names on duty rosters or to sign out weapons and supplies. Sev’s ability to read had afforded him some measure of control—and his ability to gather information had been the thing that drew Trix’s notice in the first place.
“ ‘In light of the Grand Council meeting,’ ” he began self-consciously, aware of Kade watching him, “ ‘forget your original mission and focus instead on learning more about the governor’s next moves.’ ”
“The Grand Council…?” Kade asked. “What’s that?”
“It’s a meeting of the full Council of Governors—all fifty members,” Sev answered. “The commander sent me here to find evidence against Rolan; his attack on the Phoenix Riders wasn’t sanctioned by the council. But now that Rolan’s called the Grand Council, he’s obviously not intending to hide the fact that he attacked, but instead convince them all that the attack was necessary—that the Phoenix Riders are a danger to the empire. That they must be destroyed. Only, he wants the council to help him do it.”
“He wants war,” Kade said, voice hushed.
Sev nodded distractedly. He’d thought it was going to be hard enough finding evidence for what Rolan had already done, but learning what he had yet to do… How would Sev manage that?
Something Rolan had said during their first meeting weighed on Sev.
I must convince them there is, in fact, a threat.
Lord Rolan wanted a war, and in order to get it, he had to convince the council that the Phoenix Riders were a threat. But how?
“He doesn’t say anything about the hostage,” Sev said, glancing down at the original coded letter in case he’d missed something. He hadn’t.
“Hostage?” Kade asked.
Sev frowned. “There’s a girl,” he said. “Her brother was one of the Riders, and Captain Belden took her hostage to force him to spy.”
Kade’s eyebrows rose. “And this Rider spy told the commander and the others?”
Sev nodded.
“Do you think she still lives?”
The question sent an icy spear into Sev’s heart. He hadn’t considered that. “He didn’t come forward until right before the battle,” Sev said, convincing himself as much as Kade. “I don’t think anyone here would know he’d defected….” He sighed. “I guess we need to focus on Lord Rolan for now.”
Kade tilted his head at Sev. “We?” he asked, though his tone was light.
“If you want,” Sev said hurriedly.
Kade surveyed Sev as he had done countless times before, his gemstone eyes glimmering in the lamplight.
“So, what do you say?” Sev prodded, trying to keep the hope from his voice. “Are you in?”
Kade grinned. “I’m in,” he said, and Sev smiled so hard his face hurt.
They sat in a comfortable silence, with nothing but the sound of the wind in the trees outside Sev’s window and the clucking of the messenger pigeon picking its way across the sill.
“I should go,” Kade said eventually, getting to his feet. “I’ve an early start tomorrow.”
Sev stood as well. “How will we…,” he began, but Kade nodded at the concealed door.
“I’ll come as often as I’m able. Every night, if I can. Leave a lantern lit in your sitting room if you are in and alone—I can see it through the doorframe. If you don’t, I’ll assume you’re with someone and will return later.”
They looked at each other, and there was still so much unsaid between them that Sev didn’t know where to begin. “I’m so glad you’re here” was all he managed, his throat constricting slightly on the words. He didn’t just mean here in this room—or here in Rolan’s estate. He meant here, alive, when Sev had already said his goodbyes.
“Me too,” Kade whispered, rare softness in his face again. He gripped Sev’s good shoulder, the warm press of his hand lingering before he stepped around Sev, crossing the room to pull aside the tapestry. With a last glance over his shoulder, he stepped into the shadowy corridor and slid the panel back into place.
Sev burned the letter and its translation before packing away his supplies and putting out the lantern. He fell back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling once more, wishing he’d had the courage to ask Kade to stay.
After the defeat of Nox and her children, the fearsome strixes, the people of the world rejoiced. They believed their war against the darkness was over, which was true.
But there were battles yet to be fought.
Famine came after the Dark Days, and it was in this time that sister phoenixes Xatara and Xolanthe were hatched, born from a First Rider bloodline.
Despite their strength and vigor, Xatara and Xolanthe found themselves Rider-less in the