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“No, they are the monsters. You? Us? Your people here? They are just that—people. I’m going to get her back.” I push past him and storm down the stairs before he can stop me. He growls, chases me down, and pulls me into his arms, but I slip free and approach a roaring Cato. His back arches from the table, pulling nearly seven warriors with him, and my esteem for the tribe leader’s strength goes up.
There, on his chest above his heart, is a raw, red wound. It’s fatal, not that he seems to notice. Swallowing, I approach him, ignoring everyone else. His eyes flicker to me, glowing bright red. It’s different than when Akuji is turned on. This is darker, and there is nothing but madness in his eyes.
The haze.
“I’m going to get her back.”
He stills when I speak, his heaving chest dripping with blood.
“Mate,” Akuji snarls, so I hold up my hand.
“I know you’re in there, Cato, and that you can hear me. I’m going to get Talia back. I’m going to get your mate back, no matter what it takes. But you need to fight the haze, I know you can. Use your logic. You need to heal and be strong so you can protect her when I save her. Listen to me now, Cato. Your mate needs you.”
The red in his eyes starts to disappear, and after several long, tense minutes, they are just black again and focused on me. “You will get her back to me?”
“I vow it,” I say seriously. “But I need your help.” I look at Akuji. “All of your help.”
“You have it,” Akuji replies instantly. “You have all of us, all of me, little human. You won’t do this alone.” Stepping forward, he takes my hand. “Let us get your Talia back.”
Convincing them is the easy part. As I look back at Cato, I know the plan forming in my head will be the hard part.
But I’m a finder—that’s what I do.
They should have never fucked with my family. Now I plan to use the skills I learned to survive in their world against them.
I will fight alongside the monsters they both created and fear.
THIRTY-ONE
ARIA
Before I can rush off on a half-cocked plan, a meeting is held between the tribes. This one is tenser and busier than the last one. Samael doesn’t come, something about issues with his people, but Cato’s and Akuji’s do—all of them. They take us to a rooftop where everyone can fit. Cato leans heavily against the edge, holding his bandaged chest, but at least he’s not in the haze anymore, although I do see flickers of red every now and again.
He’s as anxious as me to get Talia back, if not more so, and this is only taking time, but Akuji says I must present the plan and that their people must agree. It’s their way, so I will do it. They have accepted me so far, but proposing to chase a human over the wall?
They will think I’m mad, that I’m betraying them or trying to hurt them. I have to try, though, because either way, I’m getting to Talia with or without their support. I know how much this means to Akuji, however, so I bide my time and bite my tongue until I taste blood to stop my anxiety.
Akuji sniffs, and his eyes widen before he turns to me, his fangs growing bigger as he advances on me. He towers over me, blocking everyone’s view. Reaching down, he tips my chin up and carefully forces my mouth open with his fingers. I gasp when he licks my lips before kissing me, tasting my blood with a growl. When he pulls back, his chest rises rapidly and his eyes are completely black as he watches me hungrily, despite everyone waiting for us.
As he licks my blood from his lips, he must see my anxiety because he smiles softly down at me. “Just show them what I see in you every day, little human. Show them your loyalty and fearlessness, and they will follow you anywhere, just like me.”
Stepping back, he smiles encouragingly. “You’ve got this, mate.” He turns to face everyone and clears his throat in a deep growl. “Tribes, we are gathered here today for an emergency. Humans entered our city. They came over the wall and took one of us.”
There’s a chorus of growls and shouts.
“They have taken Talia, mate to Cato.”
“A human?” someone asks in confusion.
“A human, one of us,” Akuji snarls, shutting that down. “She was happy here. She was staying here to protect our people in her own way. She is one of us, and she has been taken. We cannot let that stand. My mate has a plan to get her bac—”
“One human, and there is all this fuss?” someone snaps. “But when it’s our people who are missing, there is nothing?”
“Nothing?” Roroak counters. “How many of our warriors have died going over the wall to try and retrieve children, lovers, and family? We are not giving the human special treatment, we are treating her like she is one of us because she is. Just like our Aria, our reigner’s mate, our queen. She fights for us, she stands with us, and now she is asking for our help, as is Cato, another reigner. They have given so much for us—their lives, battles, and stations—yet they ask for one thing now. Are we going to turn our backs on them? The human is mated to one of us, one of us who has given his entire existence for our happiness. I say let’s give him back his own happiness. Let us sacrifice for him for once.”
“That’s the most I’ve ever heard him speak,” someone murmurs, making chuckles spread across the crowd.
Huffing, he looks at me. “Aria.” He bows, showing his respect. Some of his people recoil in shock, but I stare in gratitude. “Please tell us your plan and know you have my vow to stand at your side.”
