Authors: Shea Berkley
“We all knew that.” Signe braves Reece’s rejection again and touches his arm. This time he doesn’t pull away. He doesn’t even respond. “Even you, Reece. We all knew they would never let her go. Wyatt knew it, too, but he had to try. He loved her.”
“He was an idiot.” Reece pulls away, bends over Wyatt, and places his hand on his brother’s cold, pale forehead. He stares, though I’m not sure he sees anything. Wyatt’s eyes are still open. Reece slowly closes them and bows his head.
We all stand there, quiet, supportive. Halim inches toward Signe and slips his hand within hers. I wrap my arm around Kera, and Leo tightly holds Lucinda’s hand. It’s a protective circle, one we don’t dare break.
Suddenly, Reece picks up Wyatt and stands. Our circle opens as he pushes through. There’s a purpose to his stride, and I call out after him. “Where are you going?”
He stops and turns. The hard glint in his eyes sends a chill down my back. He doesn’t speak, he just turns around and walks away.
Before I can go after him, one of the council members approaches and tells me my dad wishes to see me.
“Go,” Kera says. “We will help Reece. Right now he needs to mourn. He won’t go far.”
“When he’s done, he’ll want to find the sisters. Do you know where they are?”
“No.” She slants her gaze at Lucinda. “But I know someone who does.”
War Within
Dylan left with the council members, and Kera returned her attention to the others.
“Reece can’t go after the sisters.” Halim’s brow furrowed with worry. “He’s hurt.” He lunged forward, but came up short. Signe still held his hand. He tugged once, then again, but she wouldn’t let go. His face folded into angry lines. “They’ll kill him.”
“He’s not going anywhere,” Kera said. “I promise. I won’t let him.”
“You must go, Kera.” Faldon, Teag’s sage and Dylan’s grandfather, said in a dry voice that invaded their sorrow.
Kera turned to find Bodog panting like a dog after a hard run, and in his hand, the walking stick that housed Faldon’s spirit. The two were inseparable. Bodog planted the walking stick in the ground and motioned Kera closer. Faldon’s face appeared haggard within the etchings of the wood, and when she stopped before him, he whispered for her ears alone. “I’ve had a vision.”
A chill swept her spine, and they moved farther away from the others, especially Lucinda, who had no love for Bodog even on the best of days. Kera leaned close. “What kind of vision?”
“You must go with Reece and destroy the Seven Sisters.”
“Now?”
“It is paramount that it be soon. When they were brought here, it unleashed a terrible chain of events in which Wyatt’s death is just the beginning.”
That got her heart beating in an uncomfortable way. Her hands shook and she clasped them together, willing them to still. “What did you see?”
“Our enemies surrounding Teag will unite. The Seven Sisters will join them, and Dylan…” Faldon paused and Kera’s eyes grew wider.
“And Dylan?” she asked.
“He will pay the heaviest price a man can pay for his people.”
Her breath froze in her throat and she forced it out. “He dies?”
“You know my visions are not always complete.”
“But you sensed a terrible end? You sensed death?” she pushed for an answer. Faldon’s face paled as if the wood had been bleached by the sun, and he nodded. He wasn’t a reactionary man. He never gave hope where none existed and he never gave sorrow where it could be avoided.
She swallowed hard, and blinked to clear her mind. She had to concentrate. Dylan’s life depended on it. “I don’t know where the sisters are.”
Faldon’s gaze switched to Lucinda, who was curled around Leo like a snake in a tree. “Ask the one who brought them here. And be careful. The sisters come from an ancient power and are far more devious than any of us suspected.”
This wasn’t good news, but she was grateful for it. “Thank you.”
She kissed Faldon’s weathered cheek and squeezed Bodog’s steady hand before she went back to the group. Stepping back into the circle, she eyed Lucinda nuzzling Leo’s neck like a cat demanding a pat and rub.
Halim was clearly agitated over Reece and showing an impressive temper. Signe kept calm and swept her hand through the boy’s hair. “There is nothing we can do.”
Halim shrugged out of her caress, unfazed. “We don’t even know where he is. What if he needs us?”
Kera stared at Lucinda until the startlingly green eyes stared back. “What?”
“You know where to find the Seven Sisters.”
All eyes turned on her. The green eyes narrowed on the retreating form of Bodog before she faced Kera. Leo’s overly affectionate pet swept her heavy white braid over her shoulder, enjoying the attention. It was a dangerous thing. If Lucinda thought she could have more fun not telling her, Kera would never find out. “Why should I help?”
Closing her eyes, Kera sighed. Why was it never easy when it came to Lucinda?
“Cin…” The tone of Leo’s voice made it clear what he expected.
