Then—
It doesn’t matter, she thought, her heart quaking.I won’t give up Fenn.
Losing Fenn or hurting him simply wasn’t an option, but she was surprised at how much it hurt—the thought of severing this connection with Kaelith before it had the chance to fully take root again.
I would never ask you to give him up, Kaelith’s voice cut through her thoughts.That wouldhurt you.
Her head whipped toward him.
What does that mean? Suspicion pulsing through her. He was a master manipulator, after all.
No tricks.His mouth spread into a lazy, knowing smile as if reading her mind without the need for their connection.I’ll accept whatever sliver you allow me, even if it’s but a fragment.
Her mouth fell open. He had always been so possessive before. And this…this was almost exactly what Fenn had said before he left with the Regiment.
As if navigating this Mission according to the Rules while keeping her friends and one lover safe wasn’t difficult enough. How in the stars would she manage if she gave in to whatever was growing within her for Kaelith, too?
Of course, I can’t speak for the wolf, Kaelith went on.He seems like the traditional type.
Please shut up. The mere idea of having both of them sent a shockwave through her body, heat pooling low between her legs, a traitorous reaction she wasn’t ready to confront.
Very regimented and all that.
I mean it, Kae,her hands flexed against her stomach.I will strangle you if you don’t shut up.
Kaelith’s head tilted slightly as he glanced over at her, assessing.Oh. Pet. I don’t think strangling me is what you want.He elongated his neck, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as he licked them slowly.Or maybe it is. Just a little bit.
SHUT UP!
His laugh erupted, rich and deep, a low, throaty sound. It was the kind of laugh that curled around her senses, setting every nerve alight with awareness.
“What are you laughing at, snake? Trying to summon another army of the dead on us?” Calli kicked a leg at him.
“Please tell me we’re almost there,” Rynna practically groaned.
“Yeah, like an hour from what I can tell,” Calli replied, closing her eyes briefly as if checking a mental map, then opening them with a curious glance at Rynna.
“Thank the stars,” she muttered as Kaelith began whistling a carefree tune, clearly enjoying himself far too much.
Just what the fuck have you gotten yourself into? She asked herself, not for the first time since bringing Kaelith back into her life.And what is Fenn going to say?
Chapter thirty-six
TheapproachtotheThird Regiment’s garrison was eerily noiseless, save for the crunch of dirt beneath their feet. Rynna, Calli, and Kaelith moved cautiously, the weariness of battle hanging like a heavy fog in the air. Tall, spiked beams jutted up ahead, forming a crude wall around the encampment. It was more for show than protection. Nothing could stop the army of the dead for long.
At the entrance, a guard stepped forward, his face streaked with grime and exhaustion. He held up a hand to stop them, eyes hollow as they moved between the trio. Brow furrowed, a flicker of doubt crossed his face as he sized them up, barely managing to lift a Source-fueled pulse-checking device.
“You alive?” His voice was rough and dull as he waved the scanner over their wrists.
And when Kaelith stepped forward, the guard didn’t even give him a second glance.
Inside the wall, rough canvas tents sagged beneath the weight of collected rainwater, and wooden beams hastily erected to support larger shelters creaked under the strain of constant use. The dirt paths between them had been trampled into thick, sticky mud by countless soldiers’ steps, while the stench of death lingered, overpowering the faint scent of wood smoke curling from dying fires.
Men and women moved about aimlessly, their movements sluggish. Some lugged injured comrades; others sat against tents, staring blankly into the distance. Their uniforms, once orderly and disciplined, hung loose and torn, streaked with mud and gore.
Rynna’s stomach twisted as they wound their way through the camp, careful to step over bodies lying in the dirt. Whether they were sleeping or dead, it was hard to tell. She caught sight of one woman bent in front of a small fire, cradling a young man’s head in her lap. His eyes were closed, his chest rising and falling shallowly. She hummed, though her voice was so faint it barely carried over the wind.
Soon, a large tent with torn Alliance banners flapping weakly from their posts came into view. Two men stood outside, eyes flat, but they gave the trio a nod and stepped aside to let them through.
