Page 111 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

His brows rose, head tilting to the side.

“And you’ll need his help to defeat the emperor,” I said.

Nyke nodded slowly. Leave it to a military man to be swayed by battle advantage. “There’s more to your words, I think, but tell me later.” Turning away, he spoke to the rest of the rebels. “It’s true. They’ve come to join us.”

Thank The Four.If Nyke hadn’t been here, our reception could’ve been far worse.

Conversation buzzed around us as Nyke turned back to me. “You need to tell me all you know. Them too.” He shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “Can’t believe I’ll be planning open rebellion with the emperor’s first.”

For the first time in days, I smiled too.

Chapter50

Lucien

Phantoms chased me around every corner of the mansion—my old, abandoned home and now the rebels’ temporary hide-out, though they’d chosen to set up most of their camp outside, unwilling to sleep under the enemy’s roof. Bad luck, they said. I saw shadows of my fellow captains down each wood-paneled hall. Heard their laughter in the whispers that slipped through closed doors of rooms I knew by heart. My old tutor’s gruff voice echoed in the kitchen. The familiar scent of pipe smoke still lingered outside the study.

We’d found the rebels. They’d conceded to let us join them, thanks to Zurina’s message and Ilya’s quick work, but it was impossible to miss the hard looks and curses tossed my way. How many of them had I fought in battle? Did I kill their friends? Family?

Now I turned my back on my own family—my brothers and sisters, my once father. Despite all I’d learned in recent days, part of me still mourned that broken bond and the hollow wound it left within me.

I shed my armor, storing it away in my old room. The mansion showed more wear than it should, as if The Four had wreaked havoc on it from above.

Perhaps they did. Perhaps we deserved it.

Voices carried up the grand spiral staircase that led down into the main foyer. For a moment, I thought this one was a trick too. Another memory of the past.

“Warren.” My steps were light as I descended the stairs. He’d made it. Safely by the sound of things.

Ilya had changed into a fresh outfit and hugged Elin. Her smile, the joy that radiated from her, lifted the heaviness of the mansion pressing down around me.

Warren smiled up at me, his helm tucked under one arm. “Good to see you.”

More familiar faces strode through the open door behind him. Ilya ran to Gabriel, throwing her arms around him.

Warren clamped his hand onto my shoulder.

“Brishon?” I asked.

“Let me see if I can reach him now.” Warren went utterly still, his eyes glazing over. A few moments later, he returned with a grimace. “Safe for now, they’ll be here by lunch tomorrow, but he could see troop movement from the top of Eaglan Ridge earlier today.”

“More of the rebels? Did they get Zurina’s message?”

He shook his head. “They saw many fires the night before. Large numbers. No attempt to hide their presence.”

Fuck.“The emperor.”

“Based on what he saw, they’re heading this way.”

Not good. “Zurina?” We needed her. And the rest of the rebels.

Warren shook his head. “I haven’t been able to reach her.”

“You.” Gabriel’s exclamation cut into our conversation.

I turned toward him fully.

He stood next to Ilya, only a few feet away. His brows drew together, a myriad of emotions crossing his face. Anger. Confusion. Disbelief. “You look like…” He gaped as he shook his head.

---