Abel’s silent for a beat, two. When he speaks, his voice has gone soft with menace. “What the fuck are you doing there, Broderick? We have a treaty with them, but that doesn’t mean you can come and go as you please. You’re going to send us to war, and we’re not ready.”

I can’t think clearly enough to lie. “Shiloh brought us to her childhood home.”

Another pause. “Are you saying that Shiloh is an Amazon? Has been an Amazon this entire fucking time?”

“Yes. No. I don’t fucking know, Abel. She left the city years before we met her. What the hell does it matter?”

“It matters,” he bites out. My brother curses. “We can’t do a damn thing for her.”

“The fuck you can’t. Talk to Fallon. She’ll have—”

“I cannot do a damn thing for her,” he repeats, harder this time. “If we come in there to pick you up, guns blazing, Aisling will use it as ammunition to prove we broke treaty first. She and Ciar will join forces to crush the Raider faction.”

“If we don’t get the antidote, Shiloh will die!”

“I’m sorry.” He actually sounds like he means it. “But I have to weigh the lives of everyone in the faction against hers and, fuck. Broderick, I’m sorry but I can’t help her. If you can get her across the river to us…”

“Monroe went after the Mystic. I can’t leave her.” A decision I wouldn’t have hesitated to make a few weeks ago in this same situation. But Monroe went after the assassin on her own. She has no backup. I can’t leave Shiloh unattended, but I also can’t leave Monroe hanging here.

It’s not because she’s the Amazon heir and if she’s harmed, it will go just as badly for us as if Abel brought a squad to rescue us. I can’t leave her because… Fuck, I care about my Bride. More than care.

Gods, this is so fucked up.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Do you trust Monroe?”

“Yes.” It’s the truth.

“The Mystics carry the antidote on them. If she can get it, it will help Shiloh faster than anything I can do.” He pauses. “We’ll be waiting at the western bridge. Get back to us safely, brother. That’s an order.”

I hang up. A quick look around shows the street is still deserted, but I don’t know how long it will stay that way. As much as I don’t want to move Shiloh, we can’t stay here. I hold my breath as I ease her into my arms and stagger my feet, heading for the truck. “Hang on. Just hang the fuck on. Monroe will get the fucker and bring us the antidote.”

I hope like hell I’m not lying.

Chapter 30

Monroe