“You always have a choice,” Vera says with a trembling voice. “You have gotten yourself mixed up with Caligos business? After everything you’ve seen them do to people like us, you still got yourself involved?”
“I didn’t mean to.” Tanaka manages the words through tears. “I swear, it was a mistake. I owe you my life, Vera. Please understand.”
Hojo covers her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with shock at her friend’s betrayal. Vera shakes her head, still in disbelief. I circle the tub and seize the wrist of Tanaka’s hand that holds the vial. She fists it in her palm.
“What were you trying to do here?” I ask through clenched teeth.
“I—He told me to use this on Vera tonight,” Tanaka chokes out. “He said if something threatens to expose me, to use it onthem. I didn’t know if Jax knew, so I was going to poison him just in case.”
She yelps when I tighten my grip on her lean wrist. A little more pressure and I could shatter it.
“What did you do?” Vera jerks her chin at Tanaka. “What did you do that forced you to serve him?”
Tanaka sobs, her whole body shaking.
“I stole a pearl,” she says, finally. “Not from Daegel, from someone else. And they caught me. They were going to break my legs, but Daegel came with an offer to be a spy for him.”
“The Talbots are always there to make deals when the time is right,” Noire says.
“How long ago was that?” Vera leans forward. Another sob rises from Tanaka. “How long ago was that,Tanaka?”
“Right before I came to you for shelter,” the girl says. “Before you took me in as an apprentice.”
The admission is like a slap to Vera. Her eyes widen, full of hurt.
“Was your story about where you got your scars true? Any of it?”
When Tanaka doesn’t answer, it’s clear enough. Vera looks devastated. She has had Daegel’s spy in her house for years. Someone she took under her wing and offered safety, protection, and purpose. All this time, the Talbots knew all about her movements and activities. Everything about her, Savage King, and the late Ezkai General. I can’t even fathom the depths of her grief right now.
“Please, Vera—” Tanaka cries out, but she can’t finish the sentence because she’s crying too hard.
“Did you inform the Talbots that we’ll be coming to that warehouse to free the kids?” Vera’s question is so quiet I almost miss it.
Tanaka can’t answer through tears, but she nods.
“That’s why they separated the kids and had backup coming,” Vera says more to herself than anyone else.
Noire squeezes her shoulder, trying to offer a small comfort.
“Take her away,” Vera tells Noire. “She’s all yours. You’re free to do whatever you want with her. Punish her, interrogate her, whatever. I don’t care.”
Noire nods. “My Ezkai will be here soon.”
Slowly, Vera rises to her feet. “Hojo, get Bart and Hel to help you finish bandaging Jax and get him into bed.”
Hojo nods and leaves to get the others. Vera approaches me and Tanaka. I still hold her wrist. Vera touches the fisted palm that hides the vile and Tanaka lets go. The vial drops into Vera’s hand. She gives it to Noire. Evidence.
“There are no words to describe how I feel about what you did,” Vera says to Tanaka. There is no kindness in her gaze, nor in her voice. “I hope you rot in prison and never find peace for damning so many innocent kids to slavery.”
I let go of her wrist and Tanaka crumples to the floor, hugging herself while she sobs. It doesn’t take long for two Ezkai dressed in black leathers, their faces covered with black masks, to show up. They pull her up on her feet and drag her out of the bathroom without a word.
“I’ll go now,” Noire says. He looks between me and Vera. “You’ve had enough for one day. Get some rest. The morning is wiser than the evening.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Vera says to him.
I’m left alone in the bathroom with the unconscious Jax. All the emotions and thoughts I’ve been avoiding all day threaten to suffocate me. I breathe through it so I don’t lose my shit until Hojo returns with Bart and Hel. Once they’re back, I leave them to finish bandaging Jax and I slip outside.
I make my way to the damn rock in the back of Vera’s garden where I spent countless weeks training with Kazh. My body isfatigued, my muscles refuse to obey me. But I climb on top of it and sit in the lotus position like I always do.
