He looks so relieved at that.
“Besides, if you can, just barter me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mordecai snaps in a voice of thunder.
“If it will save lives, it would be better to hand me over to them.”
Mordecai grabs my top and yanks me up against him. “Over my dead body.”
I smile up at him. “You are so attractive when you are being bossy.”
“You just like it when I get snarly.”
“I do.”
“Don’t die on me, Kaida.”
“I’m not dying. We made promises and plans. We’re going to get out of this. I’m not worried.”
I’m very worried, but I’m not letting this alpha of mine see it. Not a chance.
We work fast, but even with us working that hard, it takes us well into the night to get everything down there.
Bear sets people to dismantling half the tents.
It’s a slow and arduous task.
At one point, I stop, looking at all the people rushing around, and realise I have a great big pit in my chest. I was happy. For a moment there, I had a glimpse of a future, a life that I want desperately. The angry part of me doesn’t feel as angry; the bitterness is not so bitter. Being around people isn’t awful. I put a hand to my chest, feeling my heart beat. They healed something in me, and I don’t feel as broken as I used to. Even my fear is tinged with hope.
We keep working, though, not stopping, not until a familiar face appears on the path into the valley. He clutches the rocks, smearing blood across them, his chest heaving.
“They’re coming!” Ellion screams and drops to his knees and dies, the arrows in his back stealing his life.
Chapter 58
Waxing, waning and aglow
I turn and look at the terrified faces staring back at me. Why are they all looking at me? I can’t save them; I can barely save myself. I should run, but I won’t. These people need me.
I can try to save them.
“Run!” I shout.
That breaks them out of their shock. They run, rushing towards the tents, snatching up sleeping children. I find my blond niece crying alone in a sea of adults and scoop her up into my arms, running towards the cave. Halfway up, Marian sees me; her panic is clear as day. She loves this child, I realise, maybe as much as Rae did. I hand her into the omega’s arms, pushing back the bitterness and silently wishing them both well.
My mum would be proud of me. Rae would be proud of me. I step back, an impossible step, tearing my eyes from the child.
“I’ve got her,” she whispers.
She turns away, breaking the spell. I race back down to the tents and see an old man sitting on a log. He alone is still in the chaos around him. I grab his arm, tugging him. He pulls back, resisting.
“What are you doing? Come on.”
He leans back, shaking his head and smiling.
“Get up, you need toget to the caves!”
“Stop it!” he barks when I keep trying to drag him.
