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"I agree it’s dangerous I didn’t want them involved in your rescue, but they refused to lie low Even with the Cartel rounding the that even if I order thenorethem"

He huffed

A few o to sleep, even though I promised to man the door Instead, he dozed on the couch

Phelan showed up in theMud coated his pants, and rips marked his sleeves "I picked up a tail and couldn’t shake him Tenacious bastard I hid in the briars for a few hours until he gave up"

"Is anyone else co?" Fisk asked him

"How many have arrived so far?"

"You make thirteen," Fisk said

"That’s everyone"

A sad relief shone on Fisk’s face, but the co I didn’t panic right away Knowing her, she was probably waiting for everyone to be safe inside before joining us But just to be sure, I asked Phelan if he’d seen her

"No"

"She toldin the Citadel," Fisk said

"What? Why didn’t you tell ht you knew She made it sound like it was part of the plan"

A sick dread swirled in my stomach "What did she say?"

"That she needed to stay behind and keep an eye on Bruns"

Oh, no She planned to assassinate Bruns

I couldn’t sleep I paced around the living area while Fisk and his guild slept The htness on the trees and grasses Yet to me, the colors resembled mud

Onora and Valek remained in the Citadel Perhaps they would tea it But what should I do? Should I assume they wouldn’t reveal our plans to the Cartel and proceed as arranged, or should I change everything? There were forty-five days left in the heating season I needed to be at the Greenblade garrison before the start of the hot season

Kiki whinnied I froze for a moment She repeated the sound Distressed, and definitely trying to get ered the blade Peering through the s, I studied the land between the house and stables Nothing Kiki jumped the stall door and ran to the house

I bolted outside "What’s wrong?"

She spun and returned to the stables I followed her Onyx thumped at the walls Was he injured? Perhaps one of the splinters froate had struck him and festered I ducked inside and stopped Valek slumped over a bale of hay A knife jutted frohto his side, I paused His ht be able to heal him, but not if I touched him I crouched next to him and called his name His eyelids fluttered, as if he needed every ounce of energy to open his eyes, but he didn’t wake

Alive For now