Page 28 (1/2)

"Why did you disobey a direct order?" the Commander countered

Thrown, Valek searched his et involved with Ben Moon’s escape You were heading to Sitia to help Yelena before you ran into Maren"

"How--"

"It doesn’t matter how I learned of this What e in plans"

"An assassin was after Yelena"

"That is the answer to your original question, Valek Why didn’t I inform you about Owen? Yelena"

"I wouldn’t--"

"You wouldn’t have told her? Truly? He’s a dangerous ht She’s the reason his brother went to prison You wouldn’t have warned her?"

Now Valek didn’t have an answer

"Your loyalties are divided"

"Yes They are But I passed all your tests I returned even after Yelena was shot with Onora’s bolt I found and shut down the s operation as ordered It wouldn’t have been as successful if I hadn’t taken that detour to aid Yelena"

"You had no way of knowing that before you left And Owen still ed to escape"

Valek bit down on his first retort If he’d known about Owen in the first place, this whole s ment"

Commander Aed? Was it because I didn’t tell you that I can be trapped by a siht an assassin crept through my "

"Onora?"

"Yes"

But he’d been there with the Co with him for six months "You mean the first time she arrived? Not the second time, when I was there, which was just another one of your tests"