Page 176 of By the Flames of Her Fury

“Are you kidding me?” I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Tessa, what you’re doing for her isn’t selfish. You deserve a break. Would she want you to be tethered to her side instead of living?”

She gave me a half-smile. “She’d probably tell me I was being ridiculous. Like you do.”

“You better let us help you from now on,” I said, then snorted. “Wait till Nox hears about this. He’ll be pissed you hid it from him for so long.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”

I smirked, but then my attention snagged on the palace doors Kieran and Odessa had come from, where a handful of other people in dirty rags warily watched us. Some held pitchforks, others torches, and others dinner knives and forks.

I raised an eyebrow. “Uh, Kieran?” I called, joining him, Odessa, and Vera.

He looked back at them. “Ah, yes. Come, come, it’s alright. You’re safe here,” he called up, motioning for them to join us. The strangers were hesitant at first, and when they stepped into the sun, I saw what a ragged group it was. Their skin was pale, with purple rings beneath their eyes and bones practically sticking out of their knees and elbows.

“Prisoners?” I asked Kieran quietly.

He gave a solemn nod. “Once Tessa and Vera left to find you, I made sure Odessa was safe and scoured the palace for any sign of the High Elders and their plans. I found a dungeon hidden beneath the kitchens. I don’t know how long many of them have been down there.”

“He fought a slew of guards to rescue them,” Odessa said, a blush darkening her cheeks. “He was incredibly brave.”

Kieran rubbed his chin sheepishly. “You were still asleep, Odessa. You didn’t even see me.”

“Well, they told me so.” She smiled at him. “And I know you.”

“That’s our Kieran,” Tessa said, patting his cheek. “Just a big, heroic softie.” Her words were teasing, but she bore a proud grin.

“I couldn’t leave them,” Kieran said.

Tessa nodded. “We’ll take care of them.” She turned toward the group still lingering at the entrance, stepping into the role we were used to from our days with the Ashen Order.

As Tessa gently introduced herself, a man and woman emerged from the back, with two younger boys pressed between them. Something about the man’s blond hair and woman’s blue eyes looked familiar.

A choked noise came from the side. “Mother?” Captain Starke pushed forward, nearly stumbling up the stairs to reach them. “Tommy, Roderick, is that you?”

His mother’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, Alexander!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. His father came up beside them and wrapped both of them in an embrace. He buried his head in the woman’s hair, arms trembling. The two teenage boys joined the huddle with their lanky limbs.

The sight was almost enough to dismiss my hostility toward Starke.

Vera came over and rested her head on my shoulder as we watched them. “I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t kill him,” she said begrudgingly.

“There’s still time,” I offered.

She nudged my ribs. “But now we have to figure out how to get them home, too. And I still haven’t got a clue how to get off this island.”

“I think we can help with that.” We both spun in search of the new voice to find Dom and a dozen or so rebels marching up to the palace courtyard.

Kieran blinked. “And who is this?”

“Another long story,” I said. “They’re allies, though.”

Vera rushed forward and shook Dom’s outstretched hand. “I’m so glad you’re all okay,” she said.

“When our watchman told us the sky was changing colors, we couldn’t believe it,” Dom replied. “We sent scouts up just to be sure. What happened? What of the High Elders?”

Vera grinned. “They’re gone. For good.”

Dom closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging with relief. “There’s nothing we could ever do to repay you for this.”

“I’m just sorry you had to lose so many people to get to this point.” Vera shook her head. “Sloane should’ve been here. She should’ve seen this.”