Was it risky? Yes. Was it dangerous? Yes. But everything here was dangerous. Every moment they lingered, every night they spent past the first demarcation increased the likelihood of their deaths.
“Everything you do is geared toward that,” Reece replied in a flat voice. “We understand, but we’re not going to let you drag the rest of us down because you got impatient.”
Shea shook her head, biting back words that would just exacerbate the situation. “Fine, we’ll think of something else, but we’re keeping this plan as a backup.”
The others might not agree with her, but she still felt this was their best option. Even with the five of them, they were no match for the mythological. Maybe if they had Dane’s whomper they would stand a chance, but without it, she didn’t see good things in their future if they went against the mythological in a direct attack.
Even with an ambush, their odds weren’t great. The creature moved too fast. Best-case scenario, they’d kill it but not before it took out several of them with it. Shea wasn’t willing to sacrifice any of her team.
She walked away as they began discussing ideas among themselves, holding up a hand in warning when it looked like Trenton planned to follow her.
“I’ll be fine on my own. I just need some time to think,” she told him. He didn’t look happy, but he gave her a short nod and settled back.
Ever since the journey had begun Trenton had been underfoot, more so than usual. Fallon’s brush with death had affected more than just her. Had she remained in camp, she imagined she’d be dealing with more than one overprotective Anateri. They probably would’ve tried to swaddle her in cotton as their protective instincts were heightened by the attack on Fallon.
“I’m not going far,” she assured him. “Just to that rock on the ridge.”
They’d found a depression in the land to make camp for the night as they considered their next move. The ridge rose around them, rock formations jutting from the hill and shielding them from discovery.
Shea moved away from the others, picking her way up the slight hill until she could see over it and survey the jagged bumps and dips of the Badlands. She was careful to stay concealed as she found a spot to sit.
A small, barely noticeable sound reached her. Shea released a deep breath and closed her eyes in vexation. Which one them had decided to interrupt her solitude?
Her father lowered himself to a seat beside her, his gaze focused on the horizon. A small snort escaped her. She should have known he’d be the one they’d send.
“Did you come to share words of wisdom?” Shea asked with a bite in her voice.
“Now, don’t go getting short with me, darlin’. Not when we both know it’s really frustration at the situation making you so crabby,” he drawled.
Shea let out a huff, the knowledge he was right burning her insides. Much as she hated to admit it, she wasn’t really upset with her friends. They’d been right about her plan. It was hasty and ill-formed. It might be founded in real possibility, but she was trying too hard and moving too fast. She needed to slow down and think things through.
She was pissed at this crappy situation and letting it influence her. She hated that she was separated from her warlord at a time of his greatest need, forced to face a place that fed her greatest fear. So, yes, she’d like this whole thing over and done with.
Patrick patted her on the shoulder and stood. “When you’re done with your sulk, come down and help us figure this out.”
Shea looked up at him. “Why did you come?”
He paused and squinted up at the sun. “You’re my daughter. If I didn’t, I knew there was a chance you would have gone alone.”
“You weren’t planning to come earlier,” she pointed out. He hadn’t been one of those gathered at the gates when she’d been ready to set out before the attack on the Keep.
He arched an eyebrow at her. “Are you sure about that?”
She shut her mouth and studied him. It was possible. Just because he hadn’t been present at the Keep didn’t mean he hadn’t planned to follow and join them on the trail. Such an action would have suited his inner tactician. He might have considered there were other traitors in the Keep and decided to keep his involvement a secret.
She didn’t know what to believe.
“Tell me about the Lux,” she ordered, leaving their tricky family dynamics alone for now. “I need to know more. There’s no evidence of its presence with Griffin.”
Her father hesitated, looking down at the others. Moving stiffly, he lowered himself back down to the ground with a small groan. “I’m getting too old for this,” he complained.
Shea kept her disagreement to herself. He’d had no trouble keeping up with them on the trail, showing no signs of his age. He moved with the spryness and grace of someone half his years.
“The Lux is a black mark against our family name,” he finally said after a small stretch of time.
Shea started and gave him a curious look. “What do you mean?”
“You know your mother’s side has been in the Keep since its founding,” he told her.
