Fireblood

by Wolfe, Trisha

  “What’s wrong, Larkin?” Xander asks. “Scared I’ll tie you to a tree and leave you there this time? Or that my girlfriend will kick your ass again?”

  “Shut. Up,” Devlan shouts. “Both of you.”

  “You’re not the commander anymore, Devlan.” Larkin chuckles mockingly. “And your first knight status doesn’t mean you get to call the shots, either.” A beat. “Why are you even here, Xander? Really?”

  It’s silent a moment before Xander answers. “I have my reasons.”

  There’s a long pause, and I hear Devlan’s footsteps pace again. His movements are shadows cast on the tunnel wall before me, shaky in the wavering torchlight. “I need to go to the camp. There’s something I need to discuss with Fallon.”

  “That’s too dangerous,” the guy—Xander—says. “We have to be cautious.”

  “I don’t care,” Devlan says. “It’s important to assess new information before I proceed.”

  “I say we off her tonight,” Larkin says. I slap my hand over my mouth. “If what you say is true, Devlan, that will weigh heavily in our favor. That is the mission, remember?” He pauses. “To get closer, gain access to Excalibur. Or are you a coward now?”

  “The mission, Larkin,” Devlan says, frustration lacing his voice, “was to wait until after the wedding.”

  Oh, my God. No, no, no.

  I stumble back, and my backside hits the stone steps hard.

  “This meeting is over for now,” Xander says. “Before you get too carried away, Larkin, Devlan and I will find a way to meet with Fallon.”

  Their footsteps quicken and I panic. They’re moving toward the tunnel. As quietly as I can, my limbs shaking, I climb the stairs. I reach the secret door but before I push through, I glance over my shoulder making sure I’m clear—

  —and meet Devlan’s eyes.

  We stare at each other, his eyes wide, my breath struggling past my lips. He turns toward the other knights. “You two take the back way,” he says. “We need to make sure both are clear.” Then he races up the steps.

  I don’t think.

  I run.

  Whatever their plan, whatever reason I’m to be killed, doesn’t matter. He knows I know, and he’s coming for me.

  He’s going to kill me.

  “Zara!” Devlan calls out.

  I barrel down the hallway and round the corner into the back hall. He’s fast. I know he is. He’s going to catch me.

  I don’t stop, and I don’t look behind me. I have no idea where I’m going to go, but I need to get away. It comes to me quickly. My chamber. I turn into the hallway leading to my room and run faster, my legs pumping. My dress tangles between my legs and I grab it up, forcing it above my thighs as I ignore the aching burn in my calves.

  His footfalls sound closer, but I don’t turn to look. As I come up on my room, his arms wrap around my waist and pull me to a stop. His hand clamps over my mouth, muffling the scream I barely work through my stinging throat. I kick and struggle as he hauls me inside my room.

  “Stop,” he pants into my ear. “Please, Zara. Just listen.”

  I twist and push against him, but his hold on me is solid. I could do this all night and he’d kill me eventually. I fall limp in his arms. I need him to release me so I can get away. I nod against his hand.

  He takes in a deep breath. “I’m going to release you. Don’t scream.” He removes his hand from over my mouth, then drops his arms. “Sit down.”

  The hell I will.

  I quickly scan my room. My choice is made. I’m getting out of here. For all I know, Sebastian is part of this sadistic plan. I can’t trust any of them. My father was right. Something is very, very wrong here, and I have to get out.

  I turn and knee him in the groin. Hard. He drops to his knees. “You really don’t know me, Devlan.”

  I race over to my desk while Devlan is still holding himself and pick up my wooden chair. It’s heavy, but I’m able to lift it high enough to get leverage, then I drop it on his head. He hits the floor face first. I scramble to the ground, reach inside his vest pocket, and yank out his keychain. I stand and kick him in the head for good measure.

  Cursing myself for not having packed a bag, I grab the only things of importance: a pair of sturdier shoes and my father’s dagger. I strap the leather sheath around my thigh, slam the dagger into it, and fly through the doorway.

