My chin dipped once, though I shivered in the light breeze.
And in spite of the ashen, gray pallor staining her cheeks, Belle smiled at me. “I’ll be able to do more after I’ve recovered some. And I’ll see what I can do about that scarring, Mila, but at least the worst is over. How does it feel?”
I flexed it, grinding my teeth against the lingering tingle in my finger tips. “It’s functional. Where are we?”
“Somewhere between Elora an’ Tritan. In the forest,” Josh said, bumping my shoulder as he took a seat beside me. “It’s a few days to the Eloran border. Maybe less.”
“You know,” Ancaster said, sidling up to us. “I rather think that’s what they’ll be expecting. And if the Caledonians take the road, they’re sure to beat us there, especially if they’ve commandeered any of the Glaith vehicles.”
“What’re you thinkin’ then, man? Go somewhere else?”
“Yes. And with so many other refugees in the wood, we’ll be able to make our escape, largely unnoticed. We should go straight to the Glaith mines in the mountains. It’s a bit farther…”
“Aye, it’s at least a week’s hike. Maybe more.”
“Yes, it is that, but—” Ancaster took Belle’s hand, tapping the Dosmui Circlets still wrapped around her slender wrist and middle finger, then dropped to his knees in the dirt, scrambling for a stick. “But we’ll be exactly where we need to be, where we can continue our research. It’s exactly where the Empire doesn’t want us to go. We have four Priestesses at our disposal, which means we can set up Alicia’s shield here”—he sketched a few jagged lines in the dirt—“and unless they’re willing to risk scaling the Canodill Pass, they won’t get through to the mines beyond. At least not until we’ve figured out some sort of defense. A turret, perhaps.”
Alicia nodded, pretty green eyes narrowed. “Aye. Four Triloth Priestesses should be more’n enough to keep the shield burning at full strength. I mean, it’s not th’same as having one o’the Trila-Glís at our beck an’ call, but these four will do just fine. It’ll work. We’ve done it with less power before.”
Josh scrubbed at the stubble on his chin. “It won’t be an easy trek.”
“No. But it’s the only way we can honor the sacrifices made to keep us out of the Empire’s clutches.” Ancaster stood, brushing dirt from his hands. “These prototypes and the people who created them must remain free. To fight another day. For Tritan.”
A quiet chorus of “For Tritan,” rang through the small clearing. The only voice that remained silent, was my own.
“So that’s it, then?” Josh asked, making eye contact with every member of our ragged little group. “We’re agreed? To the Canodill Pass and the Glaith Mines beyond?”
Silence reigned as Tritan’s refugees looked to one another, questions burning in their eyes. A distant explosion, followed by several dozen voices raised in terror settled it.
“To the Canodill Pass,” Belle said, turning toward the commotion. “And we must hurry.”
“Right. Pack up. We’re headed that way!” Josh pointed, assuming the air of an experienced leader. “And I want you t’walk in single file. Make it as hard as possible for those bastards to follow. Keep a firm eye on the person ahead, and if you’re havin’ trouble keeping up, speak up. I’ll na’ leave a single one of you behind.”
In the ensuing scramble, I simply stood there, watching the panic flicker across each face, flexing my newly scarred right hand.
Numb.
I’d done this. I’d kissed him, and in doing so, had created a bond with an impossible Elite—a bond he would use to hunt me down. Blood to Blood. I could feel him, even now. Our link lived alongside the space that had belonged to my father… until… until…
I shivered, aching with the burn of tears, but in spite of the dreadful hollow space in my chest, they would not come—not with the threat of the Caledonian army at our backs. Trembling, I glanced over my shoulder. His comrades might have other objectives, but the captain was coming forme. I could feel it.Him. Could I allow the others to pay for my mistakes, for the curse of my Blood? What if I were to just… slip away? What if my going to him would give the others a chance to be free, even as it gave me the chance to claim vengeance for everything lost?
Josh rushed to my side, cheeks pale. “Come on, lass. Get your wee ass movin’.”
I sucked a breath through clenched teeth, shaking my head. “I think—I think you should leave me here.”
“Are you out o’your fuckin’ mind?”
“No, you don’t understand. I think… It’s my fault that—”
“No. I’ll not hear a word of that talk, Miss Tannovic. Your father—” He coughed. “Your father was a great man. Agreatman. You know he’d have been devastated to hear you talkin’ like that. Above all else, Mila, he wanted you to be free, and I’ll see that dream accomplished if it’s the last thing I do.”
I shook my head but couldn’t force the denial past the ache in my throat.
“Now take my hand, girl, and run with me.”
“No—”
He tangled his fingers with mine, ki flooding my senses the instant we touched, filling my cells with a rejuvenating warmth. I gasped, head spinning with the rush. I could replace what I’d lost in the salt caves. I could take itall…
