Chapter 28
Zion transported us to the garden at home, his posture so rigid I wondered if he was even breathing.
“The barrier has been restored,” he said, leading us to the door. “It was recreated in your name and is already set to the old configurations.”
“How efficient, general,” I teased, but he didn’t react—not even to the nickname.
I walked with him to the door, still holding his hand.
I traced the barrier with my fingertips, and it turned blue at my touch.
I turned to ask about his return and whether he’d stay for good, but his expression shut down that conversation before it started.
I wondered what was bothering him so much—whether it was my level or if he already knew I’d pieced together the puzzle.
I snapped my fingers twice, and the barrier reacted, solidifying.
“Zion Voluz is welcome,” I commanded, opening the door.
His eyes followed my every step, and it was unsettling.
The atmosphere was heavy, as if the general were holding his breath.
He took a step toward the door, then we heard a car tearing around the corner.
Zion spun around, alert, shielding me with his body.
The car stopped in front of the house, and a man in military uniform jumped out.
He seemed so rushed he didn’t even bother closing the door.
“Thank the gods you’re here—I was trying to call,” the man exclaimed, practically running toward us.
To my surprise, I recognized the voice. It was the former trainer. Zion assessed him, and the shadows expanded, scenting a possible threat. Cauê seemed to notice and froze mid-stride, uncertain how to proceed.
“What are you doing here?” Zion demanded, still keeping me behind him. Cauê seemed relieved but very nervous.
“We had problems in the forest—the telepath couldn’t relay all the information because she’s injured, but the 7th squadron was surrounded at the Sarahi gorge.” He gestured urgently.
I knew the gorge—it was the only way into the Drutes nation. A narrow place, treacherous to navigate.
“What the hell was the 7th squadron doing in the gorge?” Zion walked up to Cauê. “Who was stupid enough to lead an assault like that?”
The man seemed to fear Zion—his shoulders hunched slightly.
“I didn’t tell them to go in—just to keep an eye on the gorge entrance—but they got pushed inside during the battle. The Drutes squadron was retreating to the city when they ran into our troops. Now they’re trapped between the enemy squadron and the city, with the entire army on the other side.”
Zion stiffened, and the air around them shifted. The shadows immediately snapped into battle mode.
“Where is the amperian squadron with superspeed?”
My eyes went wide as I looked from one to the other while they discussed the situation.
“They’re on the other side of the forest, the farthest corner, near the Ynka River. It’ll take at least a day at full speed to reach them, and we don’t have that kind of time.”
“Send the closest troops to the gorge exit—we’ll need an escort for the wounded. What are the numbers?”
“Two hundred Drutes soldiers and a hundred of ours. But on the other side, there’s a sea of enemy troops. We need to get there before they attack.”
Zion turned to me. I saw the decision written on his face before he even spoke.
“Stay home. The barrier is up—don’t leave under any circumstances. I’ll be back by dawn.”
Startled, I nodded in agreement. I knew what his life had been—wars and death, danger always present—but witnessing it firsthand was something new, and the fear rising in me felt almost irrational.
“I’ll leave in two minutes,” Zion said to Cauê. “Just make sure there’s an escort near the exit. I’ll get them there.”
Cauê nodded and pulled his phone from his pocket, heading to the car.
I stepped aside to let Zion pass, and the barrier turned blue as he entered.
Then he vanished, and I heard his footsteps upstairs.
I ran up the stairs, my heart pounding harder with each step.
When I reached his bedroom door, he was fastening the straps of his army vest.
“You’re going into the middle of the gorge alone?” I asked breathlessly. I wanted to know all the details—I needed to know everything.
“Yes. If I transport anyone else, it’ll take too long and waste energy.”
He buckled the belt and secured all the weapons—daggers, grenades that stored the gift of fire, smoke bombs. I recognized them all from training, and from the years I’d spent as a slave.
“Do you really need all of that?”
I was anxious—I couldn’t quiet my thoughts. He glanced at me sideways while checking that everything was in place.
“I don’t,” he replied, heading toward me. I blocked his path as if I could somehow keep him there with me. “But others might.”
I studied him up close, biting my lips to keep from saying something foolish.
For the first time in my life, I was afraid he might get hurt.
