Page 104 of Stormvein

“How many men in his unit?”

“Eight that I’ve seen. Possibly more.”

“And at Blackstone Ridge? How many will be waiting there?”

Lisandra hesitates, and the shadows around Sacha flow outward, forming wings at his back. He doesn’t move, doesn’t threaten, but the message is clear.

Answer, or pay the price.

“I don’t know the exact number.” The words tumble over each other. “But Sereven will be there. He’ll want to verify your death personally.”

“Will he bring the crystal?” His voice remains conversational, but I notice how the fingers on his left hand curl into his palm.

“Yes. He doesn’t go anywhere without it.”

The image of what happened at River Crossing flashes through my mind. The blue crystal light tearing through Sacha’s shadows like they were nothing. His body contorting in agony. I glance at the raven on his shoulder. Living proof that he’s not only recovered but grown stronger. Still, the memory makes the silver energy flare beneath my skin, protective and fierce.

“How can you stand there, knowing what you caused?” The words burst free before I can stop them. Light surges toward my fingertips, eager to be unleashed.

Shame crosses Lisandra’s face, fleeting but genuine, then her expression hardens again with the stubborn pride of a leader. “I never wanted that. I thought they would simply return him to the tower … I never imagined they would?—”

“Stop.” Sacha’s voice is quiet, but there’s a dangerous edge to it now. “What’s done is done. The only thing that matters now is what comes next.”

Without waiting for a response, he walks out of the room and over to the maps pinned to the wall. His finger traces a path from Stonehaven to what I assume is Blackstone Ridge. The raven follows his gaze, its head moving as though it’s also studying the map.

“Three days.” He taps the location of Blackstone Ridge. “That should give us enough time.”

“Enough time for what?”

“You can’t seriously be planning to go there!” Lisandra talks over me, following him out of the bedchamber, Stonehaven’s leader overriding the Vareth’el’s betrayer. “Even with your powers restored, you’ll be walking into a death trap.”

“Your concern is touching, a little too late, and completely unnecessary.” He doesn’t even look at her. “Your strategic counsel is no longer required.”

“It’s suicide,” she insists. “Sereven will have every advantage. Position, numbers, that crystal. You can’t win this, Sacha.”

He finally looks up, his gaze locking with hers. “You lost the right to use my given name the day you handed me over to the Authority. As for winning … I’ve heard that before. When I was first captured at Thornreave Pass. When I was imprisoned in the tower. When I was tortured nearly to death.” His voice is terrifying in its calmness. “Yet, here I stand.”

I move to his side, keeping one eye on Lisandra while I look at the map. Blackstone Ridge sits at the junction of three mountain passes, offering clear views in all directions. Steep cliffs on two sides, a narrow approach on the third. It’s the perfect location for an ambush … or a trap.

“She’s right. You can’t just walk in there.” My voice is quiet.

“I won’t. Butshewill.”

And that’s when it hits me. “You’re going to use her as bait.”

“As a distraction, while we approach from multiple directions.”

“What if he finds out?” I’m already imagining all the ways this could go wrong. “What if he realizes you’ve found out she’s a traitor?”

His expression doesn’t change, but his voice turns cold. “Then Lisandra will fulfill her final duty for the Vareth’el and the Veinwardens.”

His meaning is clear. She’s expendable. A suitable sacrifice for what he plans.

“You’re sending me to my death.” Fear finally breaks through Lisandra’s composed exterior. She half-turns toward me, seeking sympathy she won’t find.

“You sent me to torture. Consider the scales balanced.”

I should be horrified by what he’s saying. The Ellie Bennett who stepped through that tower door weeks ago would have been. She would have objected, argued for mercy, insisted there must be another way. But after everything we’ve been through … after seeing what the Authority did to him … after nearly losing him … I’m discovering that my moral compass isn’t what it used to be. That my definitions of justice and cruelty are shifting beneath my feet.