“How many more do you think they have?”
“An army,” I say.
“Yeah, well, so do we,” Riot growls.
I grab the suturing kit from my desk to work on my arm.
Riot’s rounded shoulders droop forward as he sinks further into the armchair. “Anything from Sam?”
I shake my head, taking the third seat, and thread the needle. “I can’t feel his magic.”
Grace curls around herself, my enormous chair swallowing her.
Riot exhales, his bloodied boots gleaming as he stretches his legs out. “Shit.”
“Why did they take him?” Grace whispers, staring into the flames.
“I can think of two reasons. And you’re not going to like either of them, Grace,” I say, stabbing at myself with the needle.
Her shining green eyes meet mine, begging for an answer.
My lips press into a thin line. “I think they intend to study their enemy and force our hand to attack.”
If the Goreon king is aware we’re at half strength, that makes his play even more strategic.
Grace’s face darkens. “We’re getting him back. I’m not letting my brother rot in that castle.”
Riot stands, striding for the bar behind my desk. “I need a drink. All that fighting ruined my buzz.”
He pours out three shots and brings them over, along with the bottle.
“To Lou,” he says, handing me one, and I pause on the suturing.
“To Lou, forever may he rest,” I say, clinking my glass with theirs.
Grace scowls at my half-sutured, filthy arm. “Hunter,” she scolds, batting my hand away from the needle and lowering to her knees between my legs to work on my wound.
“Thank you, my love.”
She peers up at me. “We need a plan. I want into that castle as soon as possible.”
I sweep the bangs out of her eyes. “Aye.”
Looking above her to Riot, I address my Central station leader. “I’ll send the Hunter call to travel to Mortifer. We’ll convene every Hunter left in Goreon and prepare for war.”
My magic spins with approval.
Riot’s eyes blaze. “At half strength, in the dead of winter, with rage boiling over a captured Hunter—” He slams another shot. “Perfect timing, Kade.”
A laugh huffs from my chest as Grace ties off the suture in my arm. “We don’t have a fucking choice.”
Riot grins. “You mistake me. Ilovethe plan; it’s perfectly insane.”
Yes, it is.
The Hunter within simmers with the call of duty. “We leave in the morning. Make sure Central is ready to move out.”
“Aye, Captain,” Riot says, standing and yanking open the door.
