Cade met his gaze and saw the hesitation in the man’s face. It was strange to see someone oscillate between virtue and tyranny. The mantle of leadership had fallen upon this young man’s shoulders, yet his only example over the last years had been Atticus himself.

“I cannot change my mind. His followers accept that he was wrong to doubt you, but they have not turned against him. Allowing him to lead these men has allowed me to placate them. To go back on my word will weaken my position. And I am sure you do not want Atticus to return to power.”

Cade knew he had no choice. He and Scott would just have to deal with it. He could only hope that Atticus would let bygones be bygones. But at the back of his mind, he knew he would never forget the sight of Quintus’s beaten body hanging on the rack in Jomsborg.

“All right,” Cade said even as Marius tutted his impatience. “But you have to promise you’ll take care of my friends. Keep them safe from the others. Treat them with respect, as an example to your men.”

Marius nodded and clasped his shoulder. “I will. You do your duty. Find us weapons.”

Cade inclined his head.

“Are we going to wait all day?” Atticus called, his Latin harsh in Cade’s ears.

Marius turned his back, ignoring the show of disrespect.

“Go,” he muttered. “Before this gets any worse.”

Cade hurried away, only to find Grace frowning at him.

“Another private parlay?” she asked, raising a brow.

“I think we can all agree we don’t want Atticus leading the mission,” Cade said. “But Marius won’t back down. We’ll just have to make it work.”

Grace grunted, then gave him a quick, unfeeling hug. “Good luck,” she said.

The others crowded in, passing on their well wishes. Scott, apparently, had already said his goodbyes.

Quintus took the longest, hugging Cade close.

“If you do not come back,” he whispered, “I will find you.”

Cade smiled and gripped his friend by the shoulders. “I’ll be back, my friend. You just keep the others safe while I’m away. I know they’ll be safe with you.”

Quintus wiped a tear from his eye and nodded.

“Cade,” Amber said. “Can we talk?”

Cade felt a flash of anxiety. She had not been exactly cold to him the past few days, but she had not shown him any warmth either. Now, she took his hand, and after a few steps, drew him close.

Her lips brushed his own before parting. It was enough to flood Cade with relief. Even now, with so much at stake, he found the greatest weight on his heart had been wondering if she still cared for him.

Amber grasped his arms and looked up at him, her eyes shining with tears.

“You’re different since the battle,” she said. “God knows you’ve been through so much. But…”

She struggled to find the words, then hugged him close.

“Just don’t forget who you are,” she whispered into his chest. “Stay my Cade.”