The yard was empty of everything but burning buildings and bodies. But the Wolves and their master were still on the hunt. Crashes and howls poured from the shattered windows of the glowing manor.
“We need to leave,” Helene whispered. “They’ll start searching the woods when they realize we’re not inside.”
“I know,” I growled.
I paced around the hole in the ground.Come on, Aiden, hurry.
The Dags and Ruru rode up on their horses without saddles or bridles. Those were likely ash in the stables.
Maz swung down next to me. “Aiden? Nikella? Caddik?”
“Still inside. Take these.” I handed him the last of the extra weapons for his sisters and approached Jek with his bow. “Will you take Helene and Isabel to Yargoth and pass our message along to Skelly? Tell him of the Wolf ship. To be at the mine in three weeks. We’ll take care of the rest.”
The warrior looked down at me with a solemn expression, studying me for a long moment we could barely afford. I knew he was weighing every cost and risk. But it was the only way.
“Very well,” he said, taking his bow and a pouch of arrows. “You’d best be there, or we’ll be slaughtered.”
I grimaced. “Same goes for you. May the Four go with you.”
He dipped his head. “Tell Nikella... Tell her I still feel how I felt on Arduen’s Night seven years ago. She’ll know what I mean.”
I nodded, then helped Isabel onto Yarina’s horse. Helene rode with Sigrid. No one seemed happy about the arrangement, but there weren’t enough horses to go around.
“We should be sticking together,” Yarina hissed.
“We don’t have time for any more arguments,” Maz growled. “I’ll see you in three weeks, little sister. Rally our people.Protect.”
Yarina and Sigrid muttered the word back to Maz before they turned and rode after Jek into the dark. Pax ran nimbly alongside the horses. The last I saw of them was the glint of Yarina’s scythes and the pink flap of Helene’s skirts.
A moment later, the manor’s back door flew open. I stepped forward hopefully. But then Shadow-Wolves poured out. My heart sank.
No . . . no . . .
Suddenly, Aiden rose from the ground, sweating and panting.
Maz yanked him upright. “Fucking Four, brother, I was about to come get you.”
Nikella heaved herself out of the tunnel. “Where are the others?”
“NIKELLA!” a roar came from the manor. “Where are you and that little bitch princess hiding?”
My heart throbbed and my ears rang as Korvin dragged a bloody body out of the manor. His Wolves stood guard around him, facing the woods.
Korvin’s face was twisted with fury. His black hair hung in wet strings, brushing the shoulders of his glittering sunstone armor.
Nikella drew in an uneven breath. “Caddik.”
I reeled backward. “Why didn’t you get him out?”
“He refused. Locked us inside the cellar.” Aiden came to stand beside me. “The Wolves followed. We had to collapse the tunnel.”
“Nikella!” Korvin shouted, holding Caddik up by his neck like a limp doll. “You know what happens when you fucking hide from me!”
Maz lifted his whistler, feeding a red-feathered dart into it. “I’m going to kill that sick bastard.”
Nikella put a hand on his bow, lowering it. “No. Caddik made his choice. Honor his sacrifice by not giving us away.”
Korvin threw Caddik’s body to the ground. “Search the forest! The little rats got out through a tunnel! Find them!”
