Chapter 8
Kieran
I led Seph and Ash through the rabbit warren of halls we’d carved into the mountain, heading toward the summit.
She walked behind me, rubbing her gloved hands together carefully. There was a small smile on her face — one I hadn’t seen in a long time.
She and Ash kept exchanging little looks. It was beginning to irritate me.
Dev met us partway along the corridor. When he saw me, his gaze hardened.
“So, what’s going on?”
I didn’t slow. “You’re training.”
Seph arched a brow. “Oh? And who decided that?”
“I did.”
Dev snorted. “Of course you did.”
I shot him a look. He didn’t look away.
He met my eyes, unflinching.
“I can show you some moves,” Ash said thoughtfully. “We could do some one-on-one.”
“No!” Dev and I said at the same time.
Ash blinked, looking offended. “Why not?”
“You don’t exactly have a simple style, Ash,” I said firmly. “You’d break her.”
“I would not —”
“Besides,” Dev cut in, “I’m better at the finer stuff anyway.”
“You aren’t better than me,” I snapped.
Dev’s mouth curved. “Want to bet?”
I turned to him. “What exactly is your problem, Dev?”
His eyes narrowed. “I’m not the one with the problem, Kieran .”
I stared at him, my hands clenching. “If you have something to say, say it.”
Dev’s smile vanished.
“And if I don’t?” he said quietly. “You’ll do what — send ferals after me?”
He tilted his head.
“Or sic Elliot on me?”
“Guys—” Seph began.
Ash touched her shoulder.
“I’ll take you to the food hall.”
She hesitated, then nodded, letting herself be led away.
Dev glowered at me.
“Dev,” I said tightly. “Talk. Now.”
I took his arm and steered him toward an empty room. He shook me off violently — but followed.
I shut the door behind us.
“I don’t know what bug crawled up your ass,” I said, my voice low and controlled, “but you do not disrespect me in front of anyone. Ever. Is that clear?”
Dev’s eyes burned.
“Disrespect?” he snapped. He stepped closer.
“Like arranging a fucking feral raid on Darkmoor and not telling your partner?”
His jaw clenched.
“Like risking everyone’s lives just to get to one person?”
He laughed, sharp and humourless.
“You want to talk about disrespect? Try that.”
I held his gaze. “So, this is about Darkmoor.”
“You could’ve told me what was happening,” he shot back. “You could’ve told me anything, K. Instead, you threw us all into it like we didn’t matter.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t know,” I said evenly. “Elliot thought it was better to keep it contained — in case Gideon caught wind.”
Dev’s mouth twisted.
“Elliot thought,” he repeated. “Great. Good to know the rest of us are fucking expendable.”
“No one said you were expendable,” I snapped. “It was a strategic decision. He knew you could handle yourself.”
Dev laughed — short, broken.
“Ash almost died,” he spat. “I almost died. And if not for the fucking dragon, I would have.”
“What do you want from me?” I shot back. “We’re fighting a goddamn war.”
“A war you think you can throw people into without considering the consequences!” Dev exploded.
“This isn’t new information,” I said harshly. “You joined us. Do you remember? You came to us.”
Dev stepped closer, shaking with it.
“Because I thought what you stood for mattered,” he said. “I knew what the Council was.”
His voice dropped — colder now.
“But you’re reckless, Kieran. And you’re getting people killed.”
I scoffed.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” I snapped. “The only ones who died at Darkmoor were ferals and a couple of guards. And we shut down Marr’s house of horrors.”
I held his gaze.
“Doesn’t that count for something?”
Dev didn’t hesitate.
“Marr isn’t dead, K. He’s out there. It doesn’t matter where — he won’t stop.”
His eyes burned.
“And he’ll come for her. You know that.”
“Let him,” I sneered. “I will wipe him from the face of the earth. We will kill them all.”
Dev just stared at me, shaking his head. “Now you are starting to sound like him.”
“So what? Elliot has a vision – a plan!”
“Yeah, I heard all about the plan from Seph last night.” He stepped towards me, his gaze dangerous. “And it sucks.”
“We aren’t forcing her into anything!”
“Have you ever seen Seph after she’s siphoned someone? Do you know what happens to her?”
I swallowed harshly. “No.”
“I have. I watched her strip away a ferals life force before my eyes. And then I watched the black, evil fucking magic of it all strip through her skin like poison. It hurts her, K. Do you even care?”
“She handles it fine.” I replied, but the bravado was heavy in my voice.
“She’s not a damn battery! Every time she is forced to act it takes a toll. And what you are asking of her – What Elliot wants – “
“What would you have us do Dev? The Council out man us ten to one! The Libertarians have the fucking ferals attacking people everywhere and blaming us for it! Its turning public opinion against us! And not only that, but the Council has scouts out looking for Gideon. It’s only a matter of time before they find us!
If we don’t do something drastic, we are going to lose! ”
Dev snapped his mouth shut. He looked away, sighing.
“K. I respect you. I do. You are my friend. Together, we have done some bad shit. And I get it – things are rough. But you need to ask yourself how far you are willing to go to get what you want. Particularly when it comes to her.”
“We aren’t going to force Seph. That’s not who we are. It’s not who I am.” I said finally. “But she is important to the cause. And to me. She always was.”
“And if she refuses? No matter how much you guilt her. No matter how much you pressure her. If she tells Elliot no, will you still choose her then?” Dev asked.
For a moment I hesitated.
“That’s what I thought.” Dev said, his voice final. He shook his head. “The dragon was right about you. You’re becoming dangerous.”
“Oh, fuck you.” I replied. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Dev held my gaze for a long moment longer. There was no anger left in his expression now. Just something like disappointment.
“I hope you figure out which side of this you’re on,” he said quietly.
Then he turned and walked out.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
I stood there long after he was gone, staring at the empty space he’d left behind.
For the first time since Darkmoor, the plan didn’t feel solid.
It felt fragile.
And for reasons I didn’t want to name, I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Seph’s face when she’d smiled at Ash in the corridor — like she’d already chosen something I wasn’t part of anymore.