by T. A. White
She sat forward, feeling sudden hope as she reached for his wound, pulling the cloth back to reveal a small scar, silvery and white. It looked decades old instead of minutes.
He was healed. Totally and completely.
He should be dead or at least on his way to it.
"How? What?" Her eyes were wide and disbelieving. "How is this possible?"
You can never speak of this, the Kyren ordered, his voice deep as it reverberated in Eva's mind.
Unsaid were the consequences if she did. He'd destroy her and anyone she told, kill them with no regret. This secret was too big to allow to spread.
She'd never be able to reveal what happened to anyone, for fear they would use the knowledge for their own gain. Even the most trustworthy had their breaking point. They might intend to keep her council, but eventually something would happen. A loved one would be placed in danger, their ambitions would change, and then the Kyren's closest guarded secret would get out and be used against them.
If the Kyren had been hunted before now, it would be nothing compared to what would happen if people learned they could bring others back from the brink of death. What would people do to possess such a power?
Nothing good.
No one, Orion reiterated as if sensing the direction of her thoughts.
This would not be easy, Eva realized looking down at the unconscious man in her arms. She'd given her loyalty to the Trateri. Keeping this from them wasn't treason but it walked a fine and dangerous line.
She took a deep breath and released it. It was worth it.
"You have my word," she told the Kyren. She didn't know if it'd be enough. She was, after all, human, and humans had been the ones to enslave the pregnant mares in pursuit of power and domination.
There was a small sound, the whisper of feathers on the wind and then a gentle thump as Sebastian set down several feet from them.
His posture was hesitant and he avoided looking at them directly, shame in the arch of his neck.
There was a shift in Orion's bearing. Anger poured off him along with frustration.
Nephew of mine, you have much explaining to do, Orion said, a snap in his mental voice. Its intensity made Eva wince.
She watched quietly, her hands still cradling Caden's head as Orion stared the younger Kyren down.
Sebastian was two hand widths smaller than Orion, his horns not quite as developed. The two were opposites, one the color of starlight, the other the night that enveloped the stars and made them shine brighter in contrast.
You have broken nearly every tenet of our people, Orion bit out as he advanced on his nephew. He stood tall, intimidating, as he forced Sebastian back. Explain to me why I shouldn't excise you from the herd here and now.
"He had his reasons. Several very good ones." Eva set Caden's head gently on the ground, standing to face Orion.
She met Sebastian's ashamed gaze briefly before focusing on Orion, the head stallion of this herd. At least that's what it felt like.
You defend him when he wronged you the worst.
Eva lifted her chin. Yes, he had. He'd mislead her and forced her into a dangerous situation. Worse, was the knowledge she would have gone willingly if he'd explained what was at stake.
Yet she couldn't blame him. His foals and mates had been in danger.
He hadn't trusted her, not until much too late. She understood what it was not to trust. She was guilty of the same with the Trateri. Letting them in only so far, keeping her distance, hiding parts of herself so they could never truly know her.
She couldn't let him become outcast, hated and ostracized from his people. She knew what that felt like. She wouldn't see him go through the same.
"He did so to protect others. I don't blame him for it," she said.
Orion considered her, the weight of his mind brushing against hers. It was immense. Old. Different from Sebastian's who reminded Eva of a wild fire, capricious and full of heat. Orion's was cold, methodical, a high mountain lake fed from glacier and snow melt. Refreshing but its icy depths could kill too.
"The mares and their young would have been at the mercy of the humans had he not acted as he did," Eva said.
He could have come to me. I would have helped you, Orion said, swinging his head toward Sebastian and spearing him with a look.
I couldn't, Sebastian said stubbornly. The humans were hunting me. I only made it as far as the Trateri camp when I fled. Luck was with me when I found the Caller.
Instead, you decided to endanger any chance of a future treaty with the humans, Orion thundered.
Eva stilled. Treaty? She was under the impression there was no treaty. It was the entire reason Fallon had sent her and the rest here, in the hopes of influencing them to his side.
"Pardon me, great one," Eva said, not knowing how to address a Kyren of Orion's rank. "If a treaty is what you're interested in, the Hawkvale and his people would be more than willing to discuss it with you."
She was pretty sure Fallon would drop everything and ride north if Orion indicated.
Orion studied her. It is not so simple as that. Certain criteria must be met.
"You’re not so far from your requirements as you might think," Ajari said from the trees.
Orion snorted and stamped his foot at the new arrival. He didn't seem surprised, even as Eva jumped slightly. The mythological had disappeared after her talk with him in the city, and she hadn't seen him since.
He stepped into view. Blood caked his arms and around his lips. He was a nightmare stepping into the light of day. A human arm was held in his hand. As Eva watched, he lifted it to his lips and ripped another piece of flesh off, chewing and swallowing the meat as he stared at the rest of them.
Eva made a small sound of revulsion. She flinched as she realized the Kyren who had accompanied Orion were consuming the humans they'd killed, small slurping sounds accompanying their meal.
She paled further. It was one thing to know the mythologicals were carnivores, another entirely to actually see them eat humans. There was no hiding from that knowledge.
