Page 38 of Shifter King

"Serial killer…" He paused, mulling this statement over. "Yes, we will be killing multiples. Many multiples by the time all this is done."

Rubbing her hand through her hair, she stepped back. "Honestly, after everything that happened today, I didn't expect you to tell me that the thing you wanted to talk about was killing people and framing me."

He gestured with his hands. "Credit you, veskaro."

She dragged her hand over her face. Maybe she was too tired to understand what he was saying fully. "And what will that do? How can you even be sure it would work and people would think it was me?"

"This world is brutal, and it has only become worse over the years. Ordinarily, you would kill your enemies in a public display and build your reputation in that way. We would make it a family event. Solidify the entire family's reputation."

"So a nice mass execution for showing familial solidarity."

"You joke, but this is a serious situation, veskaro. Ordinarily, I might trust you to muddle your way through as long as you stayed close to us. Your ability to remain alive and buy time is second to none. But there is no more time to buy, and there are too many points at which we could face attack. Right now, one half solid blow would be enough to shatter your spine. You could snap your wrist just by catching it on the door. You are weeks from being up to full strength, and we don't have weeks to wait."

She bristled even if she could not deny the truth of his statement. "I'm getting stronger and stronger every day."

He offered a nod of concession. "That doesn't change the fact that we are going into battle and you are the weakest among us. At this point, you couldn't fight off a child."

"But I'm a Neyeb. People seem to actually know what that means here. Wouldn't it be more likely that I would influence people to commit suicide or something like that without being seen? Who would believe I was murdering people horrifically in the streets and leaving a signature? You said my father was an assassin. Was that what he did?"

"No, but Killoth was trying not to be caught."

"But…here's the other thing. Nobody knows who I am. They don't know my face. They don't know my name."

"Let me worry about the details." He gave her an annoyed glare. "All I need is for you to take credit when the time comes."

She shook her head but then set her hands on her waist. "I guess so. I'm not sure how this will work or that it won't backfire. But all right. Just make sure that they aren't innocents, please. Just because they are Abliatos or live in Darmoste does not make them guilty. Other than that, I'll trust you."

"Good." He cupped his hand along her cheek. "Trust me, veskaro. In the end, this will make everything far easier."

She tried to return the smile. She wasn't convinced.

THE QUIET OF HOME

Somehow just the promise that she was willing to accept "credit" for horrific murders seemed to comfort Naatos. He insisted she come back to bed with him, but once he was asleep, she slipped out and back to the main living area where AaQar continued his watch.

The wood-fire stove burned hot, and yet somehow the bunker still felt cold and a little damp. Both the pot and kettle sizzled and steamed. It was more claustrophobic in here than it had been in the outdoor camps. The collapsible pot that they had cooked in for weeks looked too big despite the simple stove AaQar had constructed appearing almost comically oversized.

A smaller pot also boiled, unleashing a familiar but rather unpleasant scent like bitter mushrooms and fresh bones.

"You should be sleeping," AaQar said, hardly glancing at her.

"If you want to rest, I'll keep watch for you." They never let her hold watch. Not even with her mindreading. It wasn't likely to change now, but she didn't want to assume.

He smiled faintly. The heaviness remained apparent on him. "I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Can you hear what's going on outside even if I speak with you?"

"So long as I am cautious in my focus."

"Do you think someone will find us here and attack?"

He lifted his shoulders and then shook his head. "I do not want to assume anything at this point, little sister. Did Naatos speak to you about his plan?"

"Do you think it will work?"

He tilted his head. "It is the best solution we have for now." He crossed over to the stove, picked up the large spoon, and ladled the frothy whitish liquid into the canteen. "There are some flaws with it, but for you to be feared would be better than for people to think you can just be carted off as some sort of prize."

It unnerved her that anyone would think of her in that way. "They don't seem inclined to listen to my preferences either."