Page 94 of Bound By Darkness

My heart fluttered. ??Was it her? Was she alive? My eyes pricked with saltwater, but I kept my face neutral as Naexi continued, even if my heart wept for my friend. Thalia was alive and in Laias. I had no clue how or why, but no one else possessed her casting ability. There was no one else like her. It had to be her.

She was alive and not tied to her new master.

“With both the caster and our informant, they eradicated the rest of the rebels. Now cleared, they are helping rebuild Laias until Iyanna calls them here.”

“When?” My heart could barely contain my excitement. So much had happened since the last time we were tied to those cells together.

“Soon. That information is confidential, even to you,” Iyanna said, her eyes narrowing as she assessed my excitement.

Something sparked in the whites of her eyes that sent a chill down my back.

I cleared my throat, averting my gaze to the book. Something told me Iyanna would do whatever it took to win this war… perhaps even sacrifice Thalia in the process. What would she do if she came to find out my prior engagement with her? Would she use me as bait? Would it cause more harm to Thalia?

Do not provide informationonly you know. To tell is foolishness.

My father’s words echoed in my head. A warning. I would keep this to myself for now.

Naexi flipped through the book, stopping on a page labeled Gendry in the top right corner. Her finger jabbed the center, her eyes floating to mine. “Here.”

“Here?”

Naexi rolled her eyes. “This is where you’ll be sent to recover rebel plans. Based on our information, the rebels are supposed to have a recon meeting here to go over battle plans. We need those plans to prevent another situation like Laias from happening again. Since you are more than willing to help, you’ll go.” Naexi grinned.

“Correction, you’ll both be going.”

Naexi’s finger halted on the page, her nail slightly stabbing the ink. “Excuse me?”

“Silence,” Iyanna stated. “You’ll watch Moria to ensure this mission is successful. If it fails, we’ll have no access to their plans.”

Naexi’s eyes narrowed, but she shut the book and said, “When do we leave the Hideaway?”

Iyanna shifted, the golden hues mixing in with the deep reds of her dress. “Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I blurted out at the same time as Naexi.

“Iyanna, don’t be rash. The meeting isn’t supposed to happen for weeks,” Naexi said.

“The last information we received was off by two days. I will not take a chance. You both will leave tomorrow and stay in Gendry until this mission is cleared. Understood?”

“Yes,” Naexi muttered, dipping her head low.

“Moria?”

“Yes,” I muttered back, gripping the arms of my chair.

“Good. You both are released to pack and prepare,” Iyanna said, her back turning as she exited the tent.

We sat silently for a few minutes, the impact of what we were about to do mulling over.

Naexi cleared her throat. “If you mess up this mission for me, I’ll strike my sword through you.”

“Likewise,” I hissed.

Without another word, Naexi left, a void filling the once lively tent.

Left alone, my thoughts spiraled. Was she safe? How had she made it to Laias? Was Gayle with her?

Tears streamed down my cheeks, one after another as I wept for her. She was okay and she’d be coming here soon. It cured the lingering beast within as I released the tension from my shoulders?—

---