I touched the chain around my neck and removed it—the sinil necklace Ambrose had given me: a golden chain with an oval yellow amethyst pendant.
I pressed the metal against my palm and transferred an enormous charge of power into it.
The sinil vibrated in my hand, and I held it out to him.
“What is this?”
“It's a sinil necklace. If you need healing, just touch it with magic and it'll help heal your wounds.”
I approached slowly so he could see I wasn't a threat, rose onto my tiptoes, and wrapped my arms around his neck.
It was as much physical contact as he'd allow.
His breath tickled my eyelashes, coming faster now.
Then I fastened the clasp and stepped back; he held the stone between his fingers and looked at me, surprised.
“Thank you,” he said, stepping closer and cupping my face in his hands. My heart must have skipped a thousand beats. “We'll talk later. I know you've already pieced together most of my story, but please don't leave the house and don't unlock the barrier for anyone.”
I nodded, his blue-green eyes reflecting the same worry I felt in mine. Then his presence dissolved into dark mist, and I felt the faintest kiss of shadow brush my forehead.
Δ
Two hours had passed since Zion left for the forest, and I was still pacing through the house.
My mind fought not to dwell on what I'd discovered—I didn't know how mind powers worked, but I figured not thinking about it would help.
The problem was that worry about what might be happening to Zion consumed my thoughts, and I couldn't stay still.
I'd already done exercises in the living room, braided Kiara's mane, and even run on the treadmill in the basement—a place I sometimes forgot existed.
Right now, I stood in the reading room, staring at the black book.
It had been months since I'd tried to open it, and now seemed like the perfect time.
I picked up the thick volume and carried it to the living room, but when I reached the sofa, Kiara came barreling down the stairs, skidding on the smooth floor.
All her fur and feathers stood on end, and a leonine roar tore from her throat, making the house vibrate.
I dropped the book on the sofa and ran to the kitchen, remembering all the plans my paranoid mind had drawn up in case of an attack.
A board with ten collectible knives sat on the counter—I grabbed five and positioned myself behind a wall.
The chimera stood before the entrance door and roared once more as I reviewed all my training.
Whatever was out there, she'd recognized it as an enemy, and I trusted her intuition.
My heart raced. I tried to calm myself—we were in a military neighborhood, someone would come help if there was a threat, and there was the shield around the house.
I'd almost convinced myself nothing bad would happen when I heard a heavy thud in the living room—it sounded like a large animal falling.
With my heart in my throat, I dared a glance toward the door.
There was Kiara, sprawled on the floor. I ducked back behind the wall.
What was happening? Had the chimera fainted?
I listened, but heard nothing dangerous, so I crawled to the chimera and dragged her by her hind legs back to the wall. A hundred kilos moved with surprising ease thanks to my academy training. Frantic with worry, I checked her vital signs: her breathing was stable, her heartbeat normal.
“No need to worry, she's just sleeping.”
I nearly screamed at the voice in my mind.
I looked around, terrified, but there was no one in the house. My eyes widened—maybe it was the sonar's presence.
“I am extremely insulted that you would confuse me with such a primitive creature.”
“By the gods,” was all I could manage when I understood. That voice. I knew that voice—it wasn't something anyone would easily forget. Serguei was here.
“Ah, finally I've been recognized. It's a pleasure to see you again,” he said. There was a note of amusement in his words.
I recognized the timbre of his voice because Serguei had rifled through my thoughts when I arrived in Interion, and I remembered him trying to make conversation while he investigated. Now, the only thought in my head was that I was done for—I was certain of it. They knew what I had discovered.
“Kyller, why don't you open the door and unlock the barrier so we can chat? I have some questions for you.”
I forced myself to breathe slowly, in and out—I needed to keep the fear at bay so I could think clearly.
“We can talk like this. You don't need to come in,” I called out loudly enough for him to hear.
“Yes, I do. I don't want to be seen out here. A public figure like me shouldn't expose himself this way.”
“Then leave! I'm not opening it. I know what you're going to do, and if you really just want to talk, we'll talk like this,” I shot back, terrified.
Silence fell over the house. Then Kiara began to whimper softly.
“What are you doing?” I shouted, horrified. A tear slid from the animal's eye.