She leaned close and rubbed her cheek on his shoulder. “The sisters and I are kindred spirits.”
“I know, but—”
Her head popped off his shoulder and her voice cut into his. “Your friends wish to kill my friends. I cannot allow that.”
“What if I promise that won’t happen?” Now Kera had everyone’s attention.
“You? A promise?” The smile that flashed Lucinda’s canines held more threat than any verbal cut. “Broken promises have consequences.”
Kera wound her magic around Lucinda in a bid to force her to reveal where the Seven Sisters hid, and said, “Let me worry about that.”
Long white hair crackled. A sharp wind bit at Kera’s skin. Lucinda’s stare hardened. Time suspended, but not for Kera. Lucinda was suddenly beside her, snarling in her ear. “Do not dare use your powers against me.”
Kera blinked and Lucinda was once again standing beside Leo, her hand intertwined with his. She looked to be contemplating Kera’s motive as if nothing had just happened.
That trick shook Kera to the core, though she couldn’t let it show. She stood emotionless before Lucinda, something the woman couldn’t abide. Her whole existence centered on causing an uproar. That Kera wasn’t playing along visibly irritated her. “Our trust has never been strong, little liar.”
“No, it hasn’t,” and then Kera cracked. “But then, when have you ever cared about anyone but yourself?”
An arched eyebrow rose, signaling Lucinda’s interest.
Leo stepped between them. “That’s not fair, Kera. You’re asking her to betray her friends—”
“They
murdered
Wyatt.”
Lucinda’s eyes narrowed. “As if your kind has clean hands? Have you been to the coliseum?” She motioned toward the massive structure rising in the distance. “If you search its underground labyrinth, you will find it full of lost lives and terrified souls.”
What was Lucinda talking about? Kera had just been to the coliseum tending to all the Teagians seeking safety from their enemies’ attacks. All the refugees were being temporarily housed there now until the threat surrounding Teag could be eliminated. No one had died. She would know if they had.
“I’m not defending the sisters,” Leo said, “but they’re still Lucinda’s friends who she’s not willing to betray, which shows she actually does care for people other than herself.”
From behind him, a victorious smile lit Lucinda’s face. She curled her arms around Leo’s waist and nuzzled his neck with her nose. “I could never betray my friends.”
What kind of twisted logic did Lucinda have him believing? The hateful minx had poor Leo wrapped so tightly around her finger, it had nearly neutered him. Kera switched tactics. “What are
we
, Lucinda? What’s Leo? If it were him lying dead in Reece’s arms, would you stand there so calm?”
Her smile instantly vanished, but she didn’t say anything. Not a peep.
A hot boil rolled up within Kera. She turned on Leo. “Even you can’t crack open that heart she keeps under lock and key.” She turned to go, and then turned back. “Wyatt deserved better, Leo. All he did was love Neve and they killed him like he didn’t matter, but he mattered to me. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if he mattered to you.”
It was a manipulative, hateful thing to do, but Kera wouldn’t take it back. Leo petted Lucinda and made excuses for her outrageous actions time and again. It was time he held her accountable and saw her for what she truly was.
Kera grabbed Signe’s arm and pulled her away. Halim followed close behind.
At this time of night, the city should be asleep, but everyone was awake, picking up the pieces of their lives one more time. She saw people from her own town of Ainsbury Cross mingling with people from towns all over Teag. She passed several of those who’d been labeled “tainted” because they were half human, like her. Most were powerless and had been hunted into near extinction by the
firsts
. Their existence had nearly been reduced to living like animals. How much more upheaval and chaos could they go through? Once Jason died, it had taken all of her persuasive powers to convince everyone living in the caves to come to the recently built Ruined City and claim a normal life. It was unfair to see fear hiding in their eyes once again.
“What was that all about?” Signe asked, pushing her already untamed hair out of her face as the wind whipped through the streets.
“We need to help Reece. You said yourself he’ll go after them. He shouldn’t go alone.”
“Is that what Faldon said?” The alarm in her friend’s eyes spoke of Signe’s concern.
“He mentioned it would be a good idea to go with him.”
Halim popped around and started walking backwards in front of them. “We could use the maps to find the Seven Sisters. They track everyone in Teag.”
Kera rubbed her hand atop Halim’s head. “Brilliant idea. We should have thought of that before. What’s even better, we don’t need Lucinda.”
“Did Faldon think it wise for us to leave when Teag is under attack?” Signe didn’t sound too convinced.
“We trounced the Rodarians,” Halim said. “Anyone paying attention will think twice before attacking us now. That’s what the word on the street is. Plus we’re sending out soldiers to assess any threats. At least that’s what Wyatt ordered before”—Halim’s voice cracked, and he swallowed hard and looked away—“before he died.”
