by RJ Metcalf
She crushed the breath out him for a long moment. “I’d started to fear the worst,” she whispered before releasing him. She tugged on his hand, leading him to the table.
Christopher squeezed her hand before letting go so to salute Victor. The Elph’s dark eyes glittered in the lighting.
Christopher inclined his head. “I have returned.”
“So I see.” Victor flicked a hand by Pamela’s vacant seat. “Tell me of your mission.”
Uncertain if Victor meant for him to take Pamela’s chair, or just stand by it, Christopher chose the latter, opting the casual yet respectful stance drilled into him at the academy. Pamela sank into her chair and picked up her fork, toying with the food while watching him expectantly.
Christopher loosed a deep breath and started at the beginning, acknowledging his frustration at Lucio’s leadership from the get-go, and his anger at Lucio’s detached betrayal of sacrificing Andrew for the sake of a working bloodstone. He clenched his hands into fists. “If he’d at least warned us …”
“And yet he didn’t.” Victor shrugged and speared a wedge of potato with his fork. “His sacrifice will be remembered. What of the others?”
The part he’d been dreading. Christopher looked up at Rachel, and he knew she could read the apology in his eyes. Her face crumpled and a tear started rolling down her cheek.
“I’m sorry,” Christopher said to her, feeling his heart tighten in his chest in fresh sorrow. “She and Derrick died when we were trying to leave Kelstone.”
“So it was just you and Lucio to the end from there?” Pamela’s eyes widened. “How awful.”
Victor snorted and pounded at his chest before taking a sip of his drink. “That is quite the hardship, there.”
A bitter taste swept over Christopher tongue at Victor’s callous response to the loss of Christopher’s entire Void Born team. His short nails bit into his palms as his stomach tightened. But what else did he expect from his Elph overseer? Somehow he’d remembered, or expected, more from the man who’d lived in the southern nations for so long. He’d been such a drastic difference than the coven leaders and their generals back home, that he’d somehow built Victor up to be more than he was currently.
Christopher had to soldier through, though. “The barrier is down, sir, but there could still be some difficulties, if the nations unite,” he warned.
Not like Victor hadn’t already thought of that much. He tried to hide his wince. What if Victor took offense to him pointing that out? He hadn’t been around to know how lax he was or wasn’t with them, and if he decided he didn’t like that …
Victor shook his head, utterly relaxed. “They won’t reunite.” He swirled his mug and smirked into it. “They hate Everett far too much for them to band together under him, or with him, even. And once I finish disrupting the military here, well, they’ll have no chance.”
Intrigue pulled Christopher closer to the table. “What are your plans for the military, sir?”
“Markus!” Victor called. “Come here, stay silent.”
A short man with black hair, smoldering eyes, and a starched Aerugan military uniform walked out from a shadowed hall to Christopher’s left. Victor gestured a fork at him. “Meet Markus. One of General Titus’s special recruits. He’s from the Hollows arena, and he now works for me.”
Christopher studied the newcomer, and frowned. “How?”
Preston stopped chewing his food long enough to grin at Christopher. He nodded sideways at Victor. “Cause he’s brilliant and thinks three steps ahead.”
A hint of a smile tugged Victor’s narrow lips. He pulled a crimson-and-orange stone out of his breast pocket and held it up between two fingers. “Remember this?”
Christopher stared at it, his arm tingling in memory of long ago. He breathed out softly. “The activation stone that we brought you? Of course.”
“Indeed.” Victor slipped it back into his pocket and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. “I have someone on the inside of the Hollows who tattoos prisoners, guards, anyone and everyone who’d want some of her artwork. What they don’t know, is that she’s prepping each and every one of them for being bonded. I just need to get this stone to her so she can activate them.”
Christopher found himself nodding in appreciation for the simple ingenuity of the plan. Who knew how many hundreds of prisoners were in the Hollows at any given time? If even half of them were tattooed, as soon as the bond activated, Victor would have a small army from the inside of southern Terrene.
