“Aten Ciro, you are still under my jurisdiction. I am your Custodian,” he spits as his face reddens at my words, reminding me of my father’s.
“Technically, I’m Aurelia’s. She’s the Guard Custodian. I don’t care if you think you run the programme or not anymore. There was an attack. I witnessed it myself. Ever too.” I reach back and grab her hand, shoving any semblance of a shield into my mind. “And my father is well aware. So back the fuck up.” My temper flares, but Rowan concedes, and I pull us the rest of the way to the residence, down the hall and to my door, which isn’t locked.
I slam it behind us and let go of Ever.
“Are you okay?” she asks, shaking her hand out.
“Just pissed off.”
“Now what?”
“We wait for the others. Micah and Calix will have information, no doubt. We need that. And hopefully, it will be more than we’ve already gained.”
The door bursts open behind me, and I spin, drawing my knife and moving in one sweep to position myself in an attack strike.
“Hey, hey, it’s me. It’s me!” Micah’s hands are in the air as he pulls his throat away from the edge of my blade. I relax and sheath the knife.
“Sorry.”
“Yeah.” He nods. “What happened to you guys? Warriors locked down The Court, but when they stood down, there was nosign of you.” His eyes jump between me and Ever but linger on her for far too long.
It sparks my possessive urge to keep her away from everyone in sight, and I’m not in any fit state to be picking fights. “It’s a long story. We stayed at The Court. What have you heard?” Micah was always useful when it came to intel.
We turn at the sound of the door opening again, and this time, it’s Calix and Crimson walking through. “Guess the news that we’re back is out,” I mumble.
Calix heads to me and gives me a hug, slapping me on the back before heading for Ever, who he embraces for a second before stepping away.
I stare at him, as does everyone else, at his behaviour.
“Fuck off. We heard what happened to Ever in the cells, and you,” he defends. “We got a briefing from the general.” He looks at Ever again. I’ve never seen him touch anyone other than me or his sister outside of training, and hugging Ever sends my vision green on top of what I’m already feeling.
“What happened?” Micah asks, looking confused for a moment.
“You first, Calix. You were with the Warriors. We were infiltrated, so why is Rowan saying differently?”
I move towards Ever and nod at her to take a seat on the bed, where I join her. Calix hops onto the desk, but Crimson hangs back near the door, keeping her eyes down.
“It was a mess. After the trial, everyone was already hyped up and asking questions. And then the alarm sounded, and everyone got recalled. The test protocol started, but people were confused as to whether it was a test or not. We still don’t know why. It should have been straightforward, but it went to shit. Kirrians doubted what we said and didn’t follow the practised drill, and it caused mayhem inside The Court.”
“I spoke to your father. Defensive operations on the western side.”
“Yeah. Except there wasn’t anyone to defend against. The tower that authenticated the alarm only reported a small scout party, none of whom were captured. Warrior scouts were sent out along the coast, north and south, towards the border, but there have been no reports we’ve been privy to.”
“But we were attacked,” Ever states as if needing to reassure herself.
“Would someone fill me in?” Micah interjects, impatience in his voice.
“Someone got to Ever,” Crimson says.
His face goes slack before he turns back to Ever. “Really? You weren’t safe in the cell?”
“Apparently not. Kyra came to tell me of the attack and said I’d be safe, but then two men came for me.” She grips the edge of my bed, scrunching up the bedspread.
“Two unknown attackers got into her cell, took her pendant, and tried to either take her or kill her,” I assess and break down the information as fact.
“They were trying to hurt you?” Micah clarifies, his voice edged with shock.
“They sure as zuns weren’t there for anything good, and taking her pendant didn’t evoke any sense of peace.”
