His hands tightened, then he withdrew further. He took three steps backward, breathing heavily. Blood dripped down his leg, but not as much as there should have been. Perhaps my aim was off.
“If they even smell you on me, you’re a dead man,” I hissed. I licked his blood off the blade, intending to unnerve him. His eyes flashed, the pupils dilating in arousal. I spit it out before I could taste it.
“Get the fuck out.”
Thad kept backing away, his eyes glued to me the entire time. He disappeared into the darkness, and I didn’t relax until I was back in between my mates. I rubbed myself into the blankets, hoping it was enough to dispel any lingering hint of his scent. Thad may be a stupid, brainless boy, but that didn’t mean I wanted him dead.
Benedict didn’t question my sudden distrust of Thad as we continued to plan and prepare for our attack, as well as the evacuation. He was mostly smug that I agreed with him. I tried to catch Thad limping, but he showed no signs of any injury. I grumbled, vowing to get in some more practice with Kieran at the earliest opportunity.
“Sit down everyone, we have important information.”
Zara had news from the coast.
“My runners report that the hordes that were guarding around Lyoness have disappeared.”
Zara paced back and forth, the news making no more sense to her than it did to us. Thad ran his hands through his hair, his voice rising with emotion.
“Where have they gone?”
“It’s unclear. We should start evacuating the refugees tonight and will attack tomorrow.” Zara turned her weathered gaze towards Davos.
“Can you warn your contacts in time?”
Davos wiped his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief
“My contacts in the palace are prepared. They will slip a poison into the wine, which will hopefully cull the vampyre numbers a bit. Severn is not supposed to even be there tomorrow. If I go now, we can slip it into tonight’s wine, so they will be out by the time we storm the palace in the morning.”
Benedict nodded, and one by one the others around the table agreed. Davos sheathed his own sword and leathers, and went off down the passageway by himself, disappearing into the gloom.
“I agree, but I don’t like it. What if they are concentrating their forces here, and plan to massacre everyone?”
Benedict huffed, gesturing to Thad with a spoon.
“It does your people no good to panic, little king.”
Thad gripped the hilt of his sword, aggressiveness in every line of his body.
“Stop it with the nicknames.
I snorted, trying to break the odd tension
“Good luck with that. It’s an irritating habit of his.
Thad walked past us to the table, helping himself to more ale. As he went by, Benedict flinched, his head snapping back to stare at the other man. Spike took over, taking a long drag from his pipe as well as my attention
“It does not matter what the Overlord plans. We move tomorrow, no matter what happens. The refugees are packed, and my contacts in Aldur are ready to receive them. Leaving now as opposed to the morning may give them the extra time needed to reach safety.
There was silence around the table, a quiet agreement. It began now.
“Wren, you seem to have become friendly with a few of the refugees. Would you mind helping oversee their safety to bay? That will leave Zara free to focus on her ship.”
Spike’s gaze landed on me, and I felt myself puff up under his trust. I could already see the disagreement on Benedict’s face, but Kieran was quicker.
“It will keep her out of the heavy fighting, and she can shift to us in a moment if anything goes wrong.”
I exhaled through my nose, embarrassed to be discussed like property in front of the other rebel leaders.
“It doesn’t matter what you think, because I am going.” I spat, glaring at my mates defiantly.
“I will go as well, as extra protection.”
Spike’s eyes widened as Zara’s jaw dropped open in surprise. A tinge of red stained Thad’s cheeks, but he didn’t take it back. Benedict stood, facing Thad squarely. He took a large breath in through his nose.
“Will you join me on a walk?”
Thad ignored him. Benedict grabbed him up by his collar and pushed him none-too-gently away from our circle.
“I said—we’re going for a walk.”
Thad shoved Benedict’s hands down but let himself be led away. They weaved through the camp, and out of sight.
“Don’t worry, I don’t think he’ll kill him,” I joked weakly. Probably not. Hopefully. My voice caught, and I looked to Kieran for support. His green eyes were narrowed in contemplation.
“Where did you say he hailed from? Specifically?”
Spike poked the fire, unruffled by the entire confrontation.
“He was raised in Aldur, with a family friend near my own estates. I can vouch for that much. His father was a well-known blood descendent of the royal Cantradian line, well-documented if you’d like to see that as well.”
Kieran stared at his hands, as if trying to solve a complex riddle.
“His mother?”
Spike spit on the ground, then covered it with his boot.
“Never got that part of the story. His father showed up beaten and bloody, damn near dead with a squalling babe in his arms. Said they were attacked by lykos. He didn’t make it through the next week after the infection set in. Didn’t get a chance to learn much else. I assumed he was with a band of rebels, and the mother died.”
Kieran’s ears were pricked towards the direction Benedict had gone.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Green eyes swung back to meet mine.
“I wouldn’t worry. Benedict will have it in hand.”
His tone made me think the exact opposite and I didn’t appreciate being lied to. So much for their grand speech about trust!
“Thad means well, I assure you.” Spike offered; his grey eyebrows raised. “He has carried a large burden his entire life, and