“I just need someone with a higher rank than this one.” Victor nodded to Markus. “So I’ll need you to go get a general for me. Preferably General Titus. You can take anyone who’ll help and not distract you.”
Christopher didn’t risk glancing at Pamela as he nodded. “He just arrived this afternoon from the Hollows. I bet I can lure him out for a drink. I’ll get him here, somehow.”
Victor leaned both elbows on the table and knit his fingers together to rest his pointed chin on them. “Do it. The sooner we get him captured, the sooner we can start the war.”
Chapter Twelve
Jade
Cool morning air whispered over Jade’s bare forearms as she watched Ben lift the steam rifle and take aim down the grassy path to the freshly stuffed target that Weston and Pistoia had set up earlier. The outdoor workspace now had multiple targets lining the far edge, as well as several chairs for onlookers such as herself and Finn. She opted to stand, for sake of being able to pace as needed.
Ben squeezed the trigger and a small puff of straw burst from the target, signaling a hit. Steam rolled across the grass toward Jade’s boots, and she cheered while Weston nodded in approval. Geist jogged down the green to inspect the target, his pine-colored pants blending with the vegetation, while Kerlee dubiously looked over the rifles. Kerlee’s blue-and-pink swirled shirt threatened to give Jade vertigo with every move he made.
Ben truly was a natural with the weapons Weston had designed. It must be a part of the training from his past … on the other side of the Void. The happiness she’d felt a moment before dimmed at that thought, and a dull ache of hesitancy took its place. He was still Ben. That hadn’t changed. He was still her friend, whom she trusted and respected. And yet there was a small pit in her stomach that just didn’t know what to do with the knowledge of who he was. What he was. Even though she’d accepted it. Him.
Finn pushed against his knees and rocked to his feet, then joined Ben, gesturing at the rifle. Ben handed it over, pointing to the weapon and the target, clearly explaining how it worked. Geist jogged back and scooted around to watch from behind Finn, over-exaggerating his fear of the weapon in the older man’s hands.
Her heart lifted at Geist’s antics. Whales, she’d missed all her crewmembers.
How would they handle this mission? What if something did happen, and it came back to cut her or Weston? How would they explain themselves? She fisted her hands in the fabric of her skirt. What if that was the final nail in her coffin, and it made the political arena so messy that she was forced to marry Weston then and there, despite all they’d been working toward?
Finn missed twice, then Ben took the steam rifle back, his laughter floating across the field.
How could someone so normal be a Void Born?
Never before would Jade have pegged herself as one with prejudice. She would need to fight it, especially now that she was in a leadership role. She wouldn’t allow herself to be like Everett. Or the Antian emperor, Ezran. She had to be above them.
Zak already seemed to accept Ben just as readily as he had before. She should follow his example.
As if her thoughts summoned him, Zak circled around the back of the field from where he’d been investigating the steam-rifles and stopped at her side. His knuckles briefly grazed her shoulder, leaving a surge of warmth in their wake. Zak moved to stand a few paces away from her, conspicuously out of reach, every inch of him looking like the perfect, handsome bodyguard that he was.<
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She glanced away from his chest, face flushed from the direction her mind went. Kerlee’s snickering suggested her blush hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Geist hefted the rifle and ran his hand over the soft leather bag, listening to whatever instruction Weston was giving. He nodded, swapped the water bags out, then brought the gun up to bear, pausing again as both Ben and Weston immediately started correcting his form.
“Go. Try your hand at it.” Jade made a move to push Kerlee, and he stumbled out to the field with exaggerated gestures. He shot her a teasingly dirty scowl at which she smiled brightly.
Finn strolled back to the chairs, choosing to sit just one seat over from where Jade stood.
Zak dipped his head to Finn in a friendly nod, then searched Jade with a smoldering gaze that made her stomach swoop. “How are you doing?” His voice lowered, as if conscientious of the scattered guards far along the work field perimeter. But not so low that Finn probably couldn’t overhear. “Specifically, about him?” Zak nodded at the trio on the field, his emphasis not lost on her.
