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If we lost, and Tiber was killed in the process, what would happen to this place? Luisca was more than willing to fight alongside any of us, but she didn’t like to lead. Who would step into the gap and keep everything here afloat? Or worse, move the people left to somewhere else safe if need be?
I obviously wasn’t the only one thinking this, because our group had gone quiet. Concern seemed to be on every face.
Tiber was also sizing up our group, his gaze shifting from person to person until the silence became overwhelming.
“Is there a problem?” he said.
“Tiber, I think you should stay behind,” Kaden said.
Tiber rocked back on his heels, looking almost as if his friend had slapped him.
“I agree with Kaden,” I said. “I’m not sure what would happen to this place if they lost you. If we don’t succeed, someone has to make sure that the people left behind, the children, the elderly, they’re taken care of and not preyed upon.” I knew firsthand how things had deteriorated from his being gone a few days. And if we did fail, most of the people left here wouldn’t be Kradix. Would there be any drive for them to take care of our young, old, and frail?
“There’s others who could do it,” Tiber said.
He was grasping. Not that I blamed him. I’d grasp too. Sitting on the sidelines might be harder than getting into the fray.
“Name one you’d feel comfortable leaving the fate of your kids to,” Kaden said.
Luisca moved closer, resting her hand on Tiber’s arm. “I’m going to fight because we need the numbers. But you’re the one we need here.”
“You too?” he asked, as if she were nailing the final coffin in his fate.
“I don’t want to make our children orphans, leave their fate in hands less capable. If we lose, there will be people who will come here and try to take advantage, and you know that. I’m not saying you’re less of a fighter than I am, but I know you’re better at running this place.”
He nodded, placing his hand over hers, his eyes only on Luisca. “If that’s what you really want.”
“I do. I want to know our girls will be okay no matter what happens. I don’t want them to lose both of us.” She rested her chin on his shoulder as she stared at him as if he was a god that could fix everything.
“I’ll stay behind.” He turned to the rest of us. “But don’t expect me to be one iota less involved in every other aspect.”
“I’d never imagine it,” Kaden said, patting him on the back.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I got dressed but hesitated at the dresser, where there was a plate of cookies. I’d never seen Kaden really go in for the sweets, but maybe that was why they were here. Luisca had probably given them to him and he hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings.
I took a bite of one and then put the half-eaten cookie on the plate.
Orno one in their right mind would want them. The girls must’ve been trying their hand at baking or something. I nearly gagged on the bite I got down.
I finished changing my clothes for dinner, wondering what the best way to dispose of the bad cookies was. I didn’t think even the birds would want these things.
There was only one seat left at the kitchen table, right beside Kaden, as if we were a real couple. I took it, playing the part I’d chosen, even if I hadn’t realized it at the time. I thought I’d been choosing vengeance, not forever with a man who resented me. It didn’t matter. We’d be going after Herrick soon, and I’d find some way to sort out the rest of this mess afterward.
I sat down beside Kaden and leaned back in my seat, the long day hitting me hard. We’d worked out a lot and then the meeting, and it was all suddenly hitting me like a ton of bricks.
“Are you all right?” Kaden asked, staring at me with that intensity that always made me tingle.
“I’m just a little lightheaded. I probably didn’t drink enough or something while I was out in the sun.”
He was staring at me, but I was feeling too woozy to figure out why he seemed to be so concerned. Kaden grabbed my wrist, holding up my hand. He let go, and my arm dropped like a rag doll.
I leaned my head on my other arm on the table, feeling as if I were going to face-plant in a moment. “I might need to go lie down. Maybe I’m coming down with something.” I wasn’t sure how I was going to get to the bedroom, though, because staying upright in this chair was becoming nearly impossible.
“Billie. What did you eat today?” Kaden asked.
I vaguely sensed the entire table’s attention on me.
