And not just anyone—
It was Darik.
The Nox captain’s black eyes widened in surprise at seeing Viri, then narrowed just as fast at the sight of Reeve, whose borrowed uniform did nothing to conceal his identity up close.
Panic blared through Viri, freezing her in place. Her mouthopened, an excuse ready on her tongue—but before she could get a word out, Darik rushed forward, yelling orders to his guards.
What happened next was a blur. Instinct kicked in, and Viri moved to intercept Darik, only for Reeve to rip his hand from hers and beat her to it. He moved so fast that his actions were impossible to follow, but somehow, in the space of a heartbeat, the captain was crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
Viri gaped at Darik, before screeching at Reeve, “What did youdo?”
“Incoming,” was all he said, using the fillium still connecting them to tug her out of the way just as Jost and Estrin reached them.
Though her mind screamed at her to stop, Viri defended herself automatically, and within seconds, the two reception guards were on the ground beside their captain.
“So much for sneaking out,” Reeve murmured, taking in the three prone bodies and pulling a face. “What a mess.”
Viri’s glare could have burned him alive.
“Itoldyou freeing Ashton would paint a target on your back,” Soren growled, marching their way. He knelt beside Darik, checking the captain’s pulse. “There’s no coming back from—”
Before he could finish, Reeve struck him on the back of his head hard enough to make him collapse beside his fellow Nox. “You can thank me later, Archer.”
Viri stared down at her friend in horror, before turning to Reeve and all but shouting,“Why the hell did you do that?”
He looked at her like she was an idiot. “I thought you didn’t want him involved?”
“Ididn’t—”
“Don’t you think it’d be suspicious if he was the only onestill standingandhe let us get away?” Reeve waved his unbound hand toward Soren and the other unconscious guards. “I did your friend a favor.”
Viri ground her teeth so hard they hurt. She hated that Reeve was right—that the best way to protect Soren was to make it look like he’d been attacked, just like the other guards.
Just like Darik.
“Elders, we’re dead,” Viri breathed, her eyes locked on the captain, but imagining Meera’s irate face instead. Her mentor wasnotgoing to be pleased when she learned of what had happened tonight. “I’mdead.”
“Not yet,” Reeve said, “but there’s a high chance we will be if we don’t get moving.”
Viri’s gaze shot back to him as she hissed, “You just brought down three trained Noxandtheir leader without breaking a sweat. How—”
“Actually,youbrought down that guy.” He pointed to Jost. “And I’m pretty sure you did most of the work with her, too.” He indicated Estrin. “But we can argue over who’s the better fighter later. You promised me freedom, and I promised you answers. Eyes on the prize, Little Shadow.” He jerked his chin toward the wayportal. “Let’s get out of here before more of your Nox friends arrive.”
Yet again, Viri hated that Reeve was right, almost as much as she hated the idea of leaving Soren helpless on the ground. She even felt bad about Darik—albeit to a lesser degree. But if she waited for them to awaken, then everything they’d done to escape would be for nothing.
Soren would forgive her.
And Darik…
Well, she would just have to find a way to explain things to the Nox captain after the danger had passed. Given his lifelong resentment toward her, she doubted he wouldbelieveher, but that was a problem for her future self. Right now, the only thing that mattered was stopping the Reaper Priest.
“Come on,” she muttered, dragging Reeve toward the wayportal. She looked back just once, sending a silent apology to Soren—and Darik and Jost and Estrin—before stepping through the arch, mentally guiding it to the first connection point that came to mind.
“I thought you were letting me choose our destination,” Reeve said as he arrived behind her, though he didn’t sound surprised. He did, however, look bewildered as he peered around the shadowy inner-mountain alley before them and asked, “Why are we in the market district? It’s the middle of the night—everything’s closed.”
“I can’t exactly take you back to my apartment with the Magistratus sleeping down the hall,” Viri returned, tugging on the fillium. “Follow me. I know a place where we can talk.”
It was almost eerie, walking through the sleeping alley located halfway up Mount Verta, past closed shops carved into the rock wall and canvas-covered stalls lining the lane. Come morning, the spiraling mountain thoroughfare would be teeming with people buying everything from fruits and vegetables and meats—all fresh from the farms located just outside the uppercity—to clothes and crafts and jewelry. As the commercial hub of Aravell, the market district boasted the city’s best tearooms, bakeries, perfumeries, florists, confectioneries, boutiques, bookstores, andmore. If it could be bought, sold, or traded, then it could be found right there in the heart of the mountain.
