Page 25 of Fate of the Fallen
“Perhaps you missed the part where I said Ibelievethese are his intentions. I gave no guarantee,” she snapped. I was no stranger to her being short-tempered on occasion, but I couldn’t tiptoe around her short fuse today. I needed answers. We all did.
“I’m only asking what else you think he could have planned,” I amended, being mindful to keep my tone cool. If she eventhoughtI was losing my temper, she’d bite my head off again.
Trust me, I’d crossed her enough times to know. Family or not, she had no problem putting me in my place.
After a brief eye roll, it seemed we were ready to continue our conversation. However, when we did, Hilda didn’t readily share whatever theories rolled around inside her head. There definitely was at least one other option, one she wasn’t saying aloud.
“I’ll look into it,” she said dismissively, turning her attention to Ivan again when he shifted on the cot.
She’d kept a close eye on him. My gaze fell on him now, too. He didn’t look good—pale, sweating, coughing as he lie in a magic-induced sleep.
A harsh breath passed between my lips. “Is he … getting any better?” I asked, afraid of the answer even before it was given.
“If you’re asking if he’s healing, the answer is no. Another cursed weapon,” she sighed, adding, “But we’ll officially have an arsenal of our own to fight back with soon.”
At those words, my mood lifted a bit. “Soon?”
She stepped around me, headed for Ivan again as she answered. “Yes, once the Elders finally order their witches to do their jobs. My guess is they’ll wait until after tonight’s meeting. It will take a considerable amount of magic, so they’d most likely hold off until they’re certain their power won’t be needed to maintain order during the gathering. You and I both know those things have been known to get out of hand.”
Her tone was cold as the sentence trailed off. Maybe she thought it was all too little too late. Maybe she’d grown tired of feeling like the Sovereign was always one step ahead.
Dallas grumbled from across the room. “Well, it’ssomething,I guess.”
Josiah agreed with a deep grunt.
“The guards have already been supplied with bullets and arrows much like this one,” Hilda said flatly, gesturing toward the shaft that had been removed from Ivan’s shoulder. “Those who’ve come to aid in our fight will be directed to distribution stations the Council ordered set up around town, areas not affected by the flood. There will also be extra artillery stashed in designated homes and facilities in the area,” she went on.
I took note of how unimpressed she delivered her speech. I was nowpositiveshe believed the Council had underdelivered.
Her heavy gaze fell on Ivan and stayed there. Hilda wasn’t one to let her emotions show through often, but you could almost count on her inability to hide them when it came to one thing.
Family.
Our love for one another was a fault we all shared as a unit. Josiah draped an arm around his aunt’s shoulder and she leaned into his side. Seeing Ivan like this was hard. Had there not been so much pressure on us, so much to plan and consider, I was certain most would have fallen apart by now. He was important to us all—a brother, a best friend.
“He’ll beat this,” Tobias blurted when he stood to approach Hilda from the other direction, placing a hand on her shoulder as she stared down at her nephew’s helpless body.
“Well, we have you all to thank for slowing down Sebastian and his men. There isn’t much they can do with such a large portion of their supplies missing,” she replied.
I could only hope her theory was true.
The others stayed close to Ivan, but my arm was seized by Hilda when she led me aside, wanting to continue our conversation in private.
“They saw it all coming,” she whispered.
The somewhat out of place statement jarred me back to the present as I asked for clarity. “They who?”
“The Oracles,” she explained. “Two nights ago, when you were away, I was summoned, and they knew everything. Only, I didn’t understand how to piece it all together. If I had …”
Her voice trailed off and that heaviness returned to her expression.
“They tried to warn you?” I asked.
Large, gold earrings quivered when she shook her head and answered.
“No. It doesn’t work that way. They’re neutral when it comes to the affairs of the existing supernatural world, meaning they’re not known to intervene. As ascended beings, they have shed their humanity, no longer sympathizing with our plights except for those instances that concern the supernatural world as a whole. In other words, they aren’t exactly concerned with the menial, day-to-day problems we face,” she sighed, peering up before continuing. “They have a clearer view of the bigger picture than any of us could ever dream of. So, don’t fool yourself for one second. This war is beneath them and most would shed no tears for either side,” she said, but then added one last thought. “Except one.”
My brow quirked when she uttered those last words.