Eva swallowed hard, trying not to lose the contents of her stomach. The Kyren had saved her. Insulting them after that seemed wrong—even if her stomach was trying to turn itself inside out.
"Problems, Eva?" Ajari asked, his fangs peeking through as he regarded her through narrowed eyes.
He knew exactly what she was thinking and found it amusing to tease her for it.
Eva lifted her chin, forcing away the knowledge he and the Kyren had eaten what had once been people. Humans ate animals all the time. It was sort of the same, at the basest level. Even if that small voice in the back of her mind was trying to scream it wasn't the same at all.
"Your table manners leave something to be desired," she said coolly.
His grin flashed in appreciation.
So glad he was finding this situation amusing.
Enough teasing, Orion said. What did you mean before?
Ajari inclined his head, the glint in his eyes fading as his expression sobered. "The woman. She is young. Untrained. Her power is still relatively weak, but she's stubborn. She has potential. With her, you would not be reliant on my brother as an intermediary. You could forge your own alliance with the humans."
Orion considered, his thoughts brushing against Eva's.
She looked between the two, only half-understanding.
I will consider this, Orion said.
Ajari's lips twisted, his eyes veiled. "You do that."
The humans come, Orion said abruptly.
The two Kyren that had accompanied him took off, the wind from their wings blowing Eva's hair back.
We will meet again, little Caller, Orion's mind brushed hers. Come, nephew. We have much to discuss away from the humans and their noise.
He and Sebastian launched into the sky as the first sounds of humans moving through the brush reached them.
Eva regarded Ajari even as he studied her. "You're up to something," she finally said.
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His lips tilted up in a smile. "And so the mouse becomes a kitten."
He stepped into the grove, joining her as Jason burst out of the trees, a sword held in his hand, his eyes wild. He spotted her, a look of relief eclipsing his face.
"Eva, you're alive.” Jason grabbed her in a hug, wrapping her tight. Eva patted him awkwardly on the back as Darius ducked through the trees, Caden's Anateri and the rest of his warriors at his side. Fiona was a fierce predator as she prowled toward Eva, taking in the bodies at her feet.
Eva gently pushed Jason away and faced the others.
"This is unexpected," Fiona said.
"I'll say," Ghost muttered at her back. "Here we are to rescue the helpless damsel and she's already done the work for us."
Hanna knelt near one of the bodies, examining it carefully as Darius assessed the carnage in the grove. His gaze was considering as he looked around, noting the wounds that no man-made weapon could have inflicted.
Next he stared at Caden at Eva's feet. An expression of grief shrouded his face as he cataloged the blood on Caden's clothes and the tear tracks Eva still hadn't wiped off her face, coming to the normally correct conclusion that his friend had passed.
Drake and Jane looked quietly devastated at the sight of their fallen commander. Despite that, they didn't move from the positions they'd assumed, guarding the rest of them. Duty-bound even when their hearts were breaking.
"He lives," Eva assured them.
Darius looked disbelieving, even as he bent to check for himself. He, like Eva, lifted the cloth from the spot where it looked like someone had dipped Caden in blood.
"Great Esna bless me. He's not even wounded," Darius said in an awed voice.
Eva winced as a flaw in the Kyren's plans to keep their abilities secret suddenly occurred to her. She kicked herself for not thinking of it sooner. Caden was covered in his own blood, but he didn't have any wounds to show for it beyond minor ones, a cut here, a scrape there. It wouldn't take long for someone to jump to the conclusion someone had miraculously healed him. At that point, it wouldn't matter if Eva kept the secret or not.
Thinking fast, she said, "The blood isn't his."
"Is that so?" Darius asked, raising an eyebrow.
She didn't even hesitate before she nodded. "It is."
Darius looked down at his friend, no doubt wondering why he was unconscious in such a critical situation if that was the case.
"Someone hit him over the head," Eva lied.
Darius studied her for a long moment before standing. "Whatever happened, I'm glad to see the two of you survived."
"So am I," Eva said with a heartfelt voice.
His lips twitched before the amusement was gone. "Bring them. We can discuss the rest of this from the safety of the city."
Drake bent to lift his fallen commander, his movements gentle while Eva hovered over Caden.
"I've got him. I won't let any more harm come to him,” Drake said with an understanding look.
Eva nodded, drawing back and standing. She took a deep breath, the knot in her stomach finally unclenching.
It was over. Somehow, they’d survived.
"I'll expect a full explanation of events when we get back," Darius said.
Eva didn't answer as she met his penetrating stare. She'd do the best she could.
Reece moved through the trees, appearing out of them silently. "The woodling’s spawn have all stopped moving, but they need to be burned anyway. This new evolution of their powers concerns me. Those stung should never have transformed that quickly. I want every one of the spawn burned and the bugs hunted down. A single one can't be allowed to escape or we risk losing half the Highlands to them."
The pathfinder was the most serious Eva had ever seen him.
Darius lifted a hand in acknowledgement. "You'll get no argument from us. I'll give you as many of my men as you need to get this done."
Reece's head jerked down in a nod before he glanced at Eva. "I'm glad you survived."
Her smile was brief. "Me too."