Signe hugged Halim and whispered a few words of comfort in his ear before he broke free and ran a few feet ahead of them. Kera clasped her friend’s hand. “Faldon assured me everything would go well while we’re away. We won’t even be gone long.”
She was getting more and more comfortable telling lies to suit her needs. She bit her bottom lip and turned her face away, concentrating on not thinking about what the sisters were up to.
When they entered the map room housed in the central tower of Phoenix Hall, they found the place deserted. Dim light showed maps scattered everywhere. Many had been set afire. Kera stooped and picked up a burned map. “I had no idea the fighting came this far.”
“Once the Nightmare Men got in”—Halim held out his hand and clenched his fist—“they had us by the balls.”
Kera paused in picking up maps. Signe eyed Halim. “What does that mean?”
Halim shrugged. “It’s something Wyatt used to say.”
They all grew still, locked in a flash of memories and regrets. There were so many “if onlys” rushing though Kera, she found it hard to breathe.
Halim was the one to pull it together first. He held up a map and peered through the burned middle. “Maybe we can piece them together and make a full map?”
If only magic could be pieced together so easily. It looked like Lucinda really was their only hope of finding the sisters. That was a depressing thought. Kera couldn’t think of one reason why Lucinda would help them.
Signe tossed a ruined map on a table. “Is it truly as pointless as it appears?”
“I’m afraid so.” It explained why no one had bothered to clean up yet.
The bounce in Signe’s red curls disappeared as the corners of her mouth bowed downward. “I wanted to go to Reece with some news. He will never rest until he finds them. That I know.”
Kera didn’t know what to say. Signe was right. Reece had vengeance on the brain. They’d been able to dissuade him from going after Granel, but that tactic wouldn’t work again. This time he wasn’t about to stop for anyone.
Someone cleared their throat, and they all turned to see Leo hovering in the doorway, his long legs shifting back and forth, unsure of his welcome. “She told me.”
The three of them gathered close, linked together by their doubt. Halim, all dirt-encrusted and wiser than his years, moved in front of Kera and Signe. “Is it the truth?”
Leo’s dark brows pulled together. “Yeah, little bro. She doesn’t lie. Not to me.” He stepped inside and held out a piece of paper he’d folded into a neat square. “I made her write it down.”
“She knows how to write?” Halim’s doubt filled the room. His quick fingers spattered with dried blood grabbed the paper and opened the folds. His voice rose in excitement. “I know where this is.”
Signe took the note, and after looking it over, held it to her heart as if it were the most precious piece of paper she’d ever held and moved away, clearly afraid Leo would snatch it back. Halim followed her, begging her to see it again, just to make sure.
“We’re good then?” Leo looked at Kera. Ghosts of the people he’d known and were gone floated in his eyes. “By the way, he mattered.”
The hurt in his voice squeezed her heart. “I know. I should never have said what I did. I was angry. Not at you, at Lucinda.” Her gaze peered past him, but found an empty hall. “Where is she?”
“Getting clean.” He shoved his dark hair out of his eyes and sighed. “I know you all think she’s crazy, that she doesn’t have a heart, but she does.”
His shirtsleeve felt stiff under Kera’s fingers as she patted his arm. They all needed a bath and clean clothes, but who cared about that when the life they’d known only a few hours ago had disintegrated in a moment? The last thing she thought about was her own comfort.
Not Lucinda. Her comfort was everything.
“Do me a favor? Keep Lucinda away from Reece.”
“Yeah. I can do that. I don’t even know where he is.”
“I think I do,” Halim said from across the room, and pointed out the window. “And he’s not alone.”
They all gathered in front of the window. From their vantage point, they could see hundreds of funeral pyres dotting a clearing a few miles outside the city. The sight always made Kera sad. Too many deaths. Too many lives had been interrupted in the worst possible way.
Signe touched Kera’s hand. Her friend wanted to leave. She had her prize and all she wanted was to find Reece and show him.
Kera squeezed her fingers. Letting go, she put her hand on Halim’s back and guided him away from the window. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“Do you think Reece will take us?”
Halim sounded so hopeful, Kera didn’t see the need to worry him. “Of course he will. He needs us.”
Signe didn’t agree. A bitter laugh escaped her. “You obviously don’t know Reece. He’ll try to do this alone.”
Halim’s lips thinned. “She’s right.”
“He can try, but I won’t let him.” Kera noticed a quick flash of doubt in her friend’s eyes, and she tapped the paper Signe held. “We have the information he wants—only give it to him if he agrees to take us along.”
Leo stopped Kera as the others continued on. His dark eyes held a sad slant at the edges. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but if you give him those directions, he’s the one who’ll end up dead.”