Finn’s head tilted ever so slightly their direction.
“How did you know what I was thinking?” She shot Zak a wry grin. “Still adjusting. I have moments where I feel like I’m good with”—she waved her hand in the air, unable to find the word that she was looking for—“everything. But then it’s like I have these ball bearings in my stomach that I don’t know what to do with.”
Zak nodded. “I understand that.”
Geist shot at the target, and the edge splintered, spitting grass. He swore and reached for the fresh bullet that Ben held out for him.
Jade sighed and pinched at her layered skirt, making it ripple across her ankles as she rocked back and forth. “I’m nervous.”
“About their mission?” Zak shifted and clasped his arms behind his back. His gaze darted to Finn, then back to the practice. “They have decent odds of getting in, at the very least.”
“That too, but I’m thinking of Everett.” Jade finally sat in one of the hard chairs. She started to slouch, then caught herself and straightened, conscious of the ladylike posture that Francene had been mercilessly drilling into her. “He’s been silent, Zak. And we’re two days past the deadline that he gave Weston.”
“Yes, but he also extended the date of the wedding, according to Weston.” Zak moved closer, his tall shadow falling to the grass at her feet. “It’s not so much that he’s been silent as he’s been distracted.”
“By what?” Jade shivered and rubbed at the goosebumps on her arms. “What’s changed?”
“The barrier went down. Brandon showed up. Take your pick.”
Her lips twisted into a grimace, and she wrinkled her nose. “Brandon hasn’t even talked to Everett yet. He’s been everywhere else, with anyone else, talking to everyone else, but not to him.”
“Exactly.” Zak grinned down at her. “Everett’s not used to being ignored. And for the lost Prince of Doldra to return and completely ignore him? It’s got to be driving Everett crazy.”
If that were true, then maybe her father was proving to be more useful than she’d thought. She shifted in her chair and watched Geist shoot again, this time hitting the center ring of the target. Everett being distracted sounded good, but she’d witnessed his temper and how quickly he made demands. “What if Everett suddenly decides to make up for the lost time and declares that Weston and I have to marry right away? We just need to figure out the details for Doldra’s exports to Aerugo, and we’ll have the treaty deal finished. We’re so close to having a solution that doesn’t involve a marriage.”
Zak shrugged and his sword hilt clinked on his belt. “If Everett tries to force you two into that, then just reveal the treaty early and chisel out the details after.”
How did he always take all her hours of countless worry and nonchalantly condense it into some ridiculously simple solution? She hugged herself and kept her focus on Ben as he took the steam rifle back from Geist. “And what about you? If he tries to hurt you …”
“Don’t worry about me.” Zak crossed his arms even as he pursed his lips. “Everett has more to worry about than controlling you and Weston.”
It wasn’t controlling her and Weston that bothered her at this point. It was Everett’s threat hanging over Zak’s head. The idea of protecting her people was starting to grow on her. And if the treaty worked, then she could step up and be queen, hopefully shelter Doldra, and still be allied with Aerugo, all while marrying Zak. She wouldn’t be free to be an airship captain as much as she wanted, but she could do that on the side, when traveling for leaders’ summits or negotiations or whatever was needed.
She’d get to live up to what her father Slate wanted for her, all while getting the best of both worlds.
But she needed Zak to live and not be under Everett’s constant threat.
Did that make her selfish?
Trying to balance the life of the man she loved against the people who were to be her subjects? What good was strength if not tested? Dare she use what strength she had for both? She was done cowering in indecision. It was time to stand up and fight for what she believed in.
Now that she knew what to believe in and fight for.
Ben shot, re-loaded, and repeated the pattern twice more. She stared down the grassy pathway at the target. It looked like he’d hit the bull’s-eye all three times. Weston clapped Ben on the back, and Ben gave Geist a smirk before handing the rifle over. Geist snatched at it and shoved a bullet into the barrel, then paused and held it out to Kerlee, who took it with clear trepidation.
