There were murmurs around them as the Trateri got excited.
Jason didn't say anything, blinking rapidly as Talia moved toward Polaris and Danyon. "What—I don't—This is—"
Jason still hadn't found his voice as Polaris's gaze settled on Eva.
Orion instructs you to bring your humans home once your wounded can be moved. It will be the safest place for them.
Eva frowned uncertainly. "I thought the location had to stay secret."
Things change, Caller.
Polaris's wings spread as he and the rest of the Kyren departed.
Jason sucked in a deep breath, looking faint. "Eva, did she mean what I think she meant?"
His disbelief made a small smile creep onto Eva's face.
"I think she did."
There was a brief pause as Jason looked at her with wild eyes. She nodded again to reassure him.
Abruptly, he threw back his head and whooped.
Caden drew Eva into his arms. "Someone is happy."
Eva set one hand on his chest. "It looks like you will be losing your newest Anateri recruit. How do you feel about that?"
Caden's face dipped as his lips touched hers. "Like I just gained a permanent assistant."
Fiona and the rest rode back into camp a few hours later while the Trateri were dealing with the aftermath. Spotting Eva and Caden, she guided her horse toward them.
She stopped, glancing around with an impressed look on her face. "It seems like we missed all the fun."
Caden stepped forward, offering his hand in greeting. She clasped his forearm before straightening in her saddle.
"We managed without you," he said.
"Sorry about that. We ran into a few of our own on our way back who needed help. It delayed us." Fiona nodded toward Ghost and Roscoe as they made their way in their direction.
Warin rode behind Ghost. The Trateri's arm was immobilized by a sling and his face had streaks of dried blood across it. Next to them, Roscoe led his horse on foot, a prone body lying face down over the saddle. The arms dangled lifelessly.
"Drake," Jane whispered with an ache of loss.
Eva's heart clenched, sorrow squeezing her throat as Jane made her way toward the fallen Anateri. Jane lifted a hand and set it on his back, her head bowing as her shoulders shook silently.
"My clan would have been proud to call him a member. He fought until the very end." There was none of the arrogance or cockiness in Warin's face from before, only a somberness.
Jane nodded but didn't speak.
"We encountered the expedition you sent to find these two." Fiona tipped her head at Drake and Warin. "They're escorting the rest of the wounded here."
"Good work," Caden told Fiona.
"I wish we could have been sooner," Fiona said, her gaze lingering on Drake. "Maybe then—"
Fiona trailed off, shaking her head in regret.
"Yeah," Caden told her with a sad sigh, his expression understanding.
