See—I told you I was in love with him. Only love could make me hand him over to another woman. Even if the thought makes me want to puke.
It’s time to go now. The battle is here, and you’re stuck on the wrong side of it. Story of our lives.
I love you. No matter what happens in your life, always remember that.
Rissa.
I fold my note and tuck it into my pocket. It’s time.
I walk through the camp, soaking it in. It’s quiet. The kids and the elderly have been evacuated, but they’re traveling slowly. If the Dokhalls take this camp, I have no doubt they’ll continue through it, wiping out every Braxian they come across.
I shiver.
Korzyn is already positioned on the front lines. I’ll be meeting him soon but not until we’ve lured the remaining Dokhalls close enough to camp that they can almost taste victory.
In the meantime, he just has to stay alive.
Nevada is in her tashiv, her face pale, eyes hard as she stares out the window, while bouncing her daughter gently in her arms.
She glances over at me.
“I just keep thinking about all the people who are going to die today. People who would’ve lived if we’d never landed here. The thought of all the death that’s going to come…it kills me. But if I could change the past and never land here, I wouldn’t do it. What does that say about me?”
I give her a hip bump and hold out my arms for the baby. Nevada hands over Danica, and she gurgles at me, giving me a wide smile.
“You’re precious,” I tell her before glancing at her mom. “It says you value the people in your life, Nevada. It says you know how lucky you are to have an incredible mate and daughter.”
The door slams open, and we both whirl, staring at Ellie.
She holds onto the doorframe and lets out a groan.
Nevada’s mouth drops open. “Seriously? You’re going into labor now?”
Ellie lets out another groan, following it with a curse I’ve never heard her say. She straightens up and takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out.
“You can’t throw stones.” She points at Danica. “Cave baby, remember?”
Nevada shrugs. “Good point. Okay. You’ll get through this. Where’s Terex?”
Ellie waddles over to a chair and sits down, leaning forward as she goes silent for a long moment.
“Tell me that’s not another contraction,” Nevada says.
“Why?” I ask. “Is that bad?”
“They’re close together. We have a plan for if Ellie goes into labor, and it involves evacuating her to Tecar’s camp.”
I stare at her. “You mean she might not make it?”
Nevada gives me a look that tells me to shut my mouth or she’ll shut it for me.
Ellie manages to haul herself out of her seat. “I can make it to Tecar’s camp,” she says. “But I need Terex. He’s checking the traps to the east with Rakiz.”
I glance at Nevada, and she nods.
I hand the baby back to her.
And then I run.
Chapter Seventeen
Korzyn
The sounds of battle reach my ears long before the Dokhalls get close to the clearing where we will make our stand.
We chose it because it’s far enough from camp to prevent the Dokhalls from easily getting to our most vulnerable if they slip past us, yet close enough that the wounded can be carried back to the healers’ kradi. The Dokhalls would need to either cross a large river or get through our camp in order to get to the ship in time to stop the human females from leaving.
My gut clenches at the thought. I glance at Terex, and he nods. This trap is finished.
We move back, waiting for the Dokhalls to arrive.
“Terex,” a voice hisses, and we both turn. My eyes widen.
“You’re not supposed to be here.” My heart pounds at the sight of Sarissa so close to danger.
She glowers at me, then turns her attention to Terex. “Ellie is in labor.”
He goes pale, and his eyes turn wild as he glances at the Dokhalls and then back in the direction of the camp.
“Go,” I advise him, and he nods, turning without another word and sprinting back toward camp.
Sarissa angles her head. “Are you going to be okay?”
Am I going to be okay, knowing that not only is she in danger, but she will be leaving this planet as soon as the time is right?
I can’t speak, so I simply nod as the Dokhalls break through the trees.
“Get into position,” I order Sarissa, drinking in the sight of her for one last moment. Our eyes meet, and unsaid words linger between us as she blinks back tears, her mouth curling up in a shaky smile. Then she takes a deep breath and runs after Terex.
In the front lines of the advancing army, the Zinta traitors lumber forward, swords in their hands as they walk shoulder to shoulder with Dokhalls. Voildi are scattered throughout the army, but it’s impossible to see exactly how many Dokhalls are approaching, with most of their troops still hidden in the forest.
The front lines are aiming for Rakiz’s camp, most of the Dokhalls holding their stick weapons in their hands. Across the clearing, Vrex jerks his head at me, and we both retreat further until we’re standing next to Dexar’s mishua.
I glance across the wide expanse of the clearing, my gaze drawn to the trees behind us, but all is quiet. The human females are hidden within the branches, perfectly positioned, crossbows in their hands. Vrex’s face is hard, his eyes burning with wrath. His female is crouched in one of those trees, and the Assassin of Agron has no intention of letting her be harmed in any way.
The Dokhalls go quiet.
One of them steps forward. “We
