Cyrus wanted to argue with her. He wanted to draw his swords and make grand proclamations of the imperial lives he’d take and the vengeance he’d unleash upon those who had slaughtered his family. The display would have worked in that ballroom. It would mean nothing here in the light of the stars. So instead Cyrus risked a far bolder move and reached out for her hands. She accepted the touch. He cupped her fingers in his, and it felt like he held fire. He met her gaze, and he spoke to her his honest truth.

“Then I shall hold faith for the both of us,” he said. “Thanet will be free, and her people saved.”

Keles smiled, and she was so beautiful, and so wounded, that he would give his life to make that smile genuine.

“I pray your faith is not rewarded like mine was, prince. Here on Thanet, far too many faiths end with execution.”

CHAPTER 24

CYRUS

Cyrus and Stasia crouched behind a pair of crates stacked earlier in the day by unassuming dock workers loyal to the resistance. Now that the night was deep and the stars were aglow, the crates provided the perfect cover for the two to observe the entrance to the jail, and the lone guard stationed out front.

“This’ll be too easy,” Stasia whispered. “I hope they have more people inside.”

“You could have gone with Paladin,” Cyrus offered. “At least then you could burn down a few buildings.”

Rayan was several blocks away, accompanied by six soldiers sworn to Commander Pilus. They had torches and swords, and would bring both to bear on one of the language centers the Anointed One set up to teach the imperial tongue. Though the burning would be symbolic, it was also meant to serve as a distraction, ensuring any nearby patrols rushed west and away from the docks and the dockyard prison.

“If there is anything I am not, it is a mere distraction. The fun is here, and so am I.”

The moment Cyrus saw smoke float toward the starry sky, they had their signal to begin, but it would not be either of them who started the fight. Above them, dark fur camouflaged into the night, lurked Lioness. She leaped from the rooftops, a perfectly silent hunter. Her weight blasted the outside guard off his feet. Whatever scream he tried to give, it died instantly as her teeth sank into his throat. A single, hard jerk and she ripped it open entirely, spraying blood across the cobblestones.

“Heldeep take me,” Cyrus muttered at the gore.

“Figured you’d be used to this by now, Vagrant,” Stasia said as she rushed ahead with her twin axes readied.

“Sorry, Ax, not all of us have two decades of warfare to render us heartless killers.”

“Eh, you’ll get there.”