Page 99 of Secrets of the Six

I whistle sharply six times. Cas and Olli will know the sixth member of our crew is injured and we need to move immediately.

“Talk to me, Ines,” I squeeze her hand as I cradle her head in my lap.

“What do you want to talk about, Remus?” she huffs, offering me the faintest smile.

“Anything.” I narrow my sights on one of the dogs curiously sniffing the bottom of Ines’ boot. “I need you to stay awake until we can get you some help.”

“You need to leave before Severo comes home,” she whispers when her hazy eyes meet mine.

“I’m not leaving you.” I shake my head. “I’m getting you – “

“I’ll just slow you down –“

“Ines.”

“Remus.” She shoots back sharply, wincing beneath me.

“I. Said. No.” I reiterate, making sure I keep a steady pressure to her abdomen. “I won’t lose you.”

“It’s ok. Go. You’re more important than I am.”

“More important to who?” I frown. “You’re mine. I won’t leave you behind.”

“Remus?” Rogelio says so softly I almost miss it. Shock and confusion flash across his face until realization floods him. “You’re Remus Kane? The generals’ son?”

“Shit! What happened?” Olli heaves himself back through the window, denying me the opportunity to address Rogelio piecing my identity together. He stops short when Rogelio’s hounds growl in protest.

Rogelio hisses for the dogs to stand down before shooing them out into the hallway and closing the door.

“We can take her to my personal physician,” Rogelio suggests, wiping tears from his face. “He lives in the Silver District – “

“For him to turn us into your father once he patches Ines up?” I interrupt with a scoff. “Not a fucking chance.”

“I assure you, he can be discreet. I’ll pay him handsomely for his trouble.” He takes a step toward me. “Let me take her. He will assume she’s still Elena – “

“Why would I allow you to take her anywhere?” I growl through gritted teeth.

“Because she’s dying and I can’t be the reason she does!” he yells.

A low whistle sounds. Cas has the carriage secured. Now we need to find him.

“Please,” Rogelio pleads, now kneeling on Ines’ other side. He takes her blood-stained hand in his, drawing her lethargic gaze. “Let me help her.”

Before I think better of it, I slam the pommel of my dagger against his head. Rogelio crumples to the floor with a thud.

Olli hisses a string of curses behind me. “Remus, what the hell?”

“We can’t leave him here. First chance he gets, he will tell his father about us.” I scoop a mumbling Ines into my arms and stand.

“So, we’re resorting to kidnapping?” Olli guffaws, rubbing the heels of his palms against his eyes. “You do realize he will be missed right? The second Severo realizes his son is gone, he will tear the city apart searching for him.”

My mind is racing but there’s no other way for us to keep our rebellion a secret unless we take the Murrieta heir. Not only can he identify us, but he knows exactly who I am now. It won’t be long before Severo hunts us all down and slaughters us before we have so much as a chance at sparking our rebellion. So despite Olli’s protests, I double down on my order.

“Pick him up.”

“Rem – “

“Olli! We’re running out of time.”