Page 107 of Feathers of Ash and Hope

“I have the honor to announce that General Blackstone and his staff will be visiting us at the end of the month…”I should have known it couldn’t mean anything good when Janus showed up at the end of the strategy meeting.

There is a ringing in my ears.

Fuck my life.Why does he have to come here, of all places?

It’s been two days since my heart-to-heart with Mariel, and everything between us is good again. My secrets are still safe. Tate just got back from patrol today, and I got to see him, so the world looked great until a few seconds ago.

“That is so great.” Calix bumps me with his shoulder. “Do you think we’ll get to meet him?”

I give him a weak smile.I hope not.

“Just think about it. To meet General Darren Blackstone personally. He’s the youngest general Belarra ever had, and they say…” Calix goes on and on, and it’s very strange to listen to himhero-worshipping my brother when I would have described him so differently. I would say that Dar gives the best hugs, looks the happiest when he plays with his daughter or is next to Elena, and hates the cookies Mom makes for solstice but eats one anyway so he doesn’t hurt her feelings. But none of that will help me when he finds me here.

The whole room is alive with excitement, and I want to throw up. I fidget. I need a plan. And there is only one person I can ask for help.

I try to catch Joel’s gaze, but he avoids looking in my direction. It has been a little awkward between us ever since our confrontation before I left for patrol. Tate is frowning at me, and his gaze stays intense even when I try to appease him with a smile. He’s too observant for anyone’s comfort. I look at Joel again and nearly jump out of my seat when I feel a caress on my cheek. I turn to Calix, but he’s in a conversation with Mariel.

What? How?

“What’s wrong?” Tate’s voice whispers next to my ear, and my eyes snap to him. He grins at me wickedly, and I feel like someone poured lightning down my veins.

“How?” I mouth to him.

“Air gifted, remember?” I see his lips move with the soft words that reach my ear. Then Jared asks him something, so he turns away, and my mind snaps back to the problem at hand.

I need to talk to Joel.

Instead of running to Joel as soon as the meeting ends, I wait next to the door, my fingers beating out a steady rhythm against my leg.

I grab his arm as he passes, mumbling a half-assed apology to the rider he had been talking to before dragging him into a niche down the hall.

“I can’t be here,” I whisper-shout.

“That’s what I’ve been telling you for two months now,” he says dryly.

“No, I mean when Da…” I look around. “Ah, the general comes.”

“I know,” he groans, his hands messing up his once impeccable hair.

“So you’ll help me?” I ask, holding my breath.

Resolve runs over his face, and I could kiss him for it, but that would definitely lead to unwanted questions. My face splits into a smile.

“I do value my life, don’t I?” he grumbles, but a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as well.

“You sound like Sloan.” I push against his chest playfully. “My brothers aren’t that bad. You should know that. You grew up with them, and you’re Ben’s best friend, for goodness' sake.”

“Oh, I do know them.” He raises an eyebrow at me. “And I don’t think being Ben’s best friend will count for anything if Darren finds out I hid your whereabouts from him. Hell, Ben himself will murder me.”

“I won’t let them kill you. I promise.” I smile up at him.

“Who wants to kill you, Cassius?” Tate asks. Damn. As much as I like that voice, I don’t want to discuss this in front of him.

“No one…yet.” Joel sends me a meaningful look before he walks around me, leaving Tate and me standing there.

“Thank you!” I call after him, but Joel doesn’t acknowledge it.

“What is going on, sunshine?” Tate levels me with one of his no-nonsense looks. And a thrill goes through me at hearing his pet name for me.

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