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She smirked. “Never really thought about it, to be honest. Just figured he was another power hungry king. Didn’t think much of his ramblings. Or that you’d actually show up.” Her voice was somber but plastered with thin amusement, like she was trying to find the humor in the fact that everything she knew had changed within a matter of hours. “I always thought he was just mad.”

I inhaled, working through the meaning of her words. “Do you know why Kauvras is the way he is?” I asked. “Why he started all of this?”

“You want to know if the rumors are true, huh? If the Saints actually spoke to him.” A mischievous smile danced on her lips.

“I know nothing, Nell. I want to knoweverything.” She took yet another gulp of liquor. Saints, this girl could drink.

“He’s never admitted it. But this lot can’t hold gossip in for shit. The story goes,supposedly,” she began, dramatic emphasis on the word, “Kauvras had fallen in love with a lowborn woman in Taitha. This was back when he was still just a loud-ass rebel rising up against the previous king, King Divos. But Kauvras didn’t court her long before he left her for his cause. But he was heartbroken, and so was she.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “A Nesanian trader showed up and fell in love with her. Apparently she forgot all about Kauvras and fell in love with the trader, too. That’s all I know.”

“Nothing about a Nesanian queen sleeping with King Divos?” I asked, recounting Wrena’s words.

“Not that I know of. Wouldn’t discount it, though.”

I exhaled, trying to fit the pieces together. “Do you think the woman that Kauvras left was Belin’s mother?”

She pursed her lips and shook her head. “No idea. But, the Nesanian trader had supposedly gone back home after Kauvras threatened not only his life, but the life of the woman he’d once loved as well.”

“Kauvras loved the woman but threatened her life?” Cal told me his mother had been murdered… Had it been Kauvras?

She smirked. “Love’s fuckin’ crazy sometimes.”

“Do you know her name?”

“I don’t. I don’t know if anyone outside of Kauvras’ inner circle does. Don’t know if she’s still in Taitha. She could be dead.”

I laid back, not feeling any better than when we started this conversation.

“Listen, Petra, I know this is a lot. But we’re going to get you to that throne,” Nell said, her voice full of conviction.

“I just–”

A hoarse shriek cleaved the air and bodies hit the ground as men rushed out of the tunnel and into the Outpost. I shot to my feet and scrambled back, the sound of screaming steel piercing my ears as soldiers collided with soldiers.

“There she is!” one of the men bellowed, slitting the throat of a leather-clad soldier and letting him drop before stalking toward me, a lion’s head mask glinting in the torchlight.

My blood went icy as Nell’s hand wrapped around my arm, yanking me back. And then I realized–

They were all wearing masks. Every soldier who came from the tunnel was wearing a mask.

The men at the Outpost began to fight, but the ambush was too sudden. Within seconds, men —mymen — were being plowed down, flint pulled from bags, pipes held to screaming lips. “No!” I screamed, pulling against Nell’s surprisingly solid grip. “No, no, no!”Tomkin was on the ground, a masked man at his shoulders and another at his feet as he coughed and heaved and fought. More masked soldiers spilled from the tunnels, carrying the too-familiar chains with manacles. Still the man in the lion’s mask stalked toward me.

I let the familiar rage build within my ribcage, burrowing deep into myself to the depths of my newfound powers. It could end with the Outpost being swallowed by an inferno, but I had to do something.

“Petra!” Nell screamed as she unsheathed her own sword. “Comeon!”

I couldn’t run. I had to save them, save these people who had shown me such kindness, whobelieved in me. I continued digging, trying to gather anything and everything that resembled fire and light and fury in my soul. If I could just conjure up enough to get one small spark, one tiny flame–

Suddenly a tall body was in front of me, ram’s horns curving over his heaving shoulders. Miles’ sword was drawn, blood already dripping down the hilt as he came face to face with the man in the lion mask. But the lion wasn’t alone anymore — four other masked men let bodies drop to the dirt before joining their comrade, blades ready.

“Whit!” Nell roared the same moment I saw him, a wicked gash dripping from his cheek as he pulled his blade from a bloodied chest. Nell’s call had garnered the attention of the others and they closed in around us, Summercut finding his place next to Miles.

“Hand her over,” the lion growled.

“Andyouare?” Miles answered, his raspy voice more authoritative than I’d ever heard it.

“I am Commander Magnus Stone, here on behalf of King Kauvras to collect his bride.Hand her over.”

“I don’t think I will.” His voice was taunting now.