Belle stilled. “If that were true, the Eloran forces would move the mountain itself to rescue her.”
“Liyas,” I said, scrubbing the heels of my palms into my eyes to dispel the growing headache. “I saw her myself, just yesterday. Enslaved and in the company of Elites, but headed for Liyas.”
“Goddess, Belle. Do y’know what that means?” Alicia breathed, turning wide eyes upon the pregnant Priestess at her side.
“She’s tainted,” I warned, blinking at them for a second, then looking away. Tempting. Far too tempting. “I would have freed her myself, but—” I couldn’t be trusted with ki likethat, “—but the Caledonians have tainted her. Figured out some way to use her as if that power were their own. Fucking parasites. They’re feeding on them.” I laughed, utterly void of humor. “But having one of the Trila-Glís, even the way they are now, is better than…” I trailed off, flicking my claws toward myself.
Belle made a sound at the back of her throat, snapping her fingers. “The dirty Glaith! Itmustbe their dirty Glaith—they mix it with iron, the fools. Goddess, if we could get our hands on some of that!” She laughed, giddy excitement dancing through the soil, straight into my skin. “This isincrediblenews.”
I nodded, trembling, sweat soaking my hairline. “An alliance, then. Your forces shall have their weapon,” I spat, cracking an eye to glare. “I’ll work with you long enough to free the High Priestess, and then you will leave me in peace. Forever.”
A righteous speech hovered on Belle’s tongue—I couldfeelit, could feel her desire to break our pact even before it had been agreed upon. But she nodded, the gesture meaningless.
I smiled, baring teeth.
“Come,” she said, standing. “The others will be so happy to see you.”
I glanced at her outstretched hand. “You’d share your home with me, even now? Knowing what I am?”
Belle’s lips twitched. “I do not believe you are the villain you claim to be.” She shrugged. “At least not yet. I see you struggle to keep your distance, even as you work to give refugees sanctuary. To keep us all safe. It counts for something, Mila. Now,” she said, smile blossoming on her lips when I snorted. “Come, sister—”
Unexpected ki lanced through my chest.
Ki I knew, for it wasmine.
Twice in as many days, my pendant touched soil on my lands. A challenge so blatant, even Belle—with her augmented, inferior senses—felt it.
“Dear, Goddess,” Belle breathed, pressing a slender hand to her ripe belly. “What—”
“What’s your game, parasite?” I whispered, turning glassy eyes toward the sound of clattering stone. “It…” I cursed, taking a step. “He’s beyond the forest. I can’t sense anything! There’s too much Glaith! I can’t sense—”
“Mila youmustn’t,” Belle whispered, wrapping her fingers about my elbow. “I think there are men between us and the wall! Caledonians! You must be silent or we’ll be found out.You’vetaken away my armed guard. We are helpless here.”
“We’re not helpless,” Alicia said, drawing her weapon. A fine replica of the ones I’d had pointed at my face just yesterday, and the very reason I’d sent Kas away.
Jerking away from her touch—from the temptation—I spun to face Belle. “That pendant has enough stored ki that evenyoucan sense it, Triloth, and is the only thing that has a chance of stopping me if it remains in their hands. This is agift. A foolish mistake on his part, and one I shall capitalize on.”
“That’s absurd,” Belle snapped, reaching for me.
“Is it? I’ve been trying to reclaim that pendant for the better part of five years. And now here it is, on the eve of rescuing your precious Trila-Glís.”
Alicia stepped forward, green eyes glittering in the gloom. Weapon clutched in white knuckles. “Why? Why bother for a pendant when you’ve the power you claim to have?”
My eye twitched. “It belonged to a girl I used to know. A long time ago.” Teeth bared, I turned toward the mountain, pulling as much energy as I could from the Grandmother in preparation for the lack once I stepped clear of the forest. “And today, it shall be mine.”
“Whatever that power is, you cannot risk yourself to claim it,” Belle said, trying to stand. “I won’t allow it.”
When I glanced over my shoulder, my smile was borne of the darkest Truth. “Don’t worry, Priestess. This won’t take long. And when I return, my hands will be soaked to the elbow in Caledonian blood.”
“No!” she hissed, moving to stand in my way. “To kill as you are is to feed the Empath! You will lose yourself to the hunger. It willneverbe sated—”
I snorted, for of course, it was far too late for such a warning, no matter that Marco still lived. And she knew it.
“Save the bedtime stories for your brats,” I drawled, and planting a hand on her chest, I guided her back, forcing her to reclaim the brier throne. “Why don’t you stay here?” I purred, commanding the vines to hold her. To wrap about her wrists, ankles, and hips, pinning her in place. “You’re no help to me in your condition.”
“Mila,” she hissed, pulling at her bonds. “You can’t do this! Please.Pleasedon’t do this. We need your help to rescue the Trila-Glís! We had a deal!”
But I was already slipping into the shadows, racing for the limit of my territory.
