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“How did you find us?” Yelena asked him.
He ducked under a low-hanging branch. “By doing the same thing you were, love—watching the road from Owl’s Hill.” When Yelena had stepped from the woods to talk to Cahil’s scouts, Valek thought she was an illusion or a hallucination, as he hadn’t slept much since he’d seen the new security measures at the Citadel’s gate. He feared the worst after he’d gotten a closer look and knew there was no way to enter without getting caught.
Not at that time. However, if Cahil remained Theobroma-free and was still willing to help, by this time tomorrow they’d be in the Citadel. If not... Best to worry about that later.
* * *
Cahil had rented the top story of the Cloverleaf Inn. Watching the windows of the inn, Valek waited in the shadows near the stable. Yelena had stayed with their horses just outside the small town. Not without protesting, but Valek needed to ensure Cahil remained an ally before he risked her and the baby. Besides, scaling walls and sneaking into rooms late at night was his forte.
Once all the lanterns in the suite had been extinguished for a couple hours, Valek climbed the side of the building until he reached a window to one of the bedrooms. He unlocked it and slid it open. As he eased into the room, light from the half moon shone through a layer of thin clouds, giving him just enough illumination to see Cahil wasn’t one of the two sleeping men. Two more people slept on the couches in the living area. No one stood watch. Good for Valek, but a misstep for Cahil. Valek checked the next room. Cahil was alone—another blunder. Too bad they were allies, or he’d give in to the temptation to permanently take care of a big problem called Cahil.
Instead, he stood next to the bed and cleared his throat. Cahil surged awake with a knife in his hand. Impressive.
“Relax,” Valek whispered as Cahil scrambled to his feet.
“Who’s there?” Cahil demanded, thrusting the blade forward.
Valek sidestepped and pulled the hood of his sneak suit down. But he kept his weight on the balls of his feet, just in case. If Cahil had reverted back to being Bruns’s lackey, the young man would likely yell for help.
Cahil kept his guard up. “What are you doing here?”
“No hello for your comrade-in-arms?”
“Let’s not pretend we like each other. What do you want?”
“Why are you returning to the Citadel?” Valek asked.
“Orders from Bruns. He didn’t specify a reason.”
“Does he suspect you’re involved with us?”
“Not that I can tell. But with Bruns, you never know for sure.” Cahil shrugged, trying to maintain a relaxed attitude about Bruns discovering his deception, but the stiff line of his shoulders said otherwise.
“Tomorrow, when you arrive at the Citadel’s gate, will the guards inspect each of the members of your crew or just let you in as a group?”
Cahil lowered his weapon. “Unless they have a reason to be suspicious, they’ll just wave us through.”
“Will they notice if you have two more?”
“Two? You and...?”
“Yelena.”
Cahil cursed. “If they recognize either of you—”
“They won’t.”
“Why do you want to get inside? You no longer have allies there. The Beggar King and his minions have been arrested. You can’t free them.”
“No?” Valek kept his expression neutral, despite the confirmation that Fisk had been captured. He wondered who’d tipped the Cartel off.
“All right, you and Yelena probably can. I’ve seen you two do some impossible things. In fact, it’s better if I don’t know your plans. But if you get caught, my involvement will be exposed, and I’ll no longer be able to help you or myself.”
“We know the risks.”
“Fine. What do you need from me?”
“A couple uniforms for me and Yelena. And tell your men that we’ll be joining you.”
“Done.” Cahil strode into the living area and woke his crew.
Valek tolerated a number of sour looks and low grumbles. It wasn’t his fault that they didn’t have the training to detect an assassin slipping into their rooms late at night. Despite their mood, they dug into their packs for tunics and pants that would fit Valek and Yelena.
Valek dropped the bundle of clothing out the window before he straddled the sill. “Cahil, may I make a suggestion?”
An instant wariness touched his pale blue eyes. “Go ahead.”
