Page 17 of Glutton for Punishment

She’s alive. I’m certain of it.

“Expand the search perimeter,” I say, my attention returning to the map. “If the rebels are blocking access to the southern ridge, pay someone to move them.”

Lucas exhales slowly.

“You know it’s not that easy with the rebels. There’s no way to know their numbers in that area. We’re already stretching our resources thin,” he says. “These units have been wandering the Wastes for a week, leaving certain parts of your territory unprotected. Your siblings are starting to notice.”

That gets my attention. They spend most of their time circling each other like sharks, waiting for the first sign of weakness. If they decide my territory is vulnerable, they won’t hesitate to make a move.

Let them try.

Still, Lucas isn’t wrong. Every hour my crews spend searching the Wastelands is an hour they aren’t protecting what I’ve built.

“She’s out there,” I say.

“I’m not saying she isn’t,” he responds.

“Really? Because you sound like you’re preparing for the alternative.”

Lucas pushes away from the wall and walks toward the desk. His gaze drops to the map before returning to me.

“I’m saying the Council doesn’t exile people so they can stroll back into civilization,” he says.

Something about Arwen’s disappearance has been nagging at me. Everything points to the conclusion that they exiled her to the Wastes. Just as she was told she would be.

But something hasn’t felt right. Despite all the facts, something small keeps making me feel like we missed something. That she’s closer than we think.

And yet there hasn’t been a single confirmed sighting of her.

“I’m not sure the Council sent her out there,” I say.

Lucas’s brow lifts. “Do you have proof of that?”

“No, it’s just instinct.”

Lucas studies me for another moment before nodding once.

“We’ll keep the teams searching,” he says. “But you need to make some decisions for the rest of the empire before someone takes advantage of the situation.”

My attention drifts back to the map as the bond in my chest pulls again, faint but insistent.

“Keep me updated on any progress,” I say.

Lucas nods but hesitates near the door. The conversation isn’t over.

I take a deep sigh. “What is it?”

“One of the Council couriers stopped by earlier.”

“And?”

Lucas’s expression turns neutral. “Your father wants a meeting.”

“Fuck!” I slam my fist down again.

Over the past week, I’ve avoided him. I have redirected every message and delayed every summons with some excuse about territory disputes or business that couldn’t wait.

But avoiding him forever was never an option.