I stare at the cave entrance. Sometimes, I wake up, still expecting to be on that ship.
Why did I give those women what was likely false hope? Why was it so important for me to convince them we were getting off that ship? That we wouldn’t die? Or worse, be used as sex slaves?
Maybe my need to save them comes from the fact I couldn’t save the only person who counted. Who knows? All I know is I keep my promises. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure those women get their lives back.
Korzyn is quiet, and I glance over my shoulder. His eyes are closed, but I know he’s not asleep.
“Your plan is flimsy,” he says. “You’re allowing your emotions and overinflated sense of responsibility to drive your actions.”
That strikes just a little too close to home, and I grind my teeth. The commander is making it very, very easy for me to go through with the first step of my plan.
“I need you to take the chip,” I say.
“Excuse me?”
I shrug. “If I get taken, they’ll search me, and they might find it. You’re slowly recovering, and eventually, you’ll be able to sit on the mishua. If I don’t make it, you need to get the chip back to Alexis.”
He opens his eyes, his nostrils flaring. “There is no need because you’re not leaving.”
I roll my eyes. Trust him to make this more difficult than necessary.
“We’ll have to agree to disagree. Either way, I’m starving. I’m going to go see if I can forage us some more food.”
“Swear to me you’re not going to their camp.”
“I’m not.”
“Give me your word.”
“I give you my word I’m just going to pick a few plants and scrape together whatever food I can find. I’ll be back soon.”
He studies my face and then finally nods, his eyes sliding closed.
He’s not going to enjoy what happens when I get back.
By now, I know the best spot to find berries, but I’m also in luck, and I find a tree bursting with a type of fruit called a dorza—a cross between an apple and a mandarin. I eat a few right there, wishing I had some form of protein, and then gather a few more, stopping to pick one juicy maradoza berry.
I need to be careful. This is how Zoey killed the Dokhalls who mistakenly kidnapped her and Nevada. But it’s most commonly used by the healers for knocking out patients before surgery or ensuring they recover from painful injuries.
I don’t want the commander dead; I just want him to take a nice nap.
The fact is he can’t follow me. After staggering outside last night, he was so weak that he fell into a deep sleep for hours. But it’s clear he’s not resting properly when I’m away from the cave.
And we both need him to recover.
I’ll err on the side of caution. I’d rather the berry not work than to work too well. An enraged commander who wakes up alone is better than one who doesn’t wake up at all.
I break the berry in half and then squeeze a tiny amount of juice from the berry into the commander’s zebra-plant water when I return. His eyes are still closed, but I know he’s awake because a muscle is jumping in his jaw.
“Drink this.”
He’s strong enough to hold the cup for himself this time, and he gulps it down.
While he drinks, I feed the mishua the last of her food and make sure she has clean water. When I return, Korzyn’s eyes are heavy-lidded, liquid silver as he stares at me.
“What?”
“You have a scratch on your face.”
I shrug, fingering my forehead. “It’s fine.”
“You should take care of it.”
“I’ll find an ortar plant later.”
I move closer to the commander, suddenly drawn like a moth to a flame. “You know, you never told me why you were so certain I couldn’t be trusted. You followed me around like a stalker the entire time I was at the castle, but you basically gave Vivian a free pass. Why?”
He shrugs, the movement languid, and his head rolls. “You do your best to avoid attracting attention unless it benefits you in some way to cause a distraction. You lie easily and charm without thought, and it was clear you were gathering information about us.”
I nod. “That’s fair. But if I’m so untrustworthy, why do you care if I attack the camp?”
He opens his mouth and seems to change his mind about whatever he was going to say. “I only get the name of my female if you’re returned to Rakiz alive.”
I ignore the way his words make something in my chest twist. I’m going to enjoy what happens next.
“All the things you named are some of my best qualities, and that’s why my plan will work,” I tell him. “Luckily, I don’t need trust, approval, or anything else from you.”
My throat feels tight, and I turn away, gathering the things I need as his eyes close.
“Dizzy,” he mutters. “What did you do?”
“Just a little something to help you sleep.”
He lets out a low growl, but I lean over, tying his wrists together before he can realize what I’m doing, then I wrap the rope around the tree root sticking out of the cave floor.
In his current condition, Korzyn is going nowhere.
His eyes fly open as he tugs at the rope.
I smile. “Payback is a bitch. Don’t worry, I won’t gag you.”
“Kill you.”
“Toughen up, buttercup. You did the same to me. I’m just looking out for you. You’re safe here, so go to sleep, recover, and we’ll chat when you wake up.”
If he regains his strength, the rope won’t hold him for long.
