She’d gotten as much information as she could. Now they just had to distract the perception-blessed soldier from the water wielder who had already snuck out of Serill’s tent and was inside the patrol’s camp. Cason must have known where Farrah was because he tugged Brela’s hand just into view of Lyle.
“Valkip, no surprise you’ve been quiet,” the soldier continued, eyes drifting to their hands. He snarled slightly as he took the second bait.
“Not much of what comes out of your mouth requires a response,” Cason mumbled.
“Still such a pretentious prick. I can’t believe Era put up with your worthless ass for as long as she did.” Lyle smiled as Cason stiffened, and he went for his kill. “Lilla, did you know your captain used to set his bed on fire because he couldn’t control his magic?”
Brela leveled a stare at Lyle, all lightness leaving her eyes. “I think it was a perfectly reasonable reaction to losing his mother.”
If he was surprised that she knew Cason’s history, Lyle didn’t show it. “Such a shame the shadow-cursed man ran away like a coward after he slaughtered her patrol.” Brela froze. “At least his father turned Oyria into a statement. He honored Dimia’s sacrifice instead of running away. Seems like your captain and that shadow-cursed monster have some things in common.”
Oh, gods, she hadn’t known. Cason didn’t just hate the Veil Worshippers; he had a damn good reason to hate the shadow-kind as well.
She was going to be sick. The men had been tortured in Oyria, the women and children burned in their homes. Cason’s father had been responsible… and the shadow-kind,herkind, had betrayed the town. Left that innocent village to suffer for his actions.
Cason began tapping his thumb on the back of her hand to keep her focused, his voice a growl. “Don’t act like you know my mother or father. Slaughtering women and children isn’t honorable, it’s deplorable.”
“What’s deplorable is sleeping with your subordinate.” Brela snatched her hand away as Lyle grinned. “No wonder she rose in the ranks with no magic.”
“Watch your mouth, Lyle,” Cason hissed, heat rising as the fire spit embers into the sky.
Lyle’s grin turned feral. “There’s the uncontrollable fire. Is that the only way you can get a woman’s attention? Handing out promotions if they warm your bed?“
“Stop it,” Brela mumbled as she dipped her chin, glancing between the men.
“Is that what happened, Lilla? Did he offer you that position if you opened your legs—“
“Shut up, Lyle,” Cason snapped.
“Cason,” Brela warned, the fire between the men growing.
Lyle only snarled. “Era used to complain that the sex was so stiff—“
The fire exploded. Lyle barely flung his hand out to deflect the blaze as Cason leapt out of his seat and dove toward him.
But Brela was faster. Her hand dug into Cason’s forearm—his arm that was completely engulfed in flames—and yanked him back.
“Enough,” she snapped. Cason growled, teeth bared as his blue eyes flashed to her. Even as Lyle started laughing behind her, even as sweat dripped down her neck, she held Cason’s gaze. “He’s not worth it.”
He blinked at her, fire slowly receding as his arm shook in her grip.
“Pathetic,” Lyle jeered.
Brela whipped her head around. “You’re both acting likechildren. We’re done here.” Lyle looked ready to say something but she jabbed a finger toward the rest of his patrol, the men now interested in the commotion. “Get the hells out of my sight.”
Lyle gave one final smirk toward Cason, and Brela had to yank the captain away from the crackling fire as he tried to lunge at the man. She waited until Lyle turned back to his men before tugging Cason toward their tents.
After several steps, he whispered, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Didn’t feel a lick of that fire,” she whispered back. “Did he really fall for it?”
Cason’s snarl turned into the widest grin she’d ever seen on him.
“Every damn line.”
41
Change of Plans
