“One each night until we lure him to the surface,” Thom finished.

Gods.

“I have your first,” Fenn told him, sweeping an arm to where Tedrey lay, silent and watching.

“This is the traitor?” Thom queried, beginning to walk in Tedrey’s direction.

Tedrey did not move, not even to shift his regard from Thom.

They had not gagged him, for he had not fought them or given any indication he was going to try to escape.

He hoped, if he remained passive and resigned to his fate, they would not send word to harm Nyx or Lorenz or Faunus or anyone he held in his heart.

So with them, he would remain.

But now, he could not.

Thom stood above him and stared down at Tedrey.

“Most handsome,” he murmured. “I understand your fascination with him.”

“I am fascinated no more,” Fenn spat, glaring at Tedrey.

Thom crouched beside where he lay.

“I think we shall keep you special,” he whispered to Tedrey. “When the Beast finally surfaces, he will be most hungry. You will slake his craving.”

Tedrey stared into Thom’s eyes and said not a word.

He did not wish to slake the Beast’s craving, obviously.

But that was not why it was imperative he found his way away from this band and made his swift return home.

He had to warn them.

He had to warn them all.

114

The Hope

Princess Elena

Night Heights Mountain Range

AIREN

In the dilapidated, abandoned cottage my sisters had cleaned, the roof and chimney they had made makeshift repairs to in order for them to serve their purpose, I sat on a rickety stool next to the narrow bed that swung low on its moorings, making it appear like a cozy hammock.

However, with my mother’s thin, frail body ensconced in it, cozy seemed almost a profane word to use to describe it.

She had her eyes closed, but I knew she was not asleep.

“I would have you talk with me, in the time I have for you to talk with me, if you have the strength to do so,” I requested softly.

Her eyes opened and focused steadily on me.

Her gaze might have been steady, but her voice was as thin as her body, and the sound of it clawed at my ears.

“I lie here thinking of all the things I would wish to say to you, at the same time praying to the goddess that I have already shared all the things you need to know.”

I reached for her hand, curling my fingers around, and she did not pull away.

This did not rend my heart. She had not been overtly affectionate throughout my life, but if we were alone, she could find ways to be thus.

And we were now alone.

“Please know, I am equipped with what I need,” I assured her stiltedly, just as I had been the days since we’d arrived. Uncertain how to speak, how to say words that needed to be said in order to give her the peace I wished her to have. “You are a good and beloved mother, and you have shared great bounty with me.”