My jaw fell open. My eyes roamed between the two of them, and I couldn’t contain my shock. My voice was a mere squeak when I finally found it.
“Sacrifice?”
It took both of them a moment to nod.
My knees trembled, and I was afraid I was going to land on the floor. “He would do that?”
“We don’t know, Kimber,” Roran answered.
“It’s been festering for three thousand years,” Rilen added and slipped his arm around my waist when he saw I was about to fall.
“Three thousand…”
There was another silent look shared by the brothers, and Rilen sighed. “Savion and Dorian are a part of the reason the Spine was raised.”
Roran nodded. “And why the Gate is locked.”
I looked at the horses in the stable and back to the two of them standing there. “We don’t have time to tour the city. We have to get Dorian before he does something stupid enough to raise the Spine again.”
Rilen gasped, and Roran jerked back.
Roran asked, “Do you think the magic of S’Kir would do that?”
I nodded. “Can’t you feel it? When we were joined with it, the magic became easier to understand.”
Rilen tilted his head. “I have been so angry and worried about you and Dorian and my stupid brother that I haven’t been listening.”
Roran narrowed his eyes. “Stupid, brother?”
“Would you prefer idiotic?”
“Eh. Six of one way, half a dozen of the other.”
I shook my head. “Are you done fighting?” They nodded together. “Good. We need to get Staviz to release some soldiers to us. Ones who have been trained with guns and are good with swords.”
“You don’t ask much, do you,ilati?” Rilen smirked.
I eyeballed him. “Have you learned how to use a gun?”
He looked sheepish. “Not with any accuracy.”
Staring him down, I admonished him with a tease. “You know, I can’t be the only warrior in this relationship.”
“Who taught you?” Roran questioned. “I thought you were a prisoner?”
“The rebel vampires have their own plans, and Aiko was able to sneak me out and teach me. I also had more guidance under Odom at the Burnt Woods.”
Roran stepped back and growled. “Odom?”
That was a surprise. “You know Odom?”
“He was Savion’s dungeon master.”
I nodded. “He was. He was also the man who smuggled my pregnant mother out of West S’Kir to safety.”
Rilen stared. “Excuse me?”
His brother grimaced and rubbed his neck. “Uh, yeah. We kind of need to talk about that.”
