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Despite Nakoa being mysoulboundand having rescued me from that basement… Something was broken between us. He’d knowingly and wilfully tried to manipulate me using my emotions and my vulnerabilities… Until this morning, he hadn’t been sure if he would choose to be with me if it weren’t for the bond demanding it. And I couldn’t help but wonder if it was only out of guilt.
I met Malekai’s gaze, willing my features into something neutral, but it only made his brows furrow tighter with concern. When his eyes lifted to Nakoa’s, his normally warm features shifted to something strikingly cold before returning to Val, who was currently discussing the gold and jewels Nakoa and hisolana kah’heihad apparently looted the same day we’d met and its distribution among the various outlets through which The Uprising worked.
Impatience swelled in my chest, making me shift on my feet.
What was Malekai’s plan?
Surely, he didn’t intend on returning to Zurie…
How the fuck did he know about Val?
And how had he… managed to betray all those soldiers who trusted him…
Unease worked its way deeper and deeper into my veins until it rooted heavily in my gut.
Should I tell him about our plan to overthrow Zurie?
“… If we could gain the Selcarim Army as allies, we would be unstoppable,” Val pleaded with Lokus, snagging my attention.
Lokus gave a sad chuckle. “The last time I spoke to my father was at the end of the war when he tossed me out of his Kingdom. Trust me when I say youdon’twant me liaising on The Uprising’s behalf.”
Val frowned with a look of compassion settling on his ruggedly handsome features. His eyes darted with cautious optimism to Rayne, who lifted his hands in surrender.
“Guilty by association, I’m afraid. The best I could do is get you beyond the mountain pass. I have a few friends that I’ve lost contact with over the years, but I’m sure they’d be open to helping. Can’t make any promises, though.”
This conversation was moot, considering Zurie would be dead in a matter of days if everything went according to plan. Although it would be useful for Nakoa to have the Selcarim as allies… But apparently, Nakoa had no intention of?—
“The Selcarim will indeed be good allies, but we don’t need them to overthrow Zurie."
Val’s brows furrowed. “Koa… We’ve grown considerably but I don’t think?—
“Mareina and Vesper included; myolana kah’heiand I will overthrow Zurie in a matter of days when we arrive in Bastrina, where we’re heading directly after you.”
Val’s jaw dropped.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” Malekai growled.
“Not at all,” Nakoa growled back.
Oh fuck.
Malekai’s eyes fell to mine. “And you plan to help them?”
My teeth ground together at being pulled into what I could sense was basically one ball bag’s hair away from becoming a dick-measuring contest.
“Yes. I do. The plan that we’ve devised is a good one.”
“What plan?”Malekai and Val growled in unison.
I laid my hand on Nakoa’s chest to calm him as I raised my voice to speak over him.
“May I?” I asked Nakoa, my annoyance clear on my face.
Nakoa scowled down at me. “Are you sure you trust this male?”
“With my life.”
If anything, Nakoa’s distrust of Malekai strengthened, though for an entirely different reason.
