“Guess the rest of us don’t rank,” Ryan joked.
His partner’s easy humor failed to lessen the turmoil building inside Connor.The fact that those in power above them had all but ensured his death spoke of desperation.
“Desperate enemies are the most dangerous ones,” Thalia said, voicing his concern.“They don’t have much to lose.”
“Why me?”He stared at Morgan, waiting for his theory.The man didn’t speak lightly, so he had to have one.
“I know you don’t want this to be personal, Connor.But it might be, at least in part.Celina is a highly respected matriarch.Cat is one of the favored aspirants competing for the queenship.And you’re one of our most elite warriors, save that you’ve never accepted a captain’s responsibility.”
Ryan’s brow rose in surprise at the last revelation, his gaze snapping to Connor’s.
“Fact is, the three of you, combined, hold a lot of power, resources, and connections.Access to information.Royal blood in your veins.You’re a threat, Connor.”Morgan eased back, taking most of the air with him.“Moreso than the rest of your team ever could be.”
Ryan’s parents were historians, and Thalia had no living family with Jax gone.Connor was the one capable of investigating nefarious activity and making accusations stick.
“I should have stayed dead.”He tunneled his hand into his hair and gripped his head.Rather than protecting them, coming home had jeopardized the people he loved.“My family is in danger now.”
“If Alison is really behind this, then they were always in danger,” Morgan said.
“I want Cass in on this.She can help protect them.”
Rather than balk at additional non-military personnel being involved, Morgan inclined his head in agreement.“I’d planned on it.”
“What about the children?What danger is there to them?I won’t let them be intimidated or harassed, even if it means I have to submit to some military demands, or we have to change tactics.”
“There are different laws for private rescues.Old ones that pre-date the military protocols.We’re going to take advantage of them.You can thank your sister for that.Cat helped me with the legal research.I have a stack of paperwork to ensure the children don’t get taken for questioning or forcibly removed and routed through the refugee center’s regular protocols.Althea and I will sign to officialize them before you leave Rosewood.”
“Good.”Opal would be legally as safe as he could make her.It would have to be enough.“We just need to get them home to Ravensmere then, where Cass can protect them.”
“If I know Cass, then they’ll be getting a Wolflumen escort to take them home.We can’t close ranks around them without it being suspicious, but her people can.They’ll be well-protected while we’re dealing with the military at headquarters, and it will reinforce the way the rescue mission was led and handled.”
“Alright.”Connor nodded his agreement, believing that Morgan could do as he said.Getting cleared and back home quickly would be a small miracle.He was confident that Cass’s clan would protect Celina and the children while he was detained, but it wasn’t the same as being there to protect them himself.
“Get some sleep, Connor.It’s going to be a long day tomorrow,” Morgan said, ending their meeting.“You two disappear and act the part when you see him next.Then we’ll start our hunt.”
“This needs to be fast.No time for them to hide or stop us,” Ryan said.
“Agreed.”
Morgan bid them goodnight, leaving the living members of Team Onyx to themselves again while he went to brief Cass on events to come.
Thalia stood as soon as he left and looked at them both in turn.Her eyes were cold when they met his.Her voice had a deadly calm when she spoke.“Investigate all you want, but if she’s the traitor, Mekray dies at the end of this.Her life for Jax’s.”
Chapter 25
Ridgecrest Forest, Border of Eldridge and Zamyra
SlowingMelodytoawalk, Daya observed the land closely as they made the final approach to the fortress.A bold purple trail of leopard’s bane plants rustled in the breeze, the heart-shaped leaves billowing in the air.
Bright strands of new growth sparkled through the more muted colors of the Eldrin Forest the closer she got to the Zamyran border.She was partial to the darker forests laced with gold velentha trees on the other side of the mountain range facing Eldridge’s central area.It was reminiscent of the forests she’d grown up hunting in with her father.
She had to admit that, without the dark activity plaguing the land, it was a beautiful area.Vibrantly colored Zamyran plants crept over rocks and hills.Vines circled the trunks of trees.The lush landscape was a blend of two worlds, its beauty and wildness growing with free rein this far out from the populated areas of either realm.
The gateway of nearby Mountainview was just outside her reach.She could go there in an emergency, and had a few times in the past, but it would weaken her tremendously until she returned to the shadow of the mountain.The feeling of disconnect was enough to discourage any desires she once had of building relationships with the townspeople.Better anyway that she remained a stranger passing through when the need arose.
Climbing the last stretch of land brought the fortress towers into view in the distance.She stopped at the crest and peered through the trees.Sunshine filtered through the branches and vines between her and her destination.It was the first time she’d seen it from this point in the day.Her reconnaissance had always been during rainy weather or with the team in the dark.
A glance back showed Veda wasn’t too far behind on her horse, Shadow.Neka kept pace alongside them, loping as a cat with her wings tight to her body.The horse Opal had picked out for Veda was a sweet, steady horse who had been a bit terrified of Neka when they’d met.A month of sharing their resting space had changed things drastically.Shadow now took cues from Neka as they traveled through the forest, seeming to trust that the owlcat would provide early warning of any dangers.
