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No.I couldn't let him see me squirm. That always made it worse —

Lifting my chin, I forced my expression to go blank.

"Japhire." His voice was smug as he swaggered towards the other man.

The entire room went silent as the older man sat taller, eyes narrowing.

"Frexin wants you to report to her," Holden said with a toothy grin. "She has a new mission for you that requires a bit morestealth."

Japhire's jaw tightened, and he looked to Korym as if for permission.

The collared mage nodded, and Japhire stalked out without another word.

As the door closed behind him, the chatter resumed, focused this time on Holden.

I couldn't look away from the door, though.

Was that kind of interactionnormalbetween the alpha and his pack? It certainly seemed different than it had in the stronghold … but then again, it wasn't like I had much experience with body mage packs.

Perhaps Alpha Blackwood's pack was the odd one …

Korym dropped my arm and held up his hands, pulling back my attention.

"That's enough, everyone," he said, pausing as he waited for them to settle. "Holden will be replacing Japhire as team leader as a reward for his service on the prison ship. He cared for theSavioradmirably, so Lady Frexin felt the reassignment was fitting."

The team again broke into cheers, and Holden's lips curled into a sly grin as his gaze met mine.

My stomach twisted.

"Onto today's missions," Korym continued. "We will be splitting into three groups. You three" — he gestured to a group on the far left — "will be scouting to the eastern cliffs. We still haven't located all the escapees, and you are to bring back any you find."

My stomach soured at the words.

"You lot" — he gestured to four people standing atthe back of the room, shoulders straight — "will be using the mechs to continue mapping the Heartless Basin and Forlorn Grove."

Both groups nodded, then stood and strode out a door in the back of the room without another peep.

"The rest of you" — he gestured towards Holden, Tye, two men from the wolf village, and me — "will be with me. We'll be traveling to the Berserker Village to make a trade for intel on the target."

Holden's face fell.

"Why me? I thought you said I was the team leader! You never give shit missions like this to the lead group!"

Korym pinched the bridge of his nose. "Already, Holden? Can't you hold it in for just a moment?"

The door at the front of the room swung open and two guards stepped through, half-dragging a man behind them.

My stomach lurched as the familiar face came into view.

"Liam?" I gasped.

He had black eyes, bruises on his cheeks, and a fat split lip. Yet, when our gazes met, he offered me a crooked grin and a wink.

Guilt twisted in my gut, and my fists clenched at my sides. I'd had a relatively comfortable night and morning while Liam had …

And what about the others?

"What did you do to him?" I asked, speaking over Korym. "I was told they would be safe if I obeyed."