SEVENTY-ONE
CAZ
I march to Kessel’s campsite as half the sun sits on the horizon. Rowan trails me with his gun locked in hand. Cerberus strides from the forest, panting raggedly as he meets at my side.
I trudge around huddles of women and children as the scent of roasted meat wafts through the air. It isn’t until I’ve approached the tent Valden is being kept in that I stop.
Milandra stands before the tent, her large hand clutched around the handle of a spear.
“Where is he?” I ask her.
She cocks her head. “Inside. Korah has muted his energy.”
“Good.” I remove my gun from the holster. “You might want to send the children off the campsite for now.”
Milandra’s hard eyes lock on mine with intention before she offers a stiff nod and walks away.
“Cerberus, come.” Rowan reaches for my wolf, giving his head a pat. Obeying, Cerberus sits next to him as he stands guard outside the tent.
I push one of the flaps back to find Valden seated cross-legged on the ground. His eyes are closed, and his helmet is in his lap. His hair is deep brown waves that touch his shoulders. His breastplate is gone, replaced by an ivory tunic.
He cracks one eye open to find his visitor then closes it again.
“If you don’t mind, I’m taking a moment to reflect,” he says.
“Reflect?” I march toward him, lifting the butt of my gun and slamming it into the side of his head.
He grunts as he slumps over, and while he’s down, I place my feet on either side of his body and grip him by his thick head of hair. “Do you take me for a fool?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Valden growls, blood dripping from his temple.
“No?” I whack his face with the gun again. He yowls. Blood streams from his nose before he can throw his hands up to clutch his face. “With little energy, you’re weak and I can kill you right fucking now. Tell me why you’re here! Why did Alora send you?”
“Is this how you get things done?” He spits a glob of blood past me. “Violence? That, my friend, is a sign of weakness .”
Pissed, I reel my elbow back and hit him again. When I let go of his hair, he collapses on his back with a weak chuckle.
“All I wanted was to see The Regals for myself. My father told stories about them…and my grandfather. They were right about them too. They are magnificent.”
I aim the barrel at his right thigh and shoot, piercing through his leg armor. He hollers this time, and that stupid smile of his disappears.
Footsteps sound behind me, and Hassha storms into the tent. She’s not alone. Alora’s arm is gripped tightly in her hand.
“Caspian?” Alora gasps, looking from me to her cousin lying bloodied on the ground. “What’s happened? Why are you hurting him?”
“Sit,” Hassha commands when she releases Alora’s arm.
Panicked, Alora rushes to one of the cots in the corner, sits, then looks between us. “Please explain what’s going on!”
“Have you searched her mind for answers?” I ask Hassha.
“I’ve searched what she’ll allow me to see, but her mind is strong,” Hassha says. “I can get in deeper, but it will not be pleasant, and it will weaken her.”
“I don’t care,” I growl, staring into Alora’s eyes.
“Caspian, are you insane? Why does she need to dig into my mind? I am on your side.”
“Are you, Alora? Because there was just an attack in Blackwater, and it threatened my entire clan.” I can’t stop my nostrils from flaring at the reminder of the fire in Maeve’s eyes, the way she chased Willow, trying desperately to kill her. “Korah and Hassha say there’s a traitor in Blackwater who has sided with Selah. Whoever it is, they’re close. It’s no one from my clan, and it’s not the Kessel soldiers. It’s someone who knows exactly what I am. The only new person who poses a threat is Valden, and you are the one who sent him.”
“ What? ” Alora’s face pales. “You think I’ve sided with Selah ? Now I know you’ve really lost your fucking mind!” This is the first time I’ve heard Alora use such harsh language. Her face is reddening with anger, but her eyes are desperate. “Caspian, put an end to this right now. You know exactly who I am and what my motives are.”
“I would understand why you’d join her, Alora. You want to protect your people. Your territory. You said it yourself that you’re terrified.”
“I—I am, but that doesn’t mean I won’t fight for what is right!”
I step back, shifting my attention to Hassha. Hassha moves forward and stands above Alora.
“Hassha, please,” Alora whispers, peering up at her with pleading eyes.
“Remain still.” The tips of Hassha’s fingers sharpen, and she grips Alora’s head to dig them into her skull. Alora wails as blood accumulates around Hassha’s nails.
Blue light transfers from Hassha’s hands to Alora’s head as she stares at the other side of the tent, eyes flickering. This goes on for several minutes, and there isn’t a single second of it that Alora doesn’t cry in agony.
Alora sucks in sharp breaths that make her sound like she’s choking. Blood drips from her eyes and ears, and everything in me wants to look away but I can’t.
If she’s the traitor, I need to watch. I need to know.
Finally, Hassha stops, the light fades, and she removes her fingernails.
Alora collapses on her side, breathing raggedly with thick streams of blood in the corners of her eyes.
“Well?” I ask.
Hassha’s head shakes. “Nothing. I went through her. There is no trace of Selah on her. No hidden memories. Nothing .”
At that, Alora cries harder, and blood drips onto the quilt beneath her.
Fuck. “Alora, I—you have to understand,” I say. “Valden is a stranger. I don’t trust him, and your worries seemed to be clouding your judgement. I assumed?—”
“Yes, you assumed !” Alora barks at me, struggling to balance herself on her hands. Hassha tries reaching for her, but she yanks her arm away, which only results in her falling onto her stomach.
“Your energy is low, Alora. Let me help you,” Hassha insists.
“No,” she growls at her. “I don’t need your help.” With a grunt, she manages to rise to her feet, but her entire body is trembling. She swipes the bloody tears from her eyes, leaving crimson streaks on her cheeks. “Just return me to Vanora. We still have a war to prepare for.” Sniffling, she swipes dirt off her gown then raises her chin. “And bring Valden with us.”
Hassha collects Valden from the ground, and he limps with his head hung low, blood still dripping from his nose and mouth.
“Alora,” I call as Hassha closes her hands around their wrists.
Luminous blue sparks appear around them, the sign that Hassha is about to teleport.
But before they go, Alora tosses me a wounded look. Her eyes brim with regular tears, and her bottom lip quivers.
Fuck .
I know that look. I know it all too well.
I’ve betrayed her.
“Of all the people in Vakeeli, I can’t believe you’d think so low of me, Caspian,” she says with a rare crack in her voice.
Before I can blink again, they’ve vanished.