But not long after that, his men had learned the truth that he was an enemy,an outsider. They had turned on him, causing everything to go awry, and locked him away in a Government prison. It wasn’t until months later that Anadil had helped him escape, that she had taken him to his brother.
And just before the games, when his brother sent him back to Violencia to locate Jayce… Well, he was beginning to suspect it was just another part of Anadil’s plot.
He knew, even when he met her, that every choice she made was calculated, that she was planning dozens of steps ahead.
“You are a belladonna. Slow and insidious.” Oleks inclined his head. “But I will remain by her side. I had already decided as much.”
“I don’t like this. Don’t like us deciding without her here to voice her own opinions.” Levi got to his feet. “But I will not be leaving her side either. If there’s nothing else, I’m going to check on her and see if she’s woken up.”
“Ivan is on this ship,” Drago blurted out. “Or at least there’s evidence he might be.”
Griffin stiffened, his brother hadn’t informed him of this.
“And we left Raven alone?” Levi growled, marching from the room and slamming the door shut behind him.
“Ivan?” Julian asked, his charcoal eyes swirling in rage. “How?”
Drago explained, “I suspect he snuck aboard in the chaos. One of my men found his uniform, but by the time we got everything settled, it was too late to turn around. We can’t find him anywhere, but we have tried. Watch yourselves. This ship is too large to search every nook and cranny, but I will continue to do so.”
Griffin didn’t like this, didn’t like that his brother hadn’t told him before now, that he was kept in the dark on this very important piece of information.
“Noted,” Maverick cut in. “What is this war for? What are you fighting?”
Griffin noticed the way that Drago stiffened, it was nearly an imperceptible amount, but he had grown up with his brother. Recognized his ticks.
He still does not like to be questioned.
“A mistake was made, and it is our job to fix it. Women should not be hidden away, should not be punished for flaws outside of their control, should be able to choose their partner. AndViolencia should not have to deal with the consequences of our actions,” Drago said.
Griffin mulled over the words.
Be able to choose their partner.
It was a sentiment he agreed with, but coming from his brother, it sounded hollow. There was a time he had loved and respected his brother, trusted him with his life.
But not any longer.
Griffin didn’t want to linger on the irony that he was fighting for exactly that, but his decision would force Raven’s hand.
Maverick didn’t appear to like the answer, but he didn’t argue. “I imagine you aren’t going to elaborate. And it appears we don’t have a choice. But we will help.”
“Good. And Julian?” Drago cocked his head.
Julian had remained mostly silent throughout this, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the door Levi had gone through. “Yes, I will remain by her side. But she’s going to want to go after Sparrow. Going to want to find Jayce. And I can’t promise I’ll be able to stop her.”
“When the time is right, that is exactly what she will need to do,” Drago advised.
Griffin’s eye twitched. If there was anyone he absolutely despised in this world, it was Jayce. For failing Raven every step of the way. For causing this entire mess. Griffin was nearly thankful that Anadil had rid him of the literal thorn in his side. Except she had taken Sparrow too.
“Raven’s daughter.” Maverick flipped the page of his notebook again. “The fertility issues. When did they begin? Has there been any indication to determine where they stemmed from?”
Drago coughed, choking on his breath. “Where they stemmed from? Now that is a question that could solve all of our problems. But this all began just around the time people were sent to Violencia, when your country was established nearly twohundred years ago, and it has gotten worse ever since. And then our father was killed, and that enacted the games in our countries and brought with it another slew of anger and distrust. You will find, for how far apart our homelands are, they are quite similar.”
Maverick opened his mouth to speak again, but Drago cut him off.
“When we arrive in Grypheem, I will give you access to our library, to all the information you could hope to possess. It will answer your questions better than I have any hope to.”
Maverick inclined his head in agreement.
