Chapter 42
Ryder
The military units have improved tremendously over the past couple of months.
It’s impressive, but it’s not enough. Not if my father has an alliance with the Dread Woods.
We were already outnumbered before, and even with the Infinite Sea alliance, we still don’t have enough.
My soldiers now have to be twice as skilled.
Twice as prepared. There is no room for error.
“So, what do you think?” Damien asks, standing with his hands behind his back.
“They’re not ready. Not if they’re facing off against the monsters that lie in the Dread Woods. They aren’t prepared for that kind of fight.”
“Then we’ll get them ready,” he answers with resolve.
“They’ll need to know what it is they’re up against. That means not only training but studying. Figuring out strengths and weaknesses.”
“I can help with that,” Akari offers. “We can also have the witches conjure mock-ups to train against.”
“That’s not a bad—”
My words are cut off when I go flying across the charcoal wasteland.
Ringing in my ears silences the nearby screams when I lift my head that feels like a hammer is pounding against it.
Debris and severed body parts fall from the sky as the ashy dirt tries to settle.
My body aches, but I appear to be in one piece.
To my left, I see Artemus splayed out with something sharp sticking out of his middle.
“Don’t move,” I tell him as I press against the wound. “You’re gonna be okay. Just try to breathe.”
His breaths are labored, and it sounds like his lung might be punctured. A piece of a sword is protruding out, but it seems to be helping stop the blood flow.
“Delecroix!”
“What just happened?” Blood runs down his forehead, but the rest of him appears to be untouched.
“I don’t know, but I need you to get Artemus to the infirmary.”
He nods and cradles Artemus in his arms, careful not to move the shard of weaponry impaling him. I take a moment to scan the area, assessing the damage. There must be at least a hundred dead or injured.
Reign.
I need to find her. There could be other bombs.
Panic starts to consume me when I don’t find her in her room, or Amaya’s, or the cafeteria. The moment I land in the Center and see her sparring, a wave of relief washes over me.
“There you are.” I trace over every inch of her.
“What happened? We heard a loud sound,” she asks, her expression growing with concern.
“A bomb or an explosion. I’m not really sure, but I need to get you out of here.”
I grab hold of both her and Amaya before she can say anything. Once we’re standing in my room, she’s already bombarding me with questions.
“Grimstone is protected,” I say, cutting her off. “I made sure of it after your father—you’ll be safe here.”
“What? No! I’m coming with you,” she demands, grabbing onto my arm with an impressively forceful grip.
“No, I need you here.”
“I can help!” she argues, rushing around to face me.
“I know you can, but I need you here.” I move around her dismissively, and she wraps two bands of fire around me, caging me like an animal.
“If you’re out there, I won’t be able to think,” I admit through gritted teeth. “Once I know there are no more bombs, I will come back for you, but right now I need to know you’re safe.”
“It’s okay. Let him go.” Amaya reaches for her arm and nods to me in silent knowing. Reign releases her power, but her glare doesn’t falter as she watches me vanish.
The moment of relief I feel knowing she is safe is quickly replaced with dread when I land back in the chaos.
Jace is cradling Roman in his arms, and I know he’s dead.
Sharp pain clutches my chest, but I can’t afford emotions right now.
I cast my shadows out, drawing everyone’s attention to me.
Most look like they’re still in shock, their eyes glazed over.
Not a good sign when getting ready to enter a war where reaction time is vital.
“Wolves, search the Heart for any other explosives! I want every inch of it cleared.” They heed my order, shifting immediately.
“Fae, check the Hall! Leave nothing unturned. The rest of you, do what you can to help the injured. If they aren’t breathing, leave them!
” My orders seem to shake everyone out of their stupor, and they immediately go to work.
“What do you need from me?” Akari asks, hurrying over to my side.
“There isn’t enough room in the infirmary for everyone. Clear out the Center and prepare beds. Take Emeric with you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ryder!” Elias shouts from across the way. I know it has to be killing him to be in that chair, unable to run around and help like everyone else.
“You’re not hurt, are you?” I ask, looking him over.
