Page 117 of Lethal Souls

“Alora,” I call as Hassha closes her hands around their wrists.

Luminous blue sparks appear around them, the sign that Hassha is about to teleport.

But before they go, Alora tosses me a wounded look. Her eyes brim with regular tears, and her bottom lip quivers.

Fuck.

I know that look. I know it all too well.

I’ve betrayed her.

“Of all the people in Vakeeli, I can’t believe you’d think so low of me, Caspian,” she says with a rare crack in her voice.

Before I can blink again, they’ve vanished.

SEVENTY-TWO

CAZ

I leave the tent feeling worse than I did before arriving.

“Wasn’t Alora, was it?” Rowan asks, following me through the forest.

“No.”

“What about Danica? What is Korah doing with her?” he asks.

“Let’s find out.”

We make our way back to the castle, but my attention catches on two figures in the distance swallowed in lavender light.

Korah and Danica.

I make my way to them, and Danica is on her knees, her face pointed to sky as she convulses.

“What’s happening to her?” I ask, watching as she grunts and jerks.

“Reading,” is all Korah says. With a flourish of her hand, Danica stops shaking and collapses on the ground. “Take her back to camp.”

“Not her either?” I ask as Rowan lifts Danica up.

Korah responds with a shake of the head.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” I mutter.

Footsteps rustle through the grass, and I peer over my shoulder, spotting Killian. “Conan is in the village with armor and weapons,” he pants. “He wants your approval on them before heading back to make more. I’d go with you, but I need to check on Mum and all.”

“Right. Go on. I’ll bring Cerberus with me.”

When I’ve made it to the village with my wolf, I spot Conan standing near a large merchant cart. On the cart are suits of armor made of silver hanging from built-in racks inside. On the bed of the cart is an assortment of weapons—swords, daggers, knives, scythes.

“Ah, Caspian. Just the man I was looking for,” Conan says, smiling. “I have the first round of weapons. The rest should be ready within the next few hours. A few other Whisper Grovians should be traveling here as we speak and arriving soon.”

A deep growl comes from below, and I look to see Cerberus staring at Conan.

“Oi. Shut it,” I command, snapping my fingers at Cerberus. “You’re cutting it close, eh, Conan?” I ask, inspecting the weapons.

“Yes, well, between taking care of my people and the Rippies, it’s been a bit of a headache.” He chuckles, and Cerberus growls again.