Page 27 of Naga General's Mate

The filtered water tasted sweeter than anything Kurg had ever provided. Mila closed her eyes, savoring each sip. When she opened them again, she caught Brivul watching her with an unreadable expression.

Her hand drifted to her pocket again. The evidence could free them all—or doom them if handled wrong. Not yet, she decided. She needed to be sure. Needed to know his true motivations for helping her.

“We should get moving.” She pushed herself up, ignoring the protest of her muscles. “Ellri’s place isn’t far now.”

Stale air gave way to the smell of rain as Mila and Brivul emerged from the maintenance tunnels. The neon signs of the lower district painted blue and yellow streaks across puddles dotting the cracked pavement.

“Ellri’s is just around that corner.” Mila pointed to a street lined with defunct shops.

A flash of movement caught her eye. Three of Kurg’s guards stood at the intersection, scanning the area.

“Back.” Mila pressed against the wall, her heart hammering.

Brivul moved beside her, his bulk shielding her from view. “How many alternate routes?”

“Two, but they’ll be watching those, too.” Mila’s mind raced through possibilities. Her gaze landed on a pile of discarded crates. “The delivery entrance. If we time it right…”

“Lead the way.”

They crept between shadows, Mila’s steps silent from years of practice. Brivul matched her movements perfectly somehow.

A guard’s head turned their direction. Mila froze. Brivul’s tail curled protectively around her waist, steadying her as they pressed into an alcove.

“Now.” Mila darted forward when the guard looked away, Brivul right behind her.

They reached the crates. Mila’s bruised ribs protested as she squeezed through a narrow gap. The guards’ voices carried on the damp air.

“Delivery’s late again.”

“Check the back entrance.”

Brivul touched her shoulder, pointing to a stack of empty bottles. Mila nodded, understanding his plan. He knocked them over with his tail, the crash echoing through the alley.

The guards rushed toward the noise while Mila and Brivul slipped behind them, their footsteps masked by the commotion. Her pulse raced at their coordinated movements, the way they anticipated each other’s actions without words.

They reached Ellri’s back door just as shouts erupted behind them. Mila punched in the code with trembling fingers, impressed by how Brivul positioned himself to block any line of sight to her.

The door clicked open. They ducked inside as heavy footsteps approached, the guards rushing past their hiding spot.

“That was…” Mila caught her breath, studying Brivul’s face in the dim light. His eyes held a fierce pride that made her chest tight.

“Impressive.” He finished her thought. “The way you moved through those shadows.”

Heat crept up her neck at his praise. She’d never had anyone look at her with such open admiration before.

Chapter 13

Mila

The scent of spicedtea and warm bread wafted through the dimly lit service corridor of Ellri’s hotel. Mila’s steps echoed against worn floorboards as she led Brivul toward the front desk, her heart still racing from their narrow escape.

“Ellri?” Her voice cracked.

A stooped figure emerged from behind stacks of paper ledgers. Ellri’s weathered face broke into a broad smile, her silver hair catching the light of old-fashioned oil lamps.

“Mila, dear!” Ellri’s eyes widened at Mila’s bruised face. “What happened to you?”

“Kurg.” The name tasted like poison on her tongue. “He found out I—” She glanced at Brivul, swallowing the truth about the data chip. “He tried to kill me. Brivul saved my life.”

---