We were summoned this afternoon by the tribunal. Apparently, they’re ready to make their decision. Unease courses through me, but it doesn’t seem enough to combat my exhaustion. I’m way less nervous for this than I would have thought. Pretty sure that has to do with what I overheard from the Sovereign herself. She wants us dead no matter what. The order will probably come today, at least that’s what I expect.
I think back on our conversation this morning with Tok and Marn.
“If the decision is for the Sovereign and against you, don’t fight. They’ll be ready for that and have measures in place that you won’t see coming,” Tok tells me, his countenance urgent and his tone critical.
“They will take you and imprison you until they can make all the arrangements they need to turn your deaths into a spectacle,” Marn adds.
“What if they don’t do that?” I ask. Knowing my luck, this will be the one time she deviates from protocol and cuts us all down.
“The Sovereign rules with fear. She needs to keep the people scared of outsiders and of each other so they don’t look too closely at her. She won’t miss an opportunity to show Tierit the big bad outsiders who dared to attack her and were defeated,” Marn explains.
“So we go quietly, and then what?” Valen asks.
“You wait for us to get you out,” Tok answers, looking at each of us in turn. “We have connections and power we don’t often flex, but we will. We will get you out, and then we will all run. The Sovereign may send Sentinels after us, but it won’t be anyone that isn’t already expendable to her. So we’ll have an opportunity to flip them, or I’m sure between all of us, they can be dealt with.”
“The only issue is the barrier, but we have some people looking into that as we speak,” Marn informs us.
“I don’t think the barrier will be an issue,” I declare.
Tok and Marn both look at me curiously with a hint of skepticism in their gazes.
“When we came through, we did something to it. That was the bright light that gave away that we were even here. If that hadn’t happened, I don’t think you guys would have known the barrier had been breached until we were walking into the city and announcing where we were from and what we were doing there. I’m not certain of what we did exactly, but I feel in my bones that we’ll be able to get out when we need to,” I tell them.
Tok leans back in his chair and stares out the window in contemplation. “Well, let’s hope you’re right.”
Another jaw cracking yawn pulls me from my thoughts, and I roll my neck and try to convince my body it needs to be on alert.
“If you stop yawning, I’ll do that thing with the chocolate that you love so much,” Ryker leans down and whispers in my ear.
His blond shoulder-length hair tickles the side of my neck, and I get chills as his words skim my ear.
“Whipped cream too?” I ask, excitement now strumming through my veins.
“Of course. I’ll make sure it’s hot as fuck and overwhelming to every sense you possess. And just when you can’t take anymore—”
I moan, cutting him off. “Don’t you fucking tease me, Ryker.”
He laughs. “I would never, Squeaks. It’ll be everything you’ve been dreaming about and so much more.”
I release a dreamy sigh that makes Ryker crack up again.
“But where are you getting the brownies from?” I ask, my mouth watering.
“I have a hookup with the kitchen,” he beams proudly.
“Oh you do, do you? And how did you come by said hookup?”
“Well, really we have Sorik to thank and technically, Sauriel too.”
I look up at Ryker, now suddenly very curious.
“Sauriel arranged for blood for Sorik. The female who volunteered also works in the kitchen. She and Sorik have struck up a friendship, and she mentioned if there’s anything we need, to let her know. So if I were to, say...ask for a brownie sundae, then you, Squeaks, would have your brownie sundae.”
I stare into his sky-blue eyes for a moment and then reach up on my tiptoes and kiss him. “You’re too fucking good to me,” I tell him against his lips, and he nips at my mouth before I pull away and drop back flat on my feet.
The side door opens, and in walks a couple of guards followed by Mote, Naree, Port, Wella and Sabin. They’re led to the side of the room, and they no sooner take their place there than a guard steps forward and announces the Sovereign.
“All hail Sovereign Finella, Leader of the Marked, Ruler of Tierit, Blood Savior, Walker of Realms and Gate Keeper,” he announces, and the side door opens again to present a large show of force.