Weston walked over to join Jade on the sidelines. The sunlight emphasized the warm brown highlights in his short curls and, for the first time ever, Jade didn’t mind admitting to herself that he really was handsome. He just wasn’t for her.
He settled his hands on his hips. “Ben and Geist will definitely do for teaching at the Hollows. They’ve barely practiced as much as my other men have, and they’re already as good, if not better.” He shook his head with an expression of disbelief. “I don’t know how Ben can pick it up so fast, but it’s downright impressive.”
“Ben’s definitely good enough,” Finn said. He nodded slowly, hope and despair equal in his eyes. “And I’d guess that Geist is just good enough.”
Good enough to make the shot, and Ben could definitely teach the guards how to use the steam rifles, but were they good enough to not get caught? Jade’s throat closed and she swallowed hard. Technically speaking, what they were doing was perfectly legal. But if they did anything that involved breaking Raine out of the Hollows, anything at all, it would eventually get traced to Weston. And her.
Jade felt her smile strain. “Ben must have natural skill.”
“He really does.” Weston pivoted on his heel to watch Geist take another shot. He waved for them to come over, then turned back to Jade and Zak. “And Geist is really close behind. I can send them out under Timothy, just like we’d originally planned.”
Finn’s breath audibly caught as Ben, Geist, and Kerlee approached. Finn’s hands clenched. “How soon?”
Ben looked between Finn and Weston. “Do we pass? Can we go?”
Weston nodded at Ben and Geist. “Yes. You’ll leave in two days, as soon as we get uniforms for both of you. You’re going to have to pose as Aerugan military.” He gave Kerlee a wan grin. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I only have space to send two, and—”
“I didn’t make the cut.” Kerlee ran a hand through his hair. “Mind if I stick around while they’re gone, and I can practice more?”
Weston blinked before a smile lit his face. “Of course. The more allies that know how to use them, the better.”
Geist twitched and started rolling up his sleeves, showing off his muscular arms and the array of tattoos inked on his skin. “Can we just be private mercenaries that you hired?”
“No.” Weston laughed aloud. “These are private weapons designs for the Aerugan military. Sorry, but you’re tempo
rarily drafted.” He waved a hand as if to clear any of Geist’s sudden alarm. “Nothing official, just enough for Hollows administration to not throw a fit. Promise.” He pointed to Jade. “She’s our witness. I won’t hold you to anything other than your teaching the guards there. Whatever you do after that, it’s your time to spend.”
Ben swallowed hard, his shoulders tense though relief shone in his eyes. “Thank you.”
Jade leaned back into her chair as she regarded Ben. It was almost painful, seeing how deep his concern for Raine went. There was even the possibility that she hadn’t made it to the Hollows. Rumors of the cavern prison never spoke well of prisoner treatment, let alone for prisoners with the hated and feared Void Born label. How would Ben handle it if he got there and Raine wasn’t alive? She didn’t want to see him hurt any more than he already was from being separated from his sister.
“As much as I want to go with you lads,” Finn’s voice held a gravelly effect of suppressed emotion that made Jade’s heart clench, “I’m going to stay here while you rescue my Spook. Besides, you’re both more military material than I am.” His fingers twitched, as if twirling something between them. “I have a theory about Brandon and Kaius, and I need to test it out, in any way possible.”
Geist’s eyebrows rose.
Ben nodded, solemn. “We’ll get her back, Finn.”
“I know you will.” Finn’s smile trembled, and Jade closed her eyes against the sorrow he fought.
Finn’s trust in Ben shook her.
Granted, his granddaughter was also a Void Born, but Finn didn’t treat them any differently.
She had to learn. And trusting in Ben and Geist while they went on their mission was going to be a good starting point.
Chapter Thirteen
Brandon
Brandon’s skin jittered with the forgotten dance of nervousness. He hadn’t felt anything other than righteous satisfaction that he’d shown up in Lucrum before Jade was forced to marry Everett’s spawn. Thus far he’d succeeded in using the simple fact that he was alive and getting into who-knew-what to distract Everett.