And my pack can’t promise mine.
I’m overwhelmed by their fear. My bonds are overloaded, and all that fear is for me. For my life. But they won’t be able to protect me forever, not if the future can’t be changed. No, I can’t think like that. I’ve seen other things.Goodthings. I have to believe our actions can alter the course of this terrible war. I have to believe I won’t be forced to watch them die.
“We haven’t given the go-ahead on this mission yet, but you deserve to know what we’ve been discussing, what you’re potentially agreeing to and what you’d be fighting for,” Graeme begins. “Our mission would be to infiltrate the Saint Galen Consortium to free both the hostages and the omega test subjects held within. Thanks to Cora’s intel, we know that there are around two hundred Soldiers of Saint Aldous stationed in the consortium.”
“That’s where you were?” Holly asks. “Damn, girl. You’re so brave. I can’t believe you did that on your own. I would have been terrified.”
Cora shrugs off her praise but gives her a weak smile. “It had to be done.” She fidgets with the hem of her shirt before pointing to the map Simon stuck up on the wall with the tip of her scribe. She walks the omegas through what she’s discovered, pointing out the rotations of the Soldiers, the location of the test subjects and the location of the hostages.
“This is why we’ve been learning the ‘fight back’ magic,” Holly says. “We have to do this. Juniper and Cora have both been so brave. It’s time for us to step up, too.”
“They want affinities?” Blair asks grimly. “We’ll show them affinities. Who’s with me?”
Hands shoot up faster than I can count them, but when I do tally the omegas who want to help in our fight, there are thirty-eight. That’s thirty-eight more omega lives that hang in the balance of this battle, thirty-eight more omegas whocould wind up confined once more, only to be subjected to my father’s horrific operations.
No, I realize. It’s thirty-nine.
My father will stop at nothing to get my affinity.
“I don’t evenlike the idea of getting all of you to the resistance base,” Graeme grumbles, staring out at the amassed omegas. “Even this is risky.”
“Oh, can it, Graeme,” Aimee says. “We know the risks.”
Graeme stares at her, agog, while Jack lets out a huff of laughter.
In the end, we have to stagger the van trips at intervals. Moving thirty-eight omegas isn’t easy. Ian applies muddling spells to the vans to keep them from being tracked with magic, while Simon works his technological magic to ensure they can’t be tracked with tech. Still, we all take different routes to avoid detection.
We’re all finally gathered in the resistance base as resistance members begin trickling in. Many I haven’t seen before. Graeme and Jack have been recruiting the mates of the omegas who were taken off the street, and our numbers have swelled because of it. Though our aims are different, they’re willing to fight beside us to topple the Soldiers of Saint Aldous and Baphomet’s Prince. Anything to get their mates back.
I take quick readings on them and don’t sense any traitors or moles. Saints, the resistance is growing. Over a hundred members crowd into the space with the omegas. A sign of bitter times, but brave hearts. I take Cassian’s hand and squeeze it. In addition to the resistance members and the omegas, Cassian scrambled two of his father’s best tactical teams to aid us, and they’re packed in the lodge with us.Maybe we won’t be as out-manned as we previously believed.
As Graeme and Simon talk about the map with the group, I remember the last time we planned a mission like this, only that time we were only rescuing test subjects, not hostages as well. We were also dealing with far fewer Soldiers then. Saints, it feels like ages ago, not mere months. So much has changed since then.I’vechanged since then. I’m stronger in my affinity than ever before, and more determined. I’ve faced setbacks with my father, but I know I’ll rise to the occasion in this fight. I’ve been training for it since my affinity emerged.
The premise of this attack is the same: we’ll attack at night. Hopefully, it’ll give us the element of surprise, because Graeme’s right—we’ll have Soldiers breathing down our necks before too long.
Slowly, a plan begins to take shape.
“We’ll work with one of the tactical teams and focus the bulk of our efforts on freeing the hostages,” Jack says to the resistance members. “The omegas in confinement will likely be scared, so it’s paramount that they see friendly faces when being released. To that end, our omega allies will work on freeing the omega test subjects held within the facility, partnering with the second tactical team.”
“My pack and I will be focused on taking down my father,” I pipe up, much to my pack’s surprise. Shock and frustration echo down my bonds. I know I should have told my pack my plans earlier, but they would have stopped me. I regret that Cassian will be with me and not working with the resistance to free the hostages, but I know he’ll prioritize my protection no matter where we fight. “He’s a key figure in the Prince’s leadership and he cannot be allowed to continue in his work.”
Luca takes my hand and squeezes it, his frustrationreplaced by pride. That’s all the encouragement I need. I know my choice is the right one. My father will keep me alive until he can take my affinity, giving us the perfect opportunity to strike.
He’s underestimated me at every turn.
I promise he won’t make that mistake again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
We have the day to rest before the mission, but in truth, we do little resting. We’re all too tense. I don’t need my bonds or my affinity to feel the tension hanging heavy in the air, palpable and suffocating. My pack still isn’t happy with the announcement I made at the resistance meeting, and they try to talk me out of it.
“Junes, love, we can do this without you. It’s too dangerous to go. We know your father wants your affinity, and he’ll stop at nothing to get it. You can stay here, where it’s safe. With Simon.”
Simon squawks out a protest.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t want to be safe. I want to beuseful.”
“And I’m not hanging back either, Cass. You’ve been training us in combat magic. Junes will be safer if we’reallthere to protect her.”