“No, I’m fine, but listen. I was watching the units before the explosion, and it was Nexus. He just blew up… as if he were the bomb.” His ocean-blue eyes bore into mine like he’s trying to say more without actually saying it.
“Where’s Zane?”
“I’m not sure.”
Not the answer I wanted.
“Can you take charge here?” He nods, but I can see the haunted look behind his eyes. I put a hand on his shoulder. “I know what you’re feeling and that what I’m asking of you is no small thing.”
“I’m good,” he says in a low, gravelly voice that tells me he is far from good.
I already knew it, but his ability to push through in times of action is one of the many reasons he’s a fine soldier. It’s clear to me now, we need more of him, but that’s a conversation for another day. Right now, I need to find Zane. Maybe Amaya will know where he’s at.
“Where’s Zane?” I ask before they can torpedo me with more questions and demands.
“He was in the Grand Library doing some research with Kane.”
“Why?” Reign quickly follows up. Her tone is telling. She knows something is up. Amaya looks to Reign, her face pinched with confusion.
“What’s going on?”
“Ryder…” Reign warns.
“Nothing. I just need to find him.”
“Don’t do that,” she says, taking a step forward. “We said no more secrets.”
There she goes. Using the trump card on me.
I let out an exaggerated sigh. “I don’t know much, okay? Elias said Nexus went off like a bomb. I’m not saying Zane is going to do the same, but I need to make sure.”
Amaya starts sobbing, and Reign instantly wraps her arms around her.
“Shhh, I’m sure he’s fine,” she promises, rubbing her back in soothing motions. “What can we do to help?” she asks, directing the question to me.
Her expression is pleading, as if she’s begging me to help give Amaya a distraction. I want to tell her to stay in Grimstone and out of the way, but I can’t bring myself to do it with her looking at me like that.
“Underground is still being swept for explosives, but I can take you both to help get the injured ready for transfer to the infirmary.”
“Can you do that?” Reign asks Amaya softly.
Amaya lifts her head, wiping away her tears. “Yes. Let’s go.”
After I’ve dropped them off, I head straight for the library. Other than the scattered wolves sweeping the room, it’s empty. They must’ve heard all of the commotion and gone somewhere else.
Just as I suspected, I see Zane helping Akari and Emeric prepare the Center.
“Mind if I borrow him?” It wasn’t really a question, but rather my casual attempt at acknowledging he’s coming with me without alarming anyone.
I already have him shackled to the chair that used to hold Damien before he can register what I’ve done.
“What is all this?” he demands, pulling at the chains around his wrists. “Let me go!”
“Calm down,” I warn, leaning myself up against the wall that separates the room. “This is just a precaution.”
“For what?” he growls.
“For you. Nexus just blew himself up in the middle of the military units. Do you know anything about that?”
Shock coats his face. “He what?”
“Yeah, I doubt he knew anything either. Whose idea was it to leave the Sector?”
“Nexus mentioned it, but—”
“I see.” I push myself off of the wall. “Look, I don’t think either you or him is responsible for this.
I know the way my father works, and I can only assume he had someone slipping in and out of your minds while you were at the Training Sector.
It wouldn’t take much for him to figure out you are friends with Reign.
I shouldn’t have had you guys go back. This is on me. ”
“What do you mean, slipping into our minds?”
“There are fae and witches who can manipulate the mind. Night Renderers are one example of that. Luckily for us we have one of those.”
“You mean Slader?” He moves as far away from me as he can. Almost like he thinks I’m going to rip his heart from his chest at any moment.
“Yes, Slader. He’ll be able to get into your head and see if anyone has planted anything in your mind—or body.”
“That’s what you think happened to Nexus?” he asks, tensing against the metal chair.
“I do. I think my father found a way to create a weapon out of him and sent him back here to take out our armies.” His eyes fall away, trying to process the information.
I can’t imagine it’s easy being told you might have a bomb inside of you just waiting to go off.
“I need to grab Slader. After he’s done a thorough examination, then we can see what the next steps are.
Until then, there’s no need to worry. Got it? ”
He nods, but I can tell there’s no part of him that isn’t doing just that.