Maria Snyder - Dawn Study

“So when I’m spotted at the Featherstone garrison, he doesn’t risk his people trying to rescue me.”

“Why would you be...” Cahil’s grip tightened, and he muttered a curse. “He has people in the garrisons, doesn’t he?”

“There are many public roads to the garrison. We could be spotted at any place en route.”

“Nice try, but you’re a lousy liar. Do you know who they are?”

Now it was my turn to curse. “No.”

“And you won’t tell me until the ten days are over.”

“No, I really don’t know.”

I wasn’t sure if he believed me, but he remained silent as we climbed the stairs and exited onto the warehouse’s ground floor. A few beams of sunlight pierced the blackened windows, providing just enough light to see the words written on the crates. Our group wove through them as if navigating a maze they’d been through a thousand times. I glanced at the floor. The dust was thick between the piles, but underneath our feet, the path was clean. Even I could follow this trail.

“Head to the Council’s stables,” Cahil ordered when he spotted the entrance. “Yelena will ride with me on Topaz.”

The door opened, almost as if on cue. Everyone grabbed their weapons as Onora strode into the building like she owned the place. I stumbled. The dam inside me broke, and grief ripped right through my body. The tiny spark of hope that Valek still lived died.

Cahil’s hand steadied me. “Don’t worry. I won’t let her kill you.”

I didn’t have the strength or the ability to correct him. Emotions lodged in my throat, cutting off my air.

He faced me. “Breathe, Yelena. We might need you if this gets...ugly.”

Right. I focused on Valek’s killer. Barefoot, and with her hair tied back, she looked years younger than twenty. Cahil’s agents spread out as much as they could among the piles of crates. Two of them held crossbows and they pointed their weapons at her, even though her hands were empty.

No, that wasn’t correct. She played with two bobby pins, spinning them through her fingers. Ah, hell.

Cahil strode forward. “You’re too late. Yelena’s in our protective custody. Go back to Ixia.”

Onora cocked her head to the side. “Why isn’t she dead?”

“None of your business.”

“But Bruns wants her eliminated.”

“Bruns? Are you working for him now?” Cahil asked in surprise.

“No. Bruns asked the Commander to send me to take care of Valek and Yelena.” She met my gaze. “One down. One to go.”

I drew my switchblade and advanced. The desire to plunge it into her heart pulsed through me. Cahil put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me.

“Bruns would never turn to the Commander for help,” Cahil said.

“Then maybe you need to have a chat with your boss.”

Frowning, Cahil moved his grip to my arm.

Onora noticed. “Unless you’ve decided to branch out on your own?” She waited. “No? Then give her to me. I’ll finish my assignment and be on my merry way.”

“No.”

“Why are you protecting her? She’s just going to cause you trouble.”

“Go home, Onora. You’re outnumbered, and the ladies holding the crossbows have excellent aim.”

Onora grinned, showing two rows of straight white teeth. “Are you sure about your math, General?”

“I count fourteen of us and one of you.”

Nice of Cahil to include me in his group.

“You forgot to check the ceiling for spiders.” Onora dove to the side.

Everyone looked up, but I stared at her, stunned. She had used Valek’s words. I broke free of Cahil’s grip and hit the floor as gray figures darted from where they’d been hiding between the piles of crates.

Cahil laughed. “There’s nothing up—”

Fighting broke out, and I stayed low. I’d been shot by a crossbow bolt before. Once was enough. Because of Onora’s spider comment, I didn’t know if the gray fighters were my friends or enemies. Had it been a signal to me, or just something she picked up when she’d been training with Valek? Rather than risk joining the wrong side of the fight, I kept away from everyone, ducking behind a pile of crates to wait.

I listened to the sounds of the scuffle—thuds, grunts, steel clanging against steel, cursing, a hiss of pain. Then, without warning, Onora appeared next to me.

“It’s safe,” she said.

Reacting without thought, I pressed the tip of my switchblade to her throat. “Valek?”

She held her hands wide. “Fighting Cahil, from the sounds of it.”

Surprised, I stared at her. Was this a trick?

“No offense, but if I planned to assassinate you, you’d be dead by now.”

Right. I lowered my weapon as relief swept through me. “Sorry.”

We returned to the main area. Cahil’s people littered the floor, and a number of gray-clad figures stood nearby. But what grabbed my attention was the man in black who had his sword aimed at Cahil’s neck. Cahil glared. A bloody cut snaked from his hand up to his elbow. His sword lay on the floor at his feet.

“Onora?” Valek asked without moving his gaze from Cahil.

“She’s here.”

“Watch him,” Valek said, tossing her the sword.

She caught it easily and kept it pointed at Cahil.

In two strides, I was wrapped in Valek’s arms—my favorite place to be. After a minute, I whispered, “I thought Onora killed you.”

“I told you I could handle her.”

“But Cahil said...” I shook my head. “Sorry. I should have stayed in HQ.” Should have trusted Valek.

“Doesn’t matter now. You’re safe.”

“And she’s still mine,” Cahil said. “Yelena, tell your husband about our agreement.”

8

VALEK

An agreement? Valek leaned back to meet Yelena’s gaze and did not like her pained expression. Not at all. He tightened his arms around her for a second, his instinct to protect her flooding him for a moment. Then, with effort, he relaxed and stepped away. “What is he talking about?”

Yelena explained the deal she had worked out with Cahil. As she talked, Valek kept a tight leash on his emotions. After a hellacious night spent healing his injuries and worrying about her, this was the last thing he wanted to hear.

“...we need Cahil on our side. You agreed. He won’t listen to reason while under the influence of Theobroma. This is the only way we’ll be able to convince him.”

Anger shot through him. “No. You can’t go to the Featherstone garrison. Bruns will find out, and then you and the baby will be killed.” Valek pressed his arms to his sides as the desire to throw her over his shoulder and bolt from the warehouse pulsed through him. She hadn’t trusted him to defeat Onora. Didn’t believe she’d be rescued. For the first time in years, he was furious at her.

“You can’t stop her. She gave her word,” Cahil said, holding up a piece of parchment.

The smug superiority of Cahil’s tone grated on Valek’s already frayed nerves. He pulled his dagger and advanced on the idiot. “I know a quick way to void that.”

“Valek, stop,” Yelena said.

“Are you that certain he’ll see reason?” he demanded.

“Yes.”

“What happens if Bruns learns you’re there?”

“I’ll protect her. It’s a provision in our agreement,” Cahil said.

The handle of Valek’s knife bit into his palm. He’d never regretted killing anyone in his life, but he’d kicked himself for letting certain troublemakers live, because they always returned to cause more problems. Cahil happened to be one of them. However, Valek’s plan to stop the Sitian takeover did include Cahil’s assistance.

“Can I see the accord?” he asked.

“Of course.” Cahil handed him the accursed document.

Valek read through the terms. A red-hot knot squeezed his chest. He sought loopholes. None. After committing it to memory, he returned it. “In ten days, I will be at the Featherstone garrison.”