Page 67 of Revealing Fate

He was taking her to the Cozened refuge? “Are you mad? We can’t do nothing,” Imogen argued. “Someone has to help her!”

“I sent a trusted friend to warn him. I can only hope they arrive in time to prevent any unfavorable developments.”

Imogen balked. Unfavorable developments? The king’s favored attendant was being rather cavalier about the fate of the shurii race. Her friend was gods knew where with gods knew whom, surely terrified, or worse. “That’s not good enough,” she said. “The Prima is alone, in danger, and most certainly fearing for her life. Someone needs to go and get her.”

Cinah nodded. “I don’t disagree with you. You may think my level of concern to be negligible, but I assure you, I believe in her purpose to the people as much as anyone. However, I don’t think the best option is to return her to the capital.”

“But her presentation to⁠—”

Mender Alcuin silenced Imogen with a warm hand on her forearm. “In this he is right, dear. King Domitan is prepping for a war. It may not be best to return Felíne to Asteros.”

Imogen had a hard time following. “Of course, he’s prepping for war. The Prima has been stolen!”

Cinah shook his head. “It’s not that simple, I’m afraid. Domitan won’t be satisfied with her safe return. He’s taken this as a personal affront, a challenge to his rule. He’ll use it as an excuse to send his army outside Asteros and destroy anyone who dares oppose him.”

Imogen raised a brow. “He’s been trying to kill off the Cozened for years. That’s nothing new.”

Alcuin spoke. “Dear, there are far more than just the Cozened who oppose the Crown of Asteros. Thousands of innocents across Ilistaar will be in danger if the king mobilizes his army.”

Imogen was suddenly very weary, and the pleasant hum of her buzz had turned to a grating whine. “If you don’t intend to retrieve Felíne, then what is your plan? King Domitan’s military ambitions aside, if the Prima doesn’t return, the entire race is doomed anyway. You can’t just leave her out there.”

Cinah opened his mouth to reply, but Alcuin beat him to it.

“We plan to take the Primordial Male to her.”

Imogen gaped. The mender’s words physically jarred her.

Cinah grimaced. “Alcuin, it’s a grand scheme in theory, but we still need to find him. This could take months. Time we don’t have.”

“You’re better poised than most to make inquiries.”

“Inquiries that could very well get me killed. Domitan is exceedingly territorial. If he suspected⁠—”

“He won’t suspect,” Mender Alcuin argued. “You’ll be careful, Creed.”

Cinah let out an exasperated sigh. “Scheming to get a Fate out of Asteros nearly got me killed, and we can see how well that went. Believe me, I’ve got the scars to prove it. And I was very careful. Trying to locate⁠—”

“I know where he is,” Imogen breathed.

“It’s not a matter of trying, Cinah, it simply must be done. Find a way.”

“We should be focused on warning our allies, bolstering defenses in Meress and the neighboring cities,” Cinah countered. “I understand the concern for future generations, but it won’t matter if this generation is decimated by a tyrant king.”

Imogen cleared her throat and repeated herself. Both men slowly turned to look at her as though she’d just confessed that she was the Goddess reincarnate.

She glanced between them. “I know where the Primordial Male is.”

Alcuin’s eyes twinkled. Cinah’s breath left him in a whoosh. Imogen’s stomach roiled with a giddy burst of bubbles. Suddenly, she wasn’t thinking about Felíne’s presentation or even the ramifications of what she considered. She was only thinking about Karrick: shackled in a dark cell, locked in a guarded room, withered down to half the male he should have been by years of abuse and neglect. If anyone deserved a bid at freedom, it was Karrick.

“I can get to him,” she said, determination steeling her voice. “Help me get him out.”

Chapter 26

WOUNDS

FELÍNE CRACKED AN EYELID. SHE groaned as a fresh ache rolled through her shoulder and radiated across her chest. Filtered morning sunlight spilled into Kal’s bedroom through the glass window pane, illuminating the floating dust motes that scattered as she shoved back the furs.

The door remained closed. Felíne woke alone. Again.