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       8

      VALEK

      An agreement? Valek leaned back to meet Yelena’s gaze and did not like her pained expression. Not at all. He tightened his arms around her for a second, his instinct to protect her flooding him for a moment. Then, with effort, he relaxed and stepped away. “What is he talking about?”

      Yelena explained the deal she had worked out with Cahil. As she talked, Valek kept a tight leash on his emotions. After a hellacious night spent healing his injuries and worrying about her, this was the last thing he wanted to hear.

      “...we need Cahil on our side. You agreed. He won’t listen to reason while under the influence of Theobroma. This is the only way we’ll be able to convince him.”

      Anger shot through him. “No. You can’t go to the Featherstone garrison. Bruns will find out, and then you and the baby will be killed.” Valek pressed his arms to his sides as the desire to throw her over his shoulder and bolt from the warehouse pulsed through him. She hadn’t trusted him to defeat Onora. Didn’t believe she’d be rescued. For the first time in years, he was furious at her.

      “You can’t stop her. She gave her word,” Cahil said, holding up a piece of parchment.

      The smug superiority of Cahil’s tone grated on Valek’s already frayed nerves. He pulled his dagger and advanced on the idiot. “I know a quick way to void that.”

      “Valek, stop,” Yelena said.

      “Are you that certain he’ll see reason?” he demanded.

      “Yes.”

      “What happens if Bruns learns you’re there?”

      “I’ll protect her. It’s a provision in our agreement,” Cahil said.

      The handle of Valek’s knife bit into his palm. He’d never regretted killing anyone in his life, but he’d kicked himself for letting certain troublemakers live, because they always returned to cause more problems. Cahil happened to be one of them. However, Valek’s plan to stop the Sitian takeover did include Cahil’s assistance.

      “Can I see the accord?” he asked.

      “Of course.” Cahil handed him the accursed document.

      Valek read through the terms. A red-hot knot squeezed his chest. He sought loopholes. None. After committing it to memory, he returned it. “In ten days, I will be at the Featherstone garrison.”

      “What if she loses?” Cahil asked.

      “I won’t,” she said with conviction.

      But Cahil could lie or break their agreement or brainwash her or...a million things could go wrong. If Cahil failed to switch sides, Valek would kill him. There was no way he’d allow Yelena to remain with the enemy.

      “You didn’t answer my question.” Cahil stared at him.

      “If she loses, then we are enemies.”

      “And she stays with me,” Cahil said.

      His heart tore in half. “Yes.”

      “I want your word that you won’t try to rescue her or kill me if her plan fails.”

      Valek met his wife’s gaze. Yelena seemed confident. Not much he could do at this point. “I promise not to attempt a rescue or kill you.” The words coated his mouth with a foul bile. Valek hated that he’d been forced to say them. Why hadn’t Yelena trusted him?

      Cahil relaxed.

      But Valek wasn’t done. “But I will be by her side.”

      The idiot peered at him in confusion. “You just said we’d be enemies.”

      “Correct. I won’t help your efforts or hinder them. But I’ll be with Yelena until the war is over. Consider me her personal bodyguard.”

      “Valek, no.” Yelena protested. “They’ll kill you or use you to learn about the Commander. Besides, Fisk and the others need you. Sitia needs you.”

      “I’m not fighting against you.”

      Her face lost all color as she realized that was what she had promised Cahil. To fight against her friends and family. She clasped her hands together. “It won’t come to that.”

      “I hope you’re right.” Their future happiness depended on it.

      Onora stepped away from Cahil. “What’s next?”

      With all the emotional turmoil, Valek had forgotten about Fisk’s people. They stood awkwardly at the edges.

      “Back to HQ,” he said. They’d have to relocate and change their plans. Yelena had agreed to cooperate during the next ten days. Cahil might claim that meant revealing vital information. Also, if Cahil remained convinced of Bruns’s good intentions, then Yelena would be obligated to reveal all their plans.

      Then it hit him. He couldn’t be part of developing the new strategy, or else he might be forced to divulge the intel if he became her bodyguard while she worked for the Cartel. Ah, hell. They were screwed with a capital S.

      “What about my people?” Cahil asked. “Are they dead?”

      “No. Neutralized,” Onora said. “They should wake up in a few hours.”

      “Cahil knows Fisk has people in the garrisons and that the Stormdancers are helping us,” Yelena said.

      And just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse. Unable to speak without growling at her, Valek nodded instead. It was all he could handle at this time.

      “Let’s go,” Valek ordered. The guild members and Onora headed to the door. Before following them, Valek glanced at Cahil’s smug expression, and Yelena’s pained one. “See you in ten days.” He left.

      Valek set a quick pace for a few blocks. Then he told everyone to scatter and meet back at HQ. Onora stayed with him as he leaned against a building, the enormity of the situation catching up to him. And the regret. He hadn’t hugged or kissed his wife goodbye.

      “Can you shadow her?” he asked Onora. “Make sure Cahil doesn’t go back on his word not to harm her?”

      “Yes. Meet in the town near the Featherstone garrison in nine days?”

      “Yes. Thanks.”

      “Don’t worry. She knows what she’s doing.” Onora gave him a salute and disappeared down the street.

      He’d like to believe that, but ever since Yelena lost her magic, she’d been doubting herself. And now this idiotic agreement with Cahil. She must have panicked last night, believed Cahil’s lies and, worried that the baby’s life was in danger, come up with what she thought was a good solution. If only she’d trusted him.

      Nothing to be done about it now. Valek pushed off the wall and headed to HQ.

      * * *

      “Please tell