“But you’re different than them.” It’s a statement not a question.
I tilt my head. “I guess I am.”
“Because like me, you question. You want to understand and know the truth. You don’t just act on orders.”
My eyes widen. “Did you dismiss an order? Or did you disobey—” I break off before my thought’s complete.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I say, frustrated. “That wouldn’t make sense. Dammit.”
Xander repositions himself, shifting to lean on his other leg. “No, my breaking Force orders would be a plus for them, it would seem.”
“Yes. Not a reason to have you killed.” I cringe when the word passes my lips. From the moment my eyes met his in the atrium, I knew the hit was wrong. I could feel it in my bones. And I now know something’s off, something isn’t right.
“Whatever the reason, I can’t go back.” He sighs. “They kept me in the dark for a reason.”
I nod once, my neck heavy with tension. “And now I’m in that same dark. And”—I close the gap between us—“I’m an outcast. They would as soon end me for not completing the mission.” I laugh hollowly. “Never mind that I’ve spilled all our secrets.”
He wraps his arms around me. “Thank you for not killing me.”
I smile. “You’re welcome.”
“Still not admitting that I could’ve taken you?” He laughs, his deep voice vibrating in his chest.
“Well, you’re welcome that I spared yours, as well.”
“I would have—” My words are cut short by a snap in the forest. Xander’s arms tighten around me, pulling me to his side.
A shadow moves slowly toward us, the figure cloaked by night and branches. When he emerges, my breath catches. A lump forms in my throat and I swallow it down painfully.
“This couldn’t have worked out better,” says Larkin, a sword pointed at us. “I was supposed to do this earlier, but you were moving away from the castle. I decided to let you do the work for me.” He grins. “Hauling dead bodies is so much work.”
“You?” I say. “Who are you?”
Xander moves in front of me and unsheathes his sword. “Larkin.”
I look between them. “You know him?” I ask Xander.
He nods, never taking his eyes off his foe. “
He’s a knight of the Force. And he trained me.” He steps toward Larkin. “He’s my friend.”
I’m more confused than ever. If the Rebels put a hit on Xander, why would another knight, especially one who trained Xander, want him—us—dead?
Larkin steps to the side, beginning to circle. “To be fair, none of this was planned until today.” He shrugs. “You really are my friend. But I have orders.”
“Why wasn’t I informed about the Rebels, Larkin?” Xander asks, inching closer to him. “Don’t you think that’s information I might have needed?”
“And why aren’t you in a uniform?” I add. I danced with him and had no idea who he was. For some reason, this angers me more than him threatening me now.
Larkin cocks his head, grinning. “I was given special privileges for the night,” he says to me with a wink. Then to Xander, “And I was ordered not to inform you.” He raises his sword higher.
“Devlan arranged for you to be unknighted after Prince Sebastian’s betrothal.”
“For what reason?” Xander demands.
“You were found to have questionable beliefs.” Larkin sighs. “Honestly, Xander. You can’t go around spouting off at the mouth. Now,” he says, taking a step forward. “I’ve wasted enough time tracking you and answering questions. I need to kill you both and get back before I’m missed.”