Page 165 of The Incendiary

“Where’s Finn?” I demanded, rushing up to Elias at the front as he tightened his sheath and belt and shouted commands.

He stopped and glowered at me in suspicion. “Why are you so concerned about him?”

“You said they have Tremaine. He’s with her, is he not? You mentioned her yourself. Am I not allowed to worry about a friend?”

His expression calmed. “I assure you, Sinclair can handle himself. Now, go prepare. I’m going in the first wave. You’ll wait back and go in the third, and when you get there, I want you to stay near me.”

My chest twisted in irritation. “I don’t need to⁠—”

“This is your first time in combat, you’re still covered in bruises, and only the gods know what else you’re not telling me,” he snapped. “It is an order.”

I wanted to punch him straight in his flawless nose. How bold of him to be protective of me now, as if compensating for his lack of concern when it had mattered to me most. I wanted to say as much, but Gemma was the priority right now.

“Sinclair’s one of our stealthiest,” Elias called after me. “He insisted on leading the team to retrieve Tremaine. If you’re so worried, don’t be. We outnumber them, and we’ll keep them occupied.”

It was mildly comforting, but Finn was still going inside the enemy’s camp. As rational as Finn was, if Gemma was there, I wasn’t sure he’d be able to act rationally.

What if Molochai was there? If he laid a single finger on either of them…

“I can go with Sinclair and⁠—”

“No,” Elias cut me off, steady and sure. “You’ll go with the third wave. I won’t say it again.” Elias gave me one last glance before heading out with the first wave toward the Insidions. What he didn’t know was that if I didn’t see Gemma unscathed with my own eyes within the next hour, I’d defy all orders and go get her myself.

Minutes later, I stood waiting with my fellow soldiers who were to attack on foot. We could hear the distant cacophony of clanging metal, urgent shouts, and cries of pain as the first wave attacked.

“Did you follow us?” I called out to Shera, sensing her nearby.

“Of course I did.”

“You need to stay hidden. If you’re seen, they’ll either try to take or kill you. One stray arrow and you’re down. I’ll heal you if needed, but please don’t make it so I must. I’m not sure I’ll be able to heal today and remain conscious.”

“I will protect y⁠—”

“You will protect yourself!” I started to pace behind the third wave of our forces. Constant movement helped repress the tears when the reminder that he was gone overwhelmed me. “I can’t lose you, too.”

Mercifully, she didn’t object to that.

The second wave took off with a loud battle cry, leaving only the final double line of fighters standing in wait. If I remembered Elias’s plan correctly, this was when more Insidions would be drawn out to fight while Finn and the others snuck in the south side of the camp to rescue Gemma and the other captured soldier.

I wanted to run now, but Elias had a plan, and causing any rift in that plan would be selfish. The last time I ran to the enemy when I wasn’t supposed to, and I’d gotten myself killed. It wasn’t just my life at stake today.

When the captain stationed with our third wave shouted for us to go, I took off like a bolt of lightning and led the way. We covered the distance quickly, approaching a blood-drenched forest floor with crimson-cloaked bodies strewn about.

The air in my lungs thinned. There was so much red. Hardly any of the Insidions were left alive. The stragglers were being put down with a blade to the neck or skull by a few of our meaner-looking fighters walking through the carnage, eager for one more kill.

A few of our own were injured and already being carried off and lifted to safety. It turned out Elias hadn’t been arrogant in predicting a bloodbath. We had just won handily. The third wave wasn’t even needed. It all felt too easy.

“Ary?”

My muscles locked, anchoring me in place while sorrow threaded through my body. And guilt. I hadn’t heard that voice in six months.

I turned and found myself face-to-face with Ezra. His arms were limp at his sides, his mouth open in shock. The blood of whoever he’d slain in the battle painted his leathers. He was one of the few hundred fighters from the Caves.

An even more blood-soaked Elias walked up beside me and chuckled. “Good to see you, Hart. Careful around our Brinnean recruit.” He winked down at me. “She bites.”

But I kept my eyes locked on Ezra. His confusion. His relief, and his disappointment.

“Ary?” Ezra said again in disbelief.