“Set a watch schedule. Have two guards awake at all times, and don’t sleep alone.”
“Why? I’m allied with both sides.”
“But you’re not friends with the Commander. He has other assassins working for him.”
“You said it would be a subtle takeover. No war.”
“The Commander took over Ixia by assassinating key people in power. In other words, those people who might object to the new regime and had the resources to cause problems. People like the Sitian Councilors and the general of the Sitian army. Besides, it never hurts to be extra-vigilant.”
“Noted.”
Valek gave him a mock salute and climbed out the window. He doubted Cahil’s security would stop a trained assassin, but at least it might slow the person down. Scooping up the bundle, Valek hurried back to where Yelena waited.
She had built a small fire. His comments to Cahil about being prudent rose to mind, but not many assassins could slip past Kiki. Valek paused before his wife noticed him. Over the twenty-five days since they’d been apart, the angles of her beautiful face had softened, while her skin and hair shone. All due to her pregnancy. She might not be showing yet, but to a careful observer, the signs were there.
“Stop skulking about in the woods and come tell me what Cahil said,” Yelena called.
He strode into the firelight. “How did you know?”
“Kiki. She raised her head as if she heard something, then relaxed.” Yelena pointed to the clothing. “I take it you were successful.”
Valek filled her in. “We only have a couple hours to get ready. I’ll do your disguise first, and then you can nap while I work on mine.” He pulled supplies from his saddle bags. Holding up a pair of scissors, Valek tested the edge of the blades for sharpness.
Yelena made a small huh sound and crinkled her nose.
“Sorry, love—the women in Cahil’s group all have shorter hair. But with some artful braiding, I can make it appear even shorter without having to cut off as much.”
“Not that.” She grabbed his hand, pulled up the bottom of her tunic and pressed his palm to her stomach.
“What—”
“Just wait.”
The warmth from her body soaked into his skin. He wished they had time for a proper reacquaintance. Perhaps just a nibble on her earlobe. Valek leaned closer, but without warning, a sensation brushed along his fingers. He drew back and met Yelena’s gaze. Tender delight shone in her eyes. The light touch repeated, and understanding hit him. Hard. His lungs constricted as if he’d been sucker-punched.
“The baby?” he asked the obvious in a whisper. All he could manage.
“No. Bad indigestion from Janco’s cooking,” she teased. “Of course it’s the baby.”
He knew that, so why did the ground soften beneath his feet and the world tilt and spin around him? Because now the baby was tangible. Not just a concept or a belief. Real. Excitement mixed with fear, and the desire to protect crashed through him like a burning hot wave. He staggered to his knees under the weight.
Confused, Yelena held his hand. “What’s wrong?”
“You can’t go,” he said.
She stilled. “What do you mean?”
“Tomorrow. It’s too dangerous. Let me and Onora—”
Yelena knelt next to him. “You’re overre
acting. Besides, you argued for it. Remember?”
“Our baby changed my mind.”
She grasped both his hands in hers. “You need me. If any of Fisk’s members escaped, they won’t talk to you or Onora. Zitora also won’t trust either of you. And the library in the Keep may not allow you to view Master Magician Ellis Moon’s notes.”
Her words were all logical. Once inside the Citadel, the risk of capture diminished. Yet the sick fear gripping his insides with its sharp claws refused to let go.
In a softer tone, she said, “There will be no family for us if Bruns wins.”
Another valid point.
“And fate might smile on us, and we’ll find a weakness that we can exploit, or better yet, that you can use to assassinate Bruns.”
Valek’s calm detachment returned, cooling his inner turmoil and solidifying his determination to see this through to the bitter end. “You’d let me assassinate Bruns?”
“Oh, yes.”
“What about the rest of the Cartel?”
“No. They’re pawns.”
Pity. “Owen?”
“Yes with a capital Y.”
Something to look forward to. “How about Cahil?”
“No.”
“What if I say please?”
