The word settled like a stone in Connor’s gut.Ember grumbled beside him.“Vipers?”
“That’s what killed Samir’s team.Yours too, I imagine.”
The ringing clash of metal sounded in the depths of his mind, preceding the flash of an unwanted memory.
Stabbing his opponent deep, Connor followed up with a powerful kick to dislodge the man from his blade.He dropped to the ground, still gasping as his wounds bled his lifeforce at a quick rate.Assessing that the man was dying rapidly and wouldn’t be rising, he kicked the man’s sword out of reach and knelt over his body.A quick search revealed a few weapons he didn’t want and a medallion.
He closed his eyes as he squeezed the medallion in his fist.His team had been set upon by the most notorious group of mercenaries in existence.The pain radiating from the back of his head expanded to the point he felt blackness invading the edges of his mind.Footsteps sounded nearby, and he knew by instinct it wasn’t the gait of one of his comrades.
Silencing his groan at the need to battle yet another assassin, Connor shoved the viper medallion in his pocket.If they were following him, they weren’t after his teammates or the girls.Turning, he headed further up the mountain trail.
“There is only one way you could know what happened,” Connor insisted.Only the lead viper held the medallion, and he’d taken it off the man when they’d been alone in the woods.
“I’m not one of those zevving assassins!”the man cursed, causing the blade to nick deeper into his skin.“They sold us the girls.No need to disguise themselves—they are mercenaries in truth.Although not infallible if you’re still alive.”
Opal made a distressed sound that made them both pause.
Devryn let his head drop back in a semblance of defeat.“I was supposed to meet with Samir that day.Witnessed the tail end of it.Too late to help.”
Two Lightning Teams, both ambushed by mercenary vipers.His gut churned.Coming to a decision, he slowly removed his blade and sat back on his heels.“What intel were you there to give Samir?”
“Our goals were similar.To get information on the research labs that so many mages disappear into, never to return.One of our leads panned out.I’d confirmed it, but… it was too late.The traitor must have realized we were onto her.”
“Who?”
“Samir’s commanding officer.Mekray, I think, was the name.”
Connor jerked, the force of shock snapping through his body as Alison’s image flashed in his mind.“No way.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t believe it was possible that one of their leaders might have betrayed them.But his commanding officer was one of the most dedicated officers he’d ever met.He owed his career to her.More than that.
“Samir had the same reaction initially.Didn’t believe it.Demanded I confirm it because there was no way I could be right.But I was.”
“You saw her?”
“Just followed the message trail.Unfortunately, it went cold when Samir’s team was ended.Had to find a different way to hunt, from the inside.”
Alison Mekray.One of the three military councilors on the royal advisory committee.A close friend of his mother’s, who had encouraged him and mentored him.She was responsible for the intelligence branch of their lightning teams.
She was also his soul-guardian.
He instinctively reached for the pendant that usually hung around his neck.The one she’d given him long before his first mission.Just a simple luck charm, but it had meant a great deal to him because his soul-guardian had given it to him.A reminder of home, of what he was fighting to protect, she’d said.The stone was now around Veda’s neck as a symbol ofhiscare and protection for his own soul-daughter.His stomach rolled ominously.
Without a mother for most of his life, he’d relied on Alison for more than just military training.There was no way she was involved in something like this.He’d know.There.was.no.way.
“Betrayal hurts,” Devryn spat, touching the scars on his neck.“Trust me, I know.”
“Argh!”Connor let out an aggrieved yell, emotion pouring out of him.
The surrounding shadows pulsed and rippled, absorbing the excess energy flowing out of him into the earth and air.No.His heart was adamant that what Devryn said was impossible, even as his mind began to spin with questions and unpleasant thoughts.
Rescue the girls and go home.That’s all he’d planned.But this… this was too much.It wasn’t over.Not by a longshot.Hoping he wouldn’t regret the decision, he gestured to Devryn that he could get up.Ember screeched her disapproval.
“Truce,” he murmured, mostly to keep Ember from gouging the man with her talons.
Devryn pushed into a sitting position.He crooked his finger at Opal.“Come here, little one.”
A worried expression crossed her face as she came toward them.Connor tensed, ready to defend her if he’d been wrong.
