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He shakes his head. “No one has been able to get close enough—” A devious grin spreads over his mouth. Hunt doesn’t seem to have such reservations. “But we did capture the pawn. He will make excellent bait.”
Pawn.
A burst of adrenaline releases, and I can barely keep my body from trembling. There’s only one person he could mean—Alaric.
My pulse roars in my ears. I grab his arm with more force than intended—probably with more force than a human should possess, even oath bound. He stumbles back a half step. I move with him and we nearly collide.
“I’m going with you,” I say before he can question my demon-granted gifts. “There’s something I need to get first.”
The woman huffs but doesn’t argue, which makes me think the invitation came from Oliver rather than this man.
“All right, but hurry. We will wait as long as we can. Meet us on the western border near the foothills. If you aren’t there an hour before sunset, we will have to leave without you.”
I give a sharp nod, then turn and run back up the stairs. I’m out of breath when I get there, less from the exertion and more from nerves.
Cassius whirls to face me as I barge through the doors. With the dizzying speed only vampires are capable of, he’s before me in a blink. I don’t think I will ever get used to it.
“Clara, where have you been?” he demands. “It isn’t safe outside these quarters for you right now. A band of humans have attacked. We don’t know how they infiltrated the grounds—” he shakes his head and starts again. “There’s something off about it though. They’re too strong.”
“Humans?” I furrow my brows and shake my head.
Cassius gathers me up in a hug. “You’re safe now. No one will attack you here.”
Oliver wouldn’t use humans like that. At least, I don’t think he would. Unless…
I push out of his hold. “No,” I say, then lower my voice to the barest whisper. “Wolves are here.”
He opens his mouth to argue and stops, considering for a moment. His lip curls like he caught the scent of something foul. With a snort, he says, “They must be disguising their scent. Regardless, I will kill anyone who attempts to come here.”
“Cassius, listen to me,” I say sharply. Immediately, he gives me his full attention. “There’s not much time. They are leaving, and I need to go with them.”
To his credit, he accepts my decision with a silent dip of his chin and doesn’t try to talk me out of it. I suppose at this point, he understands my reasons.
I back up and head toward the bedroom, pausing before the doors to glance back at him. The last time I tried to leave the castle grounds without him, he warned me of the repercussions. When I go this time, there’s still a chance Elizabeth will strike out at Cassius. “You can come with me.”
“I am afraid I cannot,” he says with a regretful sigh. “But you should take these two.”
Cherno and Asmod perk up. I hold my hand up before they can get used to the idea. “They should stay with you. That way, if you need to get a message to me, you can send Cherno.” The lie slips out effortlessly. They will be safer with him.
“Where exactly are they taking you?”
That is an excellent question. Other than meeting near the foothills, I didn’t think to ask where we will go from there. But I have an idea.
“West,” I say. “The forest on the other side of the mountains.”
His face falls in the way an adult will look at a child with pity, knowing they must deliver news that will hurt.
But that is all the time I can spare.
I slip into the bedroom and go directly to my trunk. There is no time to change, and it would be too suspicious if I packed. I reach under layers of clothes for the hidden vial and quickly shove it into my pocket.
Then I rise and pull the night-forged dagger from my boot, then return to the other room.
“You’re not taking anything?”
“No.” I make a show of slipping the dagger back into place.
We share a look. Warnings to be careful. Wishes to be safe. And underneath it all, worry.