  I hurriedly move down the corridor toward the atrium. It’s the closest way out, and on the side of the castle nearest the stable. When I reach the glass door, I slide the giant rusted key into the lock, the same way I’ve seen Devlan do many times. I don’t have time to worry about the Eyes. I have to get out.

  Dim lanterns sway in the breeze, barely lighting my way. Once I reach the stable fence, I climb over the railing and run toward the door. It’s eerily quiet. Fear prickles my skin, and my hand shakes as I bring the key ring out. I push the key into the lock and turn. The latch opens and I stare at the dial pad. Will Sebastian’s code work with Devlan’s key?

  I close my eyes and bounce up and down, thinking. If I put in his code and it triggers some kind of alarm, I’m done. I’m seconds away from taking off on foot when I realize I don’t have anything to lose. Devlan has probably already gathered the Force to hunt me down.

  I hit the numbers.

  The green beam shoots out the top of the door. I nearly collapse as relief floods me. The door slides open and I hurry inside. I don’t have to pause and think about which horse to take.

  A horse with determination to match my own.

  I unlatch the gate to Fireblood. I don’t waste time with the saddle, but I climb the gate to work the bit into her giant jaws and fix the bridle, then jump on top of her, legs straddling either side. My legs squeeze her sides as I pull the reins. She takes a few steps back, unsure of my command, but then she snorts and walks toward the open door.

  As we head toward the gate, I curse. I should have opened it before I went into the stable. I stop her right next to the fence and dismount, sloppily, falling to my knees. I scramble up to the gate and yank the latch open. Climbing to the top railing to mount Fireblood once more, I look up and spot Devlan. He’s running at full speed toward the stable fence.

  “Come on, girl,” I say. “Time to run like there’s fire at our heels.” I grip her mane and jump onto her back, then kick hard, and she sprints through the gate.

  Darkness swallows me. The moon is half-full and shrouded by treetops. The grass is gray and flat before me, the night veiling the curves of the earth. The black sky is laced with the faint blue lines, and they dimly light my way. I want to pull the reins, slow us down, but I trust the horse knows what to do. We hit a hollow and I nearly tumble off. Fireblood bounds on, and I sink against her back, letting her lead.

  We forge on toward the open plain, and the moon brightens. I glance back, just once, and wish I hadn’t. Devlan follows not far behind on Hawken. He’s just hit the open plain and is gaining on me. I kick my heels and deepen my seat, launching Fireblood into a full gallop. “Come on.”

  The treeline just before the wall is coming up on us, and I know it’s not long before we near the opening Sebastian took me through that leads to the meadow. Once I’m through, I can try to lose Devlan in the forest.

  We enter the trees and the moonlight wanes. The darkness is thick, and I beg Fireblood to see the way. We can’t slow now. Branches reach out, grabbing at my hair and dress, but I sink closer to the horse and squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. “Just get us there, girl.”

  I hear the trickle of water and rise up just enough to see the shimmer of moonlight in the winding brook. I dig my heels into her side, commanding Fireblood to enter. The boulders breaking the surface of the water are slick, and Fireblood’s hooves search for footing. She whinnies and dances back, refusing to cross the stream.

  “Please, girl,” I plead. “We can do it.” I kick my heels, and she stamps forward, pushing off the bank and splashing her hooves into the dark water.

&
nbsp; We’re nearly to the crumbled opening when a splash sounds from behind. I jerk my head around and see Devlan and Hawken coming up on us quick. “Go!” I kick her harder, and she digs her hooves into the riverbed.

  Fireblood wavers to the side, her footing unsteady. I lose my balance and my grip on the reins. As I’m about to go over, arms reach out and grab me, pulling me off the horse and into the river. I land on top of Devlan. “Ow.”

  The cold water rushes past my skin, and Devlan’s arms grip my waist tighter as I fight against him. “Ow?” he pants hard. “You landed on me.”

  I elbow his side. “Get off.”

  “No.” He circles his arms around me.

  The freezing water rises to my waist as he traps my arms under his hold. I stop my struggle. I’ve lost. I know it. I’ve come so far, risked so much, and failed. “Just…” I stutter out, my will gone, lost as the adrenaline leaves my body and is replaced by resignation. “Just do it quickly.” Tears sting the corners of my eyes. I refuse to hold them back. My body shakes, wracked with sobs and shaking from the biting water.

