Page 118 of Bound By Roses

But I won’t. I can’t.

Which leaves us with only one option. “A fight is no longer avoidable.” I move to the center of the gathering, a plan forming in my mind. All the pieces fall into place as if working themselves out, like this was always how it was meant to be, despite it being the exact opposite. I shift my gaze to Abby. “We’ll need a distraction.”

“The pigs? If we free them—”

She cuts off when I shake my head. “Those beasts have lived off meat alone for too long. They’ll run rampant and charge indiscriminately. The Guardians have armour and weapons—the people don’t. We send in the wolves. They attack the Guardians while—”

“While I lead the people to safely,” Jade says, stepping forward to join me in the center of the ring of onlookers that’s formed around me.

“You?” Erwyn asks. “Why should we trust you?”

“Because there wouldn’t be a plan without me. Those people know me. I can get them out.”

He’s right. There wouldn’t be a plan without him, but he’s poking far too many holes in it. “Since when do you care about those people?”

He shoots me a look. “Since I decided not to kill that Guardian. Don’t make me regret that.”

“Do you even know where to go?” Abby asks him. “Or where to take them? Imelda isn’t just going to let them leave.”

“There are tunnels, aren’t there? I remember tunnels.” He seems unsure, but still confident that he can manage this.

“I’ll go with him,” Rhett says, stepping forward.

“No!” The objection came from Kaylee as she grabs hold of his arm. There’s fear in her eyes, and the sight of that has myheart sinking. Has she seen this? If she has, there’s no way she would be keeping the outcome to herself.

Rhett turns to her, cupping her face in his hands. “I’ll be okay. We’ve lost too much time already. Nothing will stop me from coming back to you.”

She looks deeply into his eyes, and I know she’s speaking to him through their bond. His nostrils flare in response to her words before his lips part just a fraction. If it weren’t for my hearing, I might have missed the words he meant only for her. “I promise.”

“It’s settled then,” I say, perhaps a bit too loud. Seeing Rhett and my sister like this has a lump forming in my throat, and it has nothing to do with them and everyone to do with the same promises I’ve made Abby. The promise to survive, to come back. The promise to live for her. “Jade and Rhett will lead the people to the tunnels. Is there one that leads to the forest?”

“Yes,” Merrick answers for them. “To the east.”

It’s not ideal, but it’ll work. “While Jade and Rhett get them to the tunnel, can you and the other dragons provide air support for both them and the wolves? We’re greatly outnumbered, and I can’t be there to protect them.” While all this is happening, I’ll be looking for Arabella. If we don’t get her out, all of this will be for nothing. It has to be me.

Merrick flexes a clawed hand as massive blue-black wings emerge from his back and stretch wide behind him. “Believe me when I say it’ll be our pleasure.”

Great. Now for the hard part. I turn my attention to Erwyn. “You and the sirens are staying here.”

“Like fuck we are. You are not going to deny us this!” The sirens surrounding me voice their agreement and the wolves growl in response. I raise a hand, calling for calm on all sides.

“We’re setting a trap. You’re staying here because the wolves will herd the Guardians right to you. If the tunnel opens to theeast, we keep the fighting to the south. All we need is enough time to skirt the people around the battle and back to where we camped last night. They’re no use to us in this fight and only you have the numbers. They won’t be expecting any Mareiners to travel this far from the sea.”

Lunae is no stranger to hunts like this. The only difference is that this time, they’re the prey.

Erwyn's face softens, and he extends a hand. “Done. But we leave no survivors.”

I shrug. “Kill as many as you want, but spare any who surrender. This war may not end tonight and we need all who will fight with us.”

He grumbles, but shakes my hand regardless.

“Everyone else,” I say, speaking to everyone but the sirens, “let’s move.” I begin moving east and most match my urgent pace, but there’s a resistance to Abby’s step. I let the wolves, dragons, and Kaylee take the lead and slow so that I’m marching in step with Abby.‘What is it?’I ask through the bond. I can tell she’s upset with me, and if it were about the plan, she likely would have said something before it was settled.

“I thought you weren’t going to order me to stay out of this fight.” She doesn’t speak through the bond, and I don’t miss the snicker from Jade and the cough from Merrick somewhere ahead of us. Even Kaylee shoots me a glance over her shoulder as if to already agree that I’m an overprotective ass. This time, however, that’s not what I am.

“I don’t recall ordering you to do anything.” If she wants an audience, I’ll give her one.

“Exactly! I’m part of this.” Gods, it’s so hard not to laugh when she’s mad enough that her voice rivals a wraith’s wail. Especially when she’s angry for absolutely no reason.

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