I rubbed my face and stared at Joshua, who was lying on the opposite side of the room. “We have to find those lions.”
“Joshua!” Carol flew out from her sleeping spot and hit the ground with a loud smack before scrambling over to the sleeping boy. She reached him just as Claude dropped a hat over the boy’s privates.
“That wasmyhat,” Shepherd grumbled while he dug around in his bag.
“Joshua, wake up,” Carol pleaded, tears staining her flushed cheeks. She quickly took off Claude’s coat and draped it over his body. “He’ll freeze to death. Doesn’t anyone care?”
Claude looked dismayed at his good jacket lying on top of a naked man, and Shepherd chuckled when he noticed. Neither appeared concerned about Joshua’s well-being.
I leaned over and whispered, “Do you think he’s faking it?”
Christian answered with an arch of an eyebrow. It was possible. Then again, the kid might have shifted so many times to heal that he passed out.
Carol curled up against him and looked like a mother protecting her young.
Claude patted Shepherd on the shoulder. “Get some sleep. I’m still on shift duty.”
Sensing Viktor’s anguish over our plan unraveling and Blue almost dying, I stood up and squatted next to him. “I’ve never met a stronger woman. I used to think I was pretty badass, but Blue takes the cake. She’ll be okay.”
We both watched her sleep, knowing the consequence if she didn’t wake up soon. Viktor had a tough decision ahead of him. Either we left her alone to fend for herself, or he would have to cut another person from the mission to look after her, diminishing our numbers and putting the kids at risk.
Unless we could eliminate the threat.
I stood up. “I’m going back out. General’s dead, Joshua killed one, and we got two others. Whoever’s left might find General and leave, but they’re weak without him.” I snapped my fingers to get Shepherd’s attention. “Do you have an extra dagger? Full-length?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll go with her,” Christian said, inviting no argument. He pushed up the sleeves of his dark brown shirt, the kind of move a man makes when he’s preparing to get down and dirty.
I wanted to promise Viktor that we’d take care of all his troubles, but all I could do was accept the knife that Shepherd handed me. “We’ll be back by dawn. They won’t have the balls to come in here, but Matteo and Claude will keep an eye out for trouble. You don’t have a thing to worry about.”
I waited for his permission, but Viktor continued stroking Blue’s forehead with his thumb. His silence was answer enough, so I palmed the dagger.
I didn’t need a sheath.
“Try not to stab them in the back like you did with the last one,” Matteo said.
I gave him a bemused look. “Why?”
“I need a new rug.”
“That’s illegal, you know.”
“Not according to the old laws. Not in battle.”
I stalked past the flames. “If we’re not back by dawn, leave without us.”
But I already knew they would.
Chapter 24
“If your tummy keeps rumbling like that, you’ll draw the lions to us,” Christian remarked.
“Maybe that’s my master plan.”
“How long have we been walking?”
“Three hours.” I tugged his sleeve until he stopped. “Give me your blood.”