  Devlan sighs into the back of my hair. His arms loosen, and he folds me into him. His hand cradles my head to his chest. “I’m not going to kill you. No one is.”

  I shake my head against him, loathing the comfort I feel from his arms, and slam my fist against his shoulder. “Don’t lie to me. I heard you. I heard all of you.”

  Fear gives me one last surge of adrenaline and, ignoring the icy water and my shaking limbs, I elbow his ribs. He releases his hold on me and I bound up, splashing my way toward the hole in the wall.

  Hunching, I crawl through and take off in a sprint. I’m just entering the meadow when his arms circle me. I stamp his foot, and he curses. Spinning on him, I shakily lift the hem of my dress and unsheathe my dagger.

  Devlan’s eyes lock onto mine. “Zara. Don’t.”

  I hold the blade out, my arm locked taut, and place one foot in front of the other, moving to the side of him. “I’m not afraid to use this.” I lift my chin, forcing false bravado into my voice.

  He lowers his hands and stands straight, tall. “Then use it.”

  “I just want to leave. You’ll never hear from me again. Just let me go.” I glance around at the trees, remembering the Eyes. “And use your communicator to call your knights and the Force. Stop them from pursuing me as long as you can.” I raise the dagger, making my point.

  “There are no Eyes here. Sebastian and I disabled them when we were kids. And we made sure the monitors never noticed a missing section.” His mouth hikes up on one side. “We were good at escaping back then.”

  Relieved, I begin to back away, putting one foot behind me. I stumble over a root, taking my eyes off him only for a moment. He springs forward and grabs my wrist, forcing my dagger hand out to the side. I struggle as he pushes me into a tree. My back scrapes against the rough bark, snagging my dress.

  Devlan secures both my wrists, pinning my hands above my head. His breath is heavy, coming out in hard clips as he stares down at me. His face mere inches from mine. “You misunderstood what you heard back there.”

  I force my head up and stare into his eyes. “I don’t care how you try to spin it. You said I was to be offed after the wedding.” My chest rises and falls against him, taking in deep breaths. “How, Devlan, did I misinterpret that?”

  His blue eyes bore into mine, pale as the moonlight. The freezing water from the stream soaked my skirt, and it clings to my thighs. I shiver. Whether from the fierce look in his eyes or the cold, I’m not sure.

  “Larkin’s a fool.” He shakes his head. “He only brought that up to get a rise out of me. He’s a bastard. He knows the mission has been changed.”

  “What mission?” I shudder again as the biting night air seeps through my wet dress. “King Hart brought me here to be killed? I don’t understand. Why even bother with a wedding?”

  “Zara.” He breathes my name, his breath warming my skin. “I don’t serve King Hart.”

  “What?”

  His lips press into a firm line, and his eyes widen as they steal over my shock. “I’m a Rebel.”

  SIXTEEN

  I shake, my body wracked with cold, making it difficult to stand. My mind spins with thoughts of King Hart and Rebels and torture devices. My legs tremble and give out, almost dropping me to the forest floor.

  Devlan links one arm under my legs, the other around my shoulders, and sweeps me up. I wrap my arms around his neck as the quick motion nearly sends me forward. My dagger dangles loosely from my hand against his shoulder.

  I savor the body heat he provides before we reach the river bank and he deposits me on one of the logs, the same one I sat on the day Sebastian brought me here. The night air presses on my wet dress, and I feel like I’m wrapped in sheets of ice.

  He stands beside me and looks down. “You’re cold.” He removes his vest, then his gray tunic. The moonlight washes his bare chest in pale light, the shadows accentuating his lean muscles. I turn my head, forcing my eyes away, but can’t help peeking. He turns around to place his vest on the log and his back catches the light. A large scar slices down his left shoulder blade toward the middle of his back.

  My heart thuds against my breastbone. I avert my eyes and sheath my dagger. Whatever made that mark must have been painful. As he turns around, I jerk my head sharply and look toward the woods. “Here.” He comes up beside me. “Lift your arms.”

