“You are not smart enough or bold enough tohave planned all of these assassination attempts. Tell us whohelped you.” Caden crouched beside her. “Tell us quick, and we’llgive you a clean death.”
“I was in it alone.”
Shea couldn’t help feeling a grudgingsmidgeon of respect. Not much. Just a hint really.
Caden heaved a sigh and stood. Fallon joinedhim.
“Shea, come here,” Fallon ordered.
Shea didn’t care for being called to heel butobeyed. She didn’t know how he would react to any resistance in hiscurrent frame of mind.
Fallon’s hands lightly skated over thebandage on her arm and leg before one came to light softly on herneck. A thumb lightly caressed the skin there, sending a shiverracing down her back.
Speaking to Indra without taking his eyesfrom Shea’s face, he said, “You hurt the one most precious to me.Do not imagine for a moment that I retain even an ounce of mercyfor you.”
“Your precious one,” Indra nearly spat outthe last two words, “is nothing more than a mongrel’s leavings. Sheis not fit for even the lowliest of our people. I only wish I hadfinished her when I had the chance.”
“But you couldn’t,” Shea snapped. “Youweren’t good enough. This lowly mongrel beat you. I won. Youlost.”
Fallon’s lips twisted into a semblance of asmile as his hands dropped from Shea. “This woman is going to ruleat my side as I conquer these lands and lead my people into agolden age of prosperity. Our children will rule long after we haveleft this world and their children after them.”
Shit. He really did plan on children.
No, she hadn’t agreed to that yet.
“They will do this never having heard of youor the Snake Clan. In my future, there are only six clans. I amgoing to wipe every person who ever claimed kinship with the snakefrom this world. You have a child among the snake, if I remembercorrectly.”
“No,” Indra moaned, her mask of calmsuperiority crumbling. “You can’t. He’s just a babe. He has nothingto do with this.”
Shea felt a stirring of unease.
“Fallon-,”
Caden grabbed her and rasped, “Hush. Trusthim.”
“I can and I will. You know me well enough toknow I never say anything I don’t mean. Give us a name, and I willmerely disband your clan. Those who were ignorant of this plot willbe allowed to petition the other clans for entry. This is the bestoffer you will get.”
“No other clan will take someone from a clantainted with this,” she said bitterly. “You will doom my son togrow up clanless.”
“At least he will grow up,” Fallon saidfiercely. “Now, a name. I will not ask again.”
Indra sobbed. Snot ran down her face as herskin turned red and blotchy. “Please!”
“You brought this on yourself,” Caden said.“You knew the consequences if you failed. You’ve even enacted themon failed challengers yourself.”
When she didn’t answer, Fallon made a soundof frustration and stood.
“Cale. It was Cale,” she cried as he turnedhis back. As if released from a dam, her words poured out. “It washis idea to alter the maps given to the scouts. He said the moremen you lost, the lower the morale. He was the one who had yourmaps exchanged for an older set and marked the route next to thespidren nest as safe. It was all him.”
Fallon bent his head and rubbed his forehead.The curve of his neck spoke of sorrow.
Caden looked sour but unsurprised. Neitherman looked shocked, more like resigned.
“It doesn’t matter,” Indra suddenly said.“You may have won this battle, but we’ve finally managed todecipher the Highlander’s maps. When I don’t return, Cale will takethem and head north. Once he gets his hands on those weapons, itwon’t matter how great your army is.” Sobbing nearly hystericallynow, Indra collapsed, sinking facedown into the ground.
What? Shea started for the woman. She neededto know details. Had they deciphered all of it? Or just parts?
Fallon nodded once, sharply to his men.
