Gideon’s tone hardened. “If the aesran or the ministry get their hands on a weapon like that, we don’t stand a chance.”
It wasn’t the first time Gideon had called August a weapon.
“They won’t,” Felix answered.
“There’s only one way to be sure of that.”
Heat rose in Felix’s chest. “I said theywon’t. The aesling ismyproblem to worry about. Not yours.”
Gideon pressed his mouth into a line, but he dropped the argument and set to rousing the others.
It took a few attempts before Felix got August to respond.
For a moment, he stared up at Felix, his grey eyes still hazy with the softness of sleep, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Then they sharpened with recollection, and he sat up straight, surveying the room.
“You’re still alive,” Felix stated casually, “so you’re not off the hook just yet. Get up. We’re finishing this.”
Nobody wanted to linger ongoodbyesandgood lucks, so Marlow, Gideon, Lark, and Niall left shortly after waking. They headed down the narrow alley, Marlow leading the way. This was her city, and it was a pleasant change, being the one with steady feet after so long in Bedwyck.
Felix and August stayed behind. They’d be alright. She knew they could handle it. Felix wouldn’t quit until this was done.
And the aesling . . . well, he’d certainly surprised her. He’d shown he could stand up to Felix. If he’d wanted to disappear and leave them to face this alone, he could’ve. Easily. And yet, he was still here. Either he was an idiot, or he genuinely wanted to help.
Or maybe it was just self-preservation. A desperate attempt to save himself.
Either way, they had a real shot at ending this. Of saving Atheran. What did she care what his reasoning was?
And it didn’t matter what she thought of him. Felix would kill him when this was over.
The thought left a foul taste in her mouth. It didn’t seem right, killing him now. He was entitled and irritating, sure, but he was here, same as them, fighting against this thing. Felix had to see that.
She frowned. Arunas help her, she was siding with a royal.
“You’re still sure about this?” Gideon asked. He’d agreed with her plan last night, but in the light of day, the reservations were etched on his face.
She nodded, then glanced over her shoulder, nervous energy flickering through her. Lark and Niall walked hand in hand. If they were worried, neither showed it.
“I won’t hold it against you if you turn back,” she said.
Niall wrinkled his nose. “Mar, you’re good and all, but you really think you can do this without us?”
“That sounds like a me problem, doesn’t it? You guys were grand before we showed up and wrecked it all.”
“We were stuck in a cellar,” said Lark. “Anything’s better than the mind-numbing boredom. Besides, I’ve been dying to use these.” She patted a satchel tied to her belt.
Niall held his hands out at his sides, Lark’s hand rising with his, their fingers still intertwined. “We signed up for the resistance. We knew what we were getting into.”
“Now stop being sappy and focus,” Lark added.
Marlow gave them a quick smile, then continued on, leading the way through Copperhill, past the imposing ministry building.
It was early, so they didn’t have the crowds to use as cover, and the Watch were out in force, but they made it to the Torlaeth District without drawing attention.
She stopped across the street from the massive armoury, hidden from view. It was a fortress with two sets of thick walls and endless checkpoints. Raesarinn had people study theblueprints extensively, looking for a weakness and finding none. There was no way to get inside the building without clearance.
Fortunately, getting inside wasn’t the goal. They only needed to make it look like they were trying. A commotion that large would draw the Watch, the ministry, and probably the attention of the aesran herself. Every resource would be pulled to meet the threat.
But they wouldn’t be there. And if Geocraes was on their side, by the time they realized nobody was actually breaking in, August would have already closed the tear.