  I’m too cold to fight him. I lift my arms and he slips his tunic over my head. It’s twice, maybe three times the size of me, but it still carries his body heat. I wrap my arms around my stomach, drawing in the warmth. His scent—the sweetness I can never pin down—fills my senses and my chest tightens. I used to associate it and the smell of mint and forest with the protection I felt from him. Now it infuses me with fear.

  He sits on the log beside me and stares. Silent. It’s going to drive me mad.

  “Were you planning to elaborate on your confession?” My stomach knots with unease at being so near a traitor, but I forge on. “Or is that as much of an explanation as I’m to get?”

  He pushes his dark hair back and looks at the vest in his lap, then pulls it over his head. I’m relieved I don’t have to stare at his chest anymore. But his bare arms, flexing as he grips and re-grips his hands, wringing them, are still distracting.

  Finally, he says, “I planned to unveil things much later.” He palms his thighs and leans forward. “But your snooping doesn’t give me much choice now.”

  I don’t deny it. I was snooping. I straighten my back and raise an eyebrow, urging him on.

  “What you, and most citizens for that matter, don’t know is that there is an ever-present uprising in Karm.” His brow creases. “The Rebels have been players in a silent war ever since a battle took place between us and the Force. It was after the Rebels lost that we chose to attack from the inside to bring down the barrier.” He takes a deep breath. “And this is the closest we’ve ever been to seeing that realized.”

  I shake my head. “How do I not know about this? How does everyone not know about this?”

  “Because, the last time the Rebels exposed themselves and fought against the Force hundreds were slaughtered.” He hangs his head. “The memory of that war has been buried. All those old enough to remember? Gone. Disposed of. The Rebels were nearly all taken out, too. The technology Hart possesses is something no one has seen since the Final War. And it’s something we can only access by getting to King Hart.” He laughs hollowly and looks up. “But as you know, no one can get to him. No one knows where he, or the mainframe that controls Karm, is.”

  I grip my sides tighter, my head swimming with confusion and questions I want answered immediately, but I stay quiet. I’ve never heard Devlan speak so much, or so passionately, about anything.

  “We’ve worked hard to be unseen, make them believe there’s only a small group so that King Hart believes the threat is close to being eliminated. It’s the only way we’re
going to get someone close enough to him.”

  “I can understand wanting change for Karm”—every time the Force beat my father, I prayed for it—“but why the barrier? What about Outside? Why are you risking so much for a wasteland? And one that is rumored to be dangerous?” I suck in a breath. “What if you succeed and it’s worse out there than in here? I mean, at least here there’s vegetation and food and we’re protected from monsters.” I’m surprised the words have left my mouth. After all my fervent arguments about change, this should sound like the answer. But it’s the truth. What are they fighting so hard to get to?

  He exhales heavily, the air fogging as it passes his lips. “There’s just too much to explain.” He drives his hand through his hair, frustrated. Then he rises and extends his hand. “Come on. We could talk all night and by dawn there’d still be more to tell.”

  I push his hand aside. “I’m not going anywhere until I get some straight answers, Devlan.” I rise to stand before him, my head angled back to meet his shadowed eyes. “Just tell me this. What I heard tonight, if the Rebels are the ‘good guys,’ how could you kill me? I’ve done nothing—am no one.”

  His eyes are hard on mine. “You were to be the key.”

  Taking a step back, I wrap my arms around myself and shrink against his steady glare. “I’m not a key…whatever that means.”

  He steps closer and extends his hand again. “We should be moving.” He glances around, and I’m suddenly wary. I ignore his hand and instead jerk my head sideways, motioning him to walk ahead of me.

  He releases a groan and backs away. “Wait here.”

  Disappearing through the crumbled opening of the wall, he leaves me behind in the dark with only the crickets and trickling of the river. Before I have time to fear the unknown of the forest, he returns with Fireblood in tow.

  “What about the Eyes in the castle? And what about Hawken? Shouldn’t I bring her?” The thought of being away from Court excites me.

  “I have it covered.”

  I study his assured features, and decide he does. Will I be able to escape him once we’re farther away? It’s a chance I’m willing to take.