Page 52 of Oath of Rebellion

Knox.

Her heart leaped, but her body wouldn't respond. She just laid there, staring at them in the aisle of the barn as her body slowly came awake.

She felt the shadows gather around her as her magic flared to protect her.

It was fully dark outside the open barn door and a storm brewed outside. She could see the faint light of the cottage, the back door nestled beside the tree. Only a lone lantern by the barn door illuminated Scarlet and Knox.

Eirwyn finally could sit up, the shadows now hiding her movements. Scarlet threw her hands up and stomped outside. Knox followed her, and Eirwyn stumbled to her feet.

She crouched along the wall of the stalls to the lantern and pushed with her hand, making the shadows and wind blow it out when she got close enough. Then she peered into the darkness outside the barn.

Their voices carried now, brought to her on the wind.

"I can't believe you did this, Red. You've put us all in danger."

Scarlet shook her head, her cloak closed at the neck and her hair askew as the wind blew harder. She stared up at the man.

"I had no choice. When the king summons you, you go."

He straightened and glared. "Why you? How am I supposed to protect you if you're taking such high-profile contracts?"

She shrugged. "I stopped needing you to protect me a long time ago, Knox. As for why he picked me? That's easy. He wanted the best Hunter."

Eirwyn's jaw dropped. She was a Hunter? How had she not known that? She'd assumed she just worked with Knox in the forest.

"Is he mad? Last week he wanted her rescued from the forest. This week, he wants her dead."

Scarlet crossed her arms and cocked a hip. "He said that's why I was the perfect person for the job. I'm supposed to make it look like she ran off into the woods, and I just went to fetch her again. Only this time, I wasn't able to find her and escort her safely back to the palace."

He jerked his thumb toward the barn. "Are you going to go through with it? Because I can't let you do that."

Eirwyn's stomach twisted at his words. She was both excited that he would keep her safe, and afraid of what her brother would do now.

Oh hells, her brother was trying to kill her. Panic clawed her throat, and she breathed shallowly.

"Of course I'm not going to go through with it. I know what she means to you, Knox, which is another reason I took the job and why I brought her here."

Wait, what did Eirwyn mean to Knox? They'd only met twice. How could she mean anything to him? What had Scarlet said last night about it?

Knox rubbed his head. "Alright, we'll come up with a plan to see you both safe from the king. The rumors were already flying around the tavern. He had the place searched for her, probably to help shake suspicion off himself."

"He seemed cold and calculating when I talked to him. Face to face with the king, Knox. Can you believe it? He said he didn't want any witnesses and didn't want her body turning up in town."

Eirwyn was cold, but she barely felt it. Rage and hurt boiled in her chest at his treachery. How could he order his own sister's death?

The back door of the cottage opened, and Olive pointed to the sky.

"Alright, we can figure this out." Knox asked.

Scarlet turned and waved to Olive, then glared at him. "It better, otherwise I'll be next on his kill list. I'm hoping Grandma will have an idea. Bring Eirwyn inside when she wakes, will you?"

She spun on her heels to go to the cottage.

Knox watched her walk away as thunder boomed, rubbing his temples under his hood. Scarlet was almost to the cottage when the man turned back to the barn and walked to the door.