“The vagrants are stretched thin,” Jayden said. He exchanged a glance with Ximen, her other second-in-command, who’d remained quiet until now.

“We know where there’s plenty,” Ximen said.

And she wasn’t going to like it. Otherwise, Jayden would have told her. He probably didn’t want to spark yet another argument between them. Despite waking the power of The Eyes, Shyla hadn’t earned Jayden’s trust. He also hated Rendor and was used to making all the decisions. The Vagrant Prince she called him. His loyalty was split between the vagrants and the Invisible Sword. But she needed him.

“Don’t keep me in suspense, Ximen.”

“At our old headquarters. We have heaps of supplies that we left behind, including water.”

“Left behind for a very good reason.” The Arch Deacons had ambushed them, killing a number of Invisible Swords and capturing over a dozen. Only eleven escaped. And her friend Banqui was still missing. “It’s probably all been confiscated by now.”

“The supplies were well hidden,” Ximen said.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m sure someone is watching for us to return.”

“We’re the Invisible Sword, Shyla. We can bypass a few watchers long enough to confirm the supplies are there.” Jayden ran a hand through his golden-brown hair—a sign he was losing his patience. “You need to remember that.”

“I’m well aware,” she snapped. “And you need to remember that the Heliacal Priestess has a dozen platinum torques that block our magic, Jayden.”

They glared at each other. At one hundred and eighty-two centimeters, he was about twelve centimeters taller than Shyla. He had a thin wiry build and light sienna-colored skin.

“We can send a couple scouts to locate any watchers and check if they’re protected by those torques first,” Ximen said. “It’s worth the risk. We’re running out of food, too.”

“I need to talk to Rendor first,” she said.

“What for?” Jayden demanded. “He’s not in charge. We are.”

“No. I am. And I don’t have to explain my reasons to you.” She strode away.

Jayden was infuriating. He claimed he wasn’t in the upper echelons of the Invisible Sword’s leadership, but he certainly acted like he’d been in charge and was used to getting his own way. Good-looking and charming when he wished to be, Jayden just had to flutter those long eyelashes that framed his amber eyes and supposedly women melted.