I back up a step. I’m unarmed. And as one of his minions bursts through the door behind him, I’m outnumbered. Something inside me withers. If I’m to die by his hand, I didn’t want it to be this way. With me falling without a fight. I’d have done everything in my power to save him until the last moment…but I’d have—
I’m not sure I can finish that thought. Would I have killed him in the end? To try to save the others I love? Could I have run my sword into his heart, and then every other person Bale infected afterward? To what end?
I can see now that it’s more important to him to be rid of me. Rid of the threat, rather than for Caben to rescue his mother. That alone speaks of his determination to kill me—or maybe Bale has completely taken over.
As Caben approaches my cell, I suppose those questions that I never allowed myself to answer, to even think, no longer matter. He can obviously end me with so little reproach. And when he inserts the key and clicks open the lock, I decide he will. He’s through with games.
I lift my chin high. Roll my shoulders back. At least I’ll leave this world in the presence of someone I love. Even if that person is seething hatred for me right now.
A boom rattles the room, and Caben rocks to the side. Not from the blast, though. It barely registered in here, behind these thick walls. He grabs hold of a cell bar and sways. Then he moves forward, slightly stumbling. My eyebrows press together.
“My luff, it’s time we were leaving,” Caben slurs.
I scrunch my forehead even more, my lips parting. “Are you…drunk?”
“Prince!”
My head snaps to the side. Bax is suddenly in the room. My heart slams against my rib cage.
“Bax—get out of here!” I might have no chance against Caben’s newfound strength and Bale’s power, unarmed and outnumbered. But I’ll be damned if I won’t try to stall them long enough to save Bax.
But Caben extends his sword and aims it at me before I attempt to move. He smiles, and swivels the point. It just grazes my uniform, and then slowly moves down…over my breasts…
“Damn,” Bax snarls, and marches toward Caben. He places his pale hand on the flat of the blade and pushes it aside. “You drank too much, you lush.”
And my confusion is complete.
Caben’s eyes sparkle with the gleam of alcohol as his smile widens, revealing his perfect, white, princely teeth. “Did you miss me, sweetheart? I sure missed you. All two of you.”
Bax huffs. “Kal, there’s little time to explain. But trust me.” He offers me his hand. “You’re much safer coming with us”—he gives Caben a sideways glance—“than remaining here. I promise.”
I’m only stalled a fraction of a second while I assess Caben. My whole being fills with hope—and then I put my hand in Bax’s. “Did you happen to find my sword on your way in?” I ask, trying to temper my expectations. Caben is not cured. I need perspective. I have to know what is going on, but first—getting out of here.
“Or my transmitter?” I continue, wishing for all the things I depend on so heavily. But Bax only shakes his head.
“You’ll have to use this for now.” He nods to the Otherworlder standing near Caben. “Lake, please gift the newest member of our party with a weapon.”
The Otherworlder, Lake, presses his thin lips into a frown, but does as Bax requests. Handing Bax a sword, and then he gives it over to me. Immediately, I feel more in control of this absurd situation. At least some.
As Bax looks me over, making sure I’m all right, I spy Caben. I can’t keep my eyes from seeking his face. The tiny scar near his eye. His dark waves of hair. The way he’s now leaning on Lake for balance.
“Am I to get any sort of explanation?” I ask Bax, nodding toward a wobbly Caben.
Although I don’t feel threatened, not completely anyhow, I wrap my fingers around the hilt of my new sword tightly. Get a feel for the weapon, just in case Bale decides she’s tired of this game. Whatever the goddess it is.
Bax pulls me past Caben and Lake into the center of the holding cell. “Protector, I’m not altogether sure if your prince can be trusted, but in his own way, he’s fighting the dark goddess’s control.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “By drinking himself to death?”
“I heard that, little bee,” Caben calls out. Bax scowls.
“Yes,” Bax says simply. Then, “And I’m not sure how mentally stable he is…Bale’s done some damage.”
Glancing at Caben again, I try to govern the hope springing up inside me. But it’s already bubbling out of control. Maybe, when he’s like this, I can heal him? There’s so many what ifs infecting my brain. I have the sudden, fierce need to pray. Pray that somehow, Caben is strong enough to defeat Bale. Only I know that’d be a hopeless request.
“Don’t.”
Bax’s serious tone pulls my attention back to him. I understand exactly what that one word conveys. Don’t hope. Because really, all Caben is doing is giving Bale the time she needs to manifest.