“How many?”
“Around thirty,” I slurred. My dreams were never taxing, but that had been. Perhaps it was because I had gone searching.
All I knew for sure was that my head felt too heavy for my shoulders, like I was teetering just standing still.
A horn blared in the distance, snapping me back into the present. Raised shouts from the camp filtered into the tent.
Rowan’s face grew serious, and he gestured for me to follow. Once outside, I rubbed my chilled arms. The breeze had picked up, and it was biting. I could see my breath in the air, misting up into the night Sky.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Rebels.”
My breath caught, and my brow rose. Rowan noted my reaction, and his eyes narrowed.
“They are not your heroes.”
“Of course you would say that. Their entire purpose is to rid the world of Veilers.”
“If only that were the case,” he muttered under his breath.
“What do you mean?”
“They aren’t well known for their treatment of women. They expect a certain type ofrepaymentfor their valiant rescue,” he mocked. “Willing or not.”
I swallowed hard, a wave of nausea hitting me.
“You are to return to your tent. This battle is not for you.”
“Let me guess, I’m a liability?”
“Yes, but even more, you are an asset. To hand you over to our enemy—for them to have access to your gift—would be idiotic beyond all reason.”
“I’m not just something you can wield! I amnota weapon!”
“No, you’re more than that. You have been blessed with a godlike power. Used properly, it could turn the tide in war.”
Rowan turned away from me and called out to a passing Veiler.
“Lorena, take her back to her tent and keep her there. You make sure she does not leave that tent under any circumstances. I do not care what actions you take to keep her there as long as she stays alive. If I find out she leaves that tent tonight, you better pray to every god in the universe, because none of ours will save you.”
“Can you afford to have fewer Veilers fighting?” I quipped, but Rowan ignored me.
“Am I clear?” he asked the Veiler.
“Yes, sir,” Lorena said firmly. She grabbed my arm and jerked me away from Rowan.
I started kicking and screaming for her to let me go. I was tired of being dragged around from one corner to the other. Every time it happened, it made me feel weak.
When we got to the culled’s tent, the Veiler guarding it unfastened it, and Lorena tossed me inside.
“The commanding officer permitted me to use all methods to keep you in here for the night, so long as you are kept breathing. Do you understand?”
I scowled. The sound of another horn drew my attention.
Followed by distant screams and the clatter of swords.
Chapter 14
