Page 99 of To No End

Varro tucked me into his bloodied, golden arms, and I was overcome with an unexpected sense of comfort before the sensation of whooshing air skimmed past us as he flew us out of the destroyed ballroom. My eyes fluttered, and the last thing I remembered was how warm Varro’s hands had felt on my too-cold skin.

CHAPTER

30

When I came to, bright lantern lights were all around me, and I could feel a sharp sting along my shoulder blade. But it was nothing compared to the pain I had felt the moment the arrow pierced me. I was lying flat on my stomach and the hard wooden table below me was doing nothing for my comfort.

I looked up, barely lifting my head to the side, and saw Nori there tending to my wound. Thank Gods she was alright. I let out a sigh of relief as she continued to work on me.

“Thank you,” I whispered, licking my dry lips.

I was parched and my body felt extremely hot, like I’d been battling a fever.

Nori looked down at me calmly. “It’s going to be okay; I promise. Just relax.”

When I tilted my head to face the opposite direction, I realized I was laid out in the middle of the common room. That’s when I looked toward the bookshelves lining the wall across from me and saw him. Standing there in the same black attire from the ball, looking back at me—no, through me.

That’s when the memory of him abandoning Varro and I to fight alone, to die, came searing back with a fiery intensity. Uncontrollable anger engulfed me, immediately I was numb to the pain in my back.

I leapt from the table, pushing a surprised Nori back and charged towards him yelling, “You left us to die! You fucking left me, you left usboth!”

I caught myself from tripping as the dizziness from blood loss overcame me, but it did nothing to deter me as I continued to march across the room toward Trace.

He stood there, motionless, with arms folded across his chest. That’s when I noticed his tattoos were back, but this time, they were red, red like blood. Not black like they had always been. Had he been glamouring me…again?

“Tell them!” I continued accusingly. “Tell them how we needed you, and how you left us!”

Angry tears were beginning to well in my eyes now that I was practically nose to nose with Trace.

“How could you?”

The words he whispered were only for me to hear. “Now you see me.”

And I did, crystal clear. The monster he had warned me about. The black cloak, always bound by duty. Morals be damned.

Balling my fists, appraising the now red tattoos sprawling over him, I gritted out a reply, “Guess it’s a good thing my blood isn’t on your hands…yet.”

Fuming, I turned my back to him and began to return to the table, wobbling with each step. Cairis came to my aid, holding me up as I made my way to a chair, and Nori quickly arrived with a cup of water as if reading my mind.

My mental shields were down, and I didn’t care. I hoped he was reading every single damn thought running through my head. His deceit spread like a plague through my mind,infecting every pleasant memory I’d ever had of us. I felt all those emotions wither and die. Our trust, our friendship, and countless nights of lovemaking, once sweet, turned sour by one simple decision—by one unforgivable action.

Saryn arrived, and I was less than thrilled to hear anything he had to say about this mess of a mission. The calm from the others indicated we hadn’t failed entirely, but that didn’t mean we’d done well, either.

“You successfully completed your mission. And despite Cress’s accusations towards Trace, you managed to return with your lives intact. Before anyone else gets the idea to critique Trace’s decision, you all should remember the number one rule. The mission above all.”

Theory took over, saying, “The mission requires sacrifice. Your lives are few, but the work you will do is for the lives of many and the protection of your kingdom. If you want to keep your lives, then train harder and plan better. Work as a team, or perish as individuals. Failure is not an option, and Trace took that seriously enough to make the necessary sacrifices.”

Before she could say another word, I was yelling again.

“Sacrifices? Are youkiddingme? Tell me, Trace, what sacrifice did you make on that mission? Were a stranger’s hands roaming your body against your will? Did they try to take you by force? Did you take an arrow to your wing?”

I could feel the anger building, my hands shaking, balled into fists at my sides, when suddenly Varro was there gently grasping my arm. “Cress, look at me. Breathe. Calm down. You have to control your anger, or it might happen again.”

I was relieved to see Varro. His face was no longer stricken with horror, but his words made no sense.

“What might happen again? What are you talking about?”

Varro glanced quickly at Saryn and Theory, then back to me.

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