Reece moved through the trees without another word, disappearing as quickly as he'd come.
"Is that an arm you're eating?" Ghost asked suddenly, his focus locked on Ajari. The disgust and horror in his voice was easy to hear, a reflection of Eva's initial reaction.
Ajari leveled a flat stare on him. "It always amazes me that for such vicious predators, humans can be surprisingly squeamish."
Ghost sputtered. "Because you're eating people!"
Roscoe nodded insistently.
Ajari cocked his head, irritation clouding his expression.
"How would you feel if someone ate one of you guys?" Roscoe asked.
Ajari's smile flashed sharp, blood-stained teeth. "I would ask them to pass me a piece. How do you think we survived our centuries of imprisonment?"
Ghost gagged, his eyes widening in horror. Roscoe looked slightly ill.
Ajari's laugh trailed behind him as he moved into the trees.
Fiona lingered as the other two trailed behind Ajari, still arguing about why people eating people was wrong. Eva hesitated before joining the warrior. Her pain pulled at Eva as she glanced around.
It occurred to Eva she was looking for Laurell.
"She killed the woodling who was the cause of all this and saved us," Eva said. "She died a hero."
Fiona didn't respond, her expression unreadable, more so than Eva had ever seen.
Hanna joined them then. "I've got her, Eva. You don't need to worry."
Eva hesitated, not wanting to leave Fiona to the abyss of pain she could sense waiting. She met Hanna's eyes before nodding. The two women might act like frenemies most of the time, but Eva had the feeling the bond between them ran deep. They were rivals but they respected each other too. Opposites in looks and personality, but the same where it counted.
Hanna wouldn't let Fiona sink too deep into grief before drawing her out. Of that, Eva was sure.
*
They were halfway back to the city when Caden began to stir in the makeshift litter the Trateri had built.
"Eva," was a faint groan as he struggled upright.
Eva hurried to his side, pressing one hand against his shoulder. "Shh, you're safe now. Stay down until a healer looks you over."
His hand closed on hers. "I had the strangest dream I was dead, but I could still hear your voice crying out for me. I couldn't get to you."
Those who heard gave Eva long looks she pretended not to see. It was best if their suspicions remained un-addressed. For everyone. Suspicions weren't truths. They'd be less likely to risk everything if they had a seed of doubt.
"But you're not dead and I'm right here," she said lightly.
His smile was weak, as was his grip on her hand. It was almost frightening how little strength he had.
He'd come so close to death. He'd been a knife's edge from falling to its grasp. Her heart clenched, emotion making words impossible.
If Orion hadn't come, if he hadn't been moved to save Caden—Eva pushed the thought down hard along with the grief and panic that wanted to well up on its heels. Orion had come. He had saved Caden. Caden was right here, alive, and already puzzling through the deception she needed him to believe.
You could get lost in the “what ifs”, torture yourself until you were quivering in the corner, or you could count your blessings. In the end, death came for them all, but today, death would have to wait a little while longer for this man.
Caden touched his side, moving the soiled clothes out of the way so he could trace the lightly scarred skin with wonder. His gaze when it rose to hers was awed. "You'll have to tell me the story of this someday."
Her smile was strained and stiff. The weight of Ajari's gaze was tangible even as he moved silently through the trees; invisible despite his close proximity.
"But not today." Or ever if she had her say about it. "That bump on your head has likely scrambled things worse than they already are. Rest. I'm sure you'll be on your fe
et making my life difficult soon enough."
Caden relaxed back, closing his eyes with a small smirk. "I'm sure it's the other way around. You're harder to keep safe than even Fallon."
Indignation and insult welled. "I hardly think I have as many enemies as the Warlord."
"Yet, I have never come closer to death protecting him," Caden said, not opening his eyes.
Eva's mouth snapped shut on a scalding response. She couldn't argue with that.
She leaned closer, lowering her voice in the hopes he'd be the only one to hear this next part. "And you never will again, or I'll kill you myself."
"Promises, promises."
She narrowed her eyes at him. Even laid out on a stretcher, so weak she doubted he could stand even if they were attacked again, he was giving her grief. Typical.
"I had things handled. Next time I tell you to go, you should listen. You're not the only one who can make a plan, you know," she said.
"It looked like it too, with you sprawled on your ass when I got there," he returned.
Eva bared her teeth. The small guilt she'd had that he'd been injured because of her fell away. "You know nothing."
"I know you feel something for me," he taunted. "Otherwise there wouldn't have been so much crying."
"The blow to your head has addled your brain. There was no crying, no weeping."
He chuckled, falling asleep soon after. Through it all, she didn't let go of his hand.
Fiona gave their clasped hands a significant look.
"You hush too," Eva said, not wanting to hear it.
"As you wish," Fiona said, with a slight smile that briefly peeked through the veil of her grief.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
"It'll be a few days before we can continue on," Darius was saying to the group of leaders assembled to discuss their next step.
The battle in the cenote was over. They'd lost Laurell and several other Trateri who hadn't survived the attack, but the damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
Jason had gone for help, finding Darius and showing him the way into the cenote. His people had also lined the edges of the cenote, shooting arrows and spears down at any they spotted through the trees.