Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (36 page)

I didn’t owe The Order anything.

Navigating the tunnels between the trees took longer than I thought, and when I finally found my way back, everyone had already finished with supper.

One of the villagers played a fiddle while another clapped on a set of bongos. Men, women, and children danced, including Raven. She clapped her hands, smiling and laughing, kicking her feet up and down. She and a few other women danced in a single file, men lined up across from them.

Blond Boy stood directly across from her.

Not wanting to disrupt their merriment, I slid out of the light, watching them from the shadows. I trusted Raven, but those two had a history; a history I knew nothing about. Were they just childhood friends?

The men danced with the women, taking one hand in theirs and placing another on their hips, twirling them around.

Did anyone notice I wasn’t back yet?

Part of me wanted to rip Raven out of his arms, throw her over my shoulder, and leave. The other wanted to see how far Cael would go, and if that happened, he was mine.

Seeing Cael’s hands on her hips as the two of them twisted and leapt around made me sick. Not once did Raven glance around to possibly search for me.

“It’s always coldest in the shadows.”

Ginna stood beside me, staring straight ahead at Cael and Raven.

“You and Blond Boy?”

She smiled, a faint smile that appeared more sad than happy. “No, but not because I didn’t want to.”

We stood next to each other watching them dance. Ginna wasn’t exotic like Raven, but she had a simple beauty. Cael was an idiot to ignore her. She was sweet and her lips made a cute pout. I would have bet she’d be a good kisser.

A real smile formed on her lips. “It’s not polite to stare.”

“Does he know how you feel?”

She didn’t answer, but her smile faded.

“He’s an idiot.”

“Sometimes.” She touched my shoulder. “Don’t spend your night hiding out here. She might miss you.” Ginna glanced to the right. “Goodnight, Avikar.”

“Goodnight.”

Ginna walked to the dance floor. Cael laughed at something Ginna said and reached out to take her hand, whispering to Raven as he passed. Raven turned her head, finally spotted me, and walked over.

“What are you doing over here?” She stood on her toes, kissing me on the lips and putting her arms around my neck.

I didn’t kiss back. “I didn’t want to bother you.”

“We were just dancing.” She rolled her eyes. “You should’ve joined us.”

“Yeah, well, you looked busy.”

“I’m never too busy for you,” she joked, and stretched up to kiss me again. This time I moved my head.

“What’s the matter with you?” She dropped her arms, stepping back from me. “Are you jealous?”

“Me? Jealous? Jealous of what? That guy?” I pointed to Cael. “I’d never be jealous of him; unless… should I be? You never did tell me how close you two were.”

“Cut it out.” She folded her arms, glaring at me.

“Did Blond Boy ever get his priestly hands under that chemise?”

Raven’s face turned red and she punched me in the chest. “You’re an idiot.”

I took the hit, standing straighter, grinning.

“Ugh.” Raven turned around, walking back to Ginna and Cael, who both watched us.

I smiled wide and waved. “When you’re ready to leave,” I called to Raven, “come find me. I’ll be the idiot standing in the corner.”

undreds.

Soon we will rule.

Broken visions of Lucino, covered in red and fire, flashed in and out of my mind. My eyes shot open and I couldn’t breathe. Darkness filled the room, and Jonas’ loud snores roared from a few cots over.

No. No. No.

Heaviness pressed against my chest and I had to get up. A lantern sat on the table in the center of the room, barely illuminating the area.

Water. I needed water.

I shuffled around in the dark, sweat dripping down my back and soaking my shirt. How could I not remember? He said hundreds. There were hundreds of them already here!

There was no air in this room or tree.

I have to get out of here.

Grabbing my sword, I slipped my belt on and snuck out the door.

The rest of the villagers were asleep. Flickers of candlelight shone from outside the shacks, and I was alone. There were no guards to ask me why I was up or where I was going. The tree slept.

Moving as quickly and quietly as I could, I headed to the ladder to the high-level walkway. Whether I was allowed outside or not, I didn’t care, I needed air. This tree smothered my every thought.

How could I forget something so important?

I
was
an idiot.

Near the top of the tree, the light faded to nothing, making walking and finding the door problematic. Since the walkway only went up, I’d find it. Using my hands, I traced along the bark for the indents, and after what seemed like forever, I found the handle.

Moonlight touched through the spaces of leaves, casting shadows everywhere. I closed the door and stepped outside, then took a deep breath and ran my hands through my hair. Wind rustled the leaves and sent a breeze through my shirt.

If only I had remembered sooner, we would’ve been more prepared. I would’ve done more than sitting around and hanging out with Raven.

Had I really been afraid of the truth? No, I wasn’t afraid of Lucino or any of his shapeshifting friends. What was wrong with me?

After everything we accomplished, we weren’t even close to true victory. How would we be able to tell who was human and who wasn’t? How could I ever trust another person again?

I breathed in and out, controlling the panic slamming my chest.

What do I do now?

Go home.

The answer was simple.

I took out my father’s dagger, running my thumb across the runes. During the spider fight, my dagger had been the only weapon able to pierce its skin. How could a simple dagger be able to combat magic?

The vellum with the rune etchings was safely tucked away in my boot. When I arrived back home, I could show Father the matching runes. This dagger was a family dagger, passed down the line to the eldest son. Someone in our family knew about Lucino. How could they know when The Order didn’t?

When I began searching the temple in Daath and examining the runes, I wanted to go home, but now I understood why I had to. I needed to be reunited with my family. To protect them. And to finally find an answer to who I was, and more importantly, who my father was.

Was he really just a solider?

Since Jimri died, my father and I said very little to one another. It was time we talked.

“I’m coming home, Father.”

Closing my eyes and saying those words aloud released the constricting pressure in my chest. I was finally going to see my family—and the shapeshifters that were intent on taking our lands? We’d stop them. I’d fight them all, and I’d do it alongside my father. Nothing was more important than that.

Hoot.

Croxley sat on the post, another note on his leg. I slowly stepped to him, and when he didn’t hop away, I reached for the note.

Hoot.

If Jonas caught me, I’d be in it for sure. I took a quick look behind me and unfurled the beige paper.

The betrayer marches. Estradtas is lost.

The note fell from my hands.

Estradtas… the third land, just west of Lakewood.

Anger, fear, panic—all collided in my chest and I clenched my hands.
This can’t be happening.

If Estradtas had fallen, Lakewood would be next.