Page 145 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

I dropped my face into my hands again, hating myself for putting Ronen through the shock. But Donavyn had been clear: No one but Shadowfang could know the truth. Only they would prioritize the people over the king.

I still believed Ronen would choose correctly, but I wouldn’t risk it.

I needed Terra. And the queen.

And I needed them yesterday.

‘Akhane, is this real? Are you faking at all?’

‘No, Little Flame. I am spent. But I will heal,’ she sent faintly. ‘Do not fear. Leave me to rest.’

Fear chittered in my chest, but we’d talked about it until the last couple of hours, when she was so tired, she didn’t even link with words.

My priority had to be to get in front of the queen.

And hers had to be to make it believable that our mates were dead.

I just prayed she hadn’t gone so far in expending herself that she’d harmed herself.

But then there was a shout, and a feminine-shaped shadow appeared on the edge of the launch hollow, sprinting to my side, and sliding to her knees, bag slung across her chest, her eyes wide and worried in the dark.

“Bren. Dear God, what happened?”

“I can’t… I need…” I trailed off into a fresh sob.

Ronen and the other Furyknights stepped back as Terra leaned over me, thumbing up my eyelids, checking my fingernails, which seemed odd, and leaning her head to my chest to hear my heart.

When she straightened again and started to unbutton my jacket, I caught her hands and she froze.

Our faces were bare inches apart. The men only feet away. But I whimpered so they would think I was in pain, then whispered under my breath.

“I need to speak with you. Alone.”

Terra blinked, then her eyes widened.

I swallowed and prayed the men couldn’t hear. “In the palace. As close to the queen as you can manage it.”

Terra stared at me, unmoving. “Can you walk?” she breathed.

“Yes, but it needs to look like I can’t.”

Terra blinked, then a moment later, leaped to her feet.

“Make sure Tato and Nila stay with Akhane, but get Bren up,” she snapped at Ronen. He frowned, but gestured to one of the other Furyknights, who hurried forward without question. Terra ignored Ronen’s questioning look. “She needs to be moving. Walking, to get her blood pumping. But she’s too weak. Get her up, carry her if you have to, but leave her legs down. Make her move them as best she can. Follow me.”

Then, as they leaned down and each took one of my arms, hooking it over their shoulders and pulling me to my feet, Terra met my eyes, gave one, small nod, then gathered up her bag, turned on her heel, and started towards the trees—not the stable—and the path that would cut through the woods in a nearly direct line to the palace.

“Where are we going?” Ronen demanded. “The Academy—”

“She needs resources we only have in the Palace,” Terra said sharply, glaring at him over her shoulder. “Keep her moving and upright until I tell you it’s safe.”

When the door closed behind the men, Terra locked it and hurried back to the bed where I lay. I sat up—and swayed. She caught my shoulder to brace me, but didn’t chastise me.

“What the fuck is going on, Bren?” she hissed.

“Betrayal,” I whispered, eyeing the walls around us to keep her wary. “Bad news out of Fyrehold, but I can’t… I can’t talk in front of the men. Please,” I hissed. “I have to get a message to the queen. And only the queen. I can’t… I can’t be around the king or… or other men right now.”

I looked at her, praying she’d forgive me for the deception when this was all over, but knowing she’d be sympathetic—and attentive—if she believed I’d been betrayed by a man.