The Tenrin fluttered his wings but ignored the Lion Clan leader, his gaze never leaving the burning man.
Caden ignored the rest, focusing on the former prisoner. "Who are you?"
This wasn't the same man Gawain had killed seconds before. Caden didn't know who or what this was, but he knew he was changed.
Whatever it was felt old and dark. A horrible hunger that stemmed from the beginnings of time was hidden within the creature. Some might call it primordial. So old the mind couldn't even fully comprehend it.
There was a suspicion crouched deep inside Caden. Memories of a conversation he'd once had with Eva and what she'd sensed when she'd faced the Kyren's captors.
She'd suspected there was something bigger guiding their actions, feeding off their discontent and magnifying it until they felt like they had to do something about it.
There'd been fear on Eva's face when she'd spoken.
Caden didn't know if this was the same, but the thought felt right.
Whoever the human had been, there was nothing of him anymore. Something else stood in front of them.
Something that felt no pain—or any emotion that Caden could discern.
The creature stared at them. Amused at their horror.
His gaze shifted to Caden. "Not as stupid as the rest of your kind."
Caden didn't say anything. He simply waited. This creature was arrogant. It would be his downfall. Caden simply had to give him the space to find it.
"Are you the one who destroyed my previous plans?" the creature asked.
There was no emotion on his face as his skin bubbled before flaking away. It blackened as they watched, the creature unbothered by it.
Gawain edged behind him and drew his sword, shooting Caden a look.
Caden didn't react, pretending he didn't see Rain Clan's leader. He focused on the creature, intent on gleaning every bit of information while he still could.
Time was limited. The creature's host wouldn't hold up much longer.
"No, I was wrong. You are not that person." The creature's head turned toward Gawain, abruptly. "You lack the presence of that line. No matter, your lineage is still ancient. It once ruled this world. How far you've fallen to become the loyal dog of another."
Caden let his words pass, feeling none of the anger the creature intended.
The being in front of him wasn't the first to call him Fallon's dog. It was a favorite insult among Fallon's enemies—and even some of his allies.
People didn't understand how Caden could be content with a subservient role. They thought Fallon had forced him onto this path.
They were wrong.
The word they thought was a wedge was Caden's greatest strength. Call him a dog or whatever, he'd never cared what others thought.
He didn't serve in Fallon's shadow because he had no other choice. This was the path he'd chosen.
There'd been other paths. He could have been a general or become a clan leader if he'd truly wanted.
He hadn't.
Caden had always known his strengths and weaknesses. The shadows were where he was happiest. They were a cover and a safety blanket, allowing him to move unobstructed.
The light was for others. People like Fallon and Eva. Both individuals who could change the world.
But only if they lived long enough to do it.
