grin. “Wise advice.”
“Common sense,” Isla countered. “So, does it?”
Eli’s features fell. “It does.”
When he reached into his jacket’s inner pocket, Isla weathered the shot of fear that rocketed down her spine. That terror, though, was swiftly replaced by shock.
Eli held out a shirt caked in dried blood. By the crescent embroidered into the gray fabric, she knew it belonged to a warrior.
Isla’s gaze snapped to Eli’s, and before she could ask, he said, “It’s Callan’s.”
She swore the ground shook beneath her. “Callan?”
“I found it outside the guard base last week. The blood seemed… fresh.”
“Last week?” The words cracked from her lips.
“He’s been missing for a while.” Eli clutched the shirt tighter in his fist and explained softly, “About a month ago, he missed training, and when I went to his room that night, his things were still there, but there was some blood, and he was gone. The next day, he didn’t show up again, so I let the High General know immediately.
Either he’d deserted…” He shook his head as if that was unbelievable. “Or something happened to him.”
Isla’s eyes fixed on his shirt, drenched in his blood.
Part of her wanted to reach out and touch it, to be sure it was real.
She’d gone to Callan’s room that night before Eli had.
She’d seen the blood on the door and the room in shambles from Callan trying to burn all evidence of him working as the Imperial Alpha’s spy.
It was where her mother had given her a piece of the diadem before fleeing.
“I heard from the Imperial Alpha the next day.”
Isla wrenched her eyes back to his. “Cassius?”
Eli sneered at the name, stunning her even more.
“He didn’t want me to draw attention to it.
He just wanted it to slip under the radar, and if anyone asked, just say Callan was reassigned.
” His voice softened in disbelief, and what seemed like pain ripped across his face.
“I don’t even think the High General knows what’s truly going on.
I had to lie to him, too. I don’t know if Callan was attacked, if he ran away, but the blood in the room, and then this.
” Eli lifted the shirt. “Someone hurt him. Cassius knows it, and now, they’re shoving it in my face.
I’ve been looking for him, looking for answers ever since.
The other night, I went to see a woman who claimed to be some type of mystic, and all she could tell me was that Callan was lost. Of course, he’s fucking lost—and she also said I’m in danger.
And I…” A bitter laugh. “I might be because I’m not going to let this go.
No matter what Cassius or your father may want. ”