had pushed us to new extremes, and her political recklessness could quickly prove lethal for one or more of us unless we stopped her.
Maybe Thayen’s abduction would redraw the playing board.
Esme
Kalon’s ability to work with a Reaper scythe was nowhere near his mother’s, and Ansel had still been learning the basics when we’d caught him, so neither could pull a quick space jump to the hilltop where Amal and Amane were waiting.
We reached the edge of the Nightmare Forest first, then an outpost on the northeastern side of the imperial city. The third step brought us about five hundred yards west of the hilltop, and we could see the forest blanketing half of it.
“There’s no point in making another jump now,” Kalon said, panting as he looked up at the hilltop. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.
“This is taking quite a toll on you,” Trev replied, noticing his exhaustion.
Kalon offered a faint smirk. “I’m not really good with death magic. It takes some energy out of me, and I never learned how to ration my strength when performing these jumps. One time was relatively doable, but this trip? It’s a whole other business.”
We made our way across a clear plain about half a mile from the nearest road. This wasn’t a populated area, so we didn’t worry much about being seen. Besides, Tristan had brought enough invisibility pellets to keep us all out of sight, if needed.
“What are your people up to now?” Trev asked, looking at Tristan. “Sofia and the others.”
“Sofia and Derek snuck into the palace,” Tristan answered. “They’re hoping to reason with Danika and stop this nonsense before it gets violent and bloody. Amal and Amane have resumed their study of the Black Fever inside the shuttle.”
I found myself grinning as I thought about our vessel. “We’ve got pulverizer weapons in there. And I absolutely intend to use them against the Darklings, in case anyone was wondering.”
“I’m not surprised.” Tristan chuckled, giving me a sideways glance.
Valaine was quiet, but I couldn’t fault her for it. Unwittingly, she’d ended up at the center of this entire controversy, and the only way to prove her innocence was through Amal and Amane’s work. None of us wanted her to be responsible for the Black Fever, but we all knew it was a possibility.
“How are you feeling?” I asked. Ansel walked beside her as a guardian of sorts, which was pretty adorable—if not a little ironic—considering how convinced he’d once been that she had to die.
“I’m not really sure,” Valaine replied. “I suppose I’m relieved that I’m not in a jail cell or dead right now. But I’m also genuinely scared, not only because of the Darklings’ campaign against me and the Lady Supreme’s position on it, but also because there’s a chance they might actually be right.”
“We won’t know until the Faulty twins give us a full study of your DNA,” I said. “There’s no use despairing now.”
“Besides, even if it turns out to be true, I doubt our friends here will hang you out to dry,” Kalon added, nodding my way. “I bet they’ve got more tricks up their sleeves.”
“You give us too much credit,” Tristan muttered. “And I’m not your friend.”
Sighing, I gripped my brother’s forearm. “We are friends, as a group. You, personally, have every right not to, but I’ve chosen to forgive.”
Kalon didn’t look at me as I said that, but I could see his gaze softening. He needed someone on his side right now, almost as much as Valaine did. Yes, he’d kept secrets. He’d lied. But I understood why, and so did Tristan. My brother just didn’t want to let him off the hook too easily, which in itself was sort of… cute. And it kept Kalon on his toes.
“Trev, where have you been these past few days?” I asked, changing the subject. “And even before the last time we met? We didn’t get to talk much that night in the village.”
“Oh, I’ve been all over the place.” He chuckled. “Talking to various Rimians and Naloreans around the city. I spent some time with Kalla, back in Orvis—that part you already know about. I even made it all the way into the northeastern territory, to Laramis.”
That got Kalon’s attention. “What were you doing there?”
“Discovering how far the Darklings’ reach has extended right under the empire’s nose,” Trev replied, a deep crease forming between his eyebrows.
“I’ve heard of Laramis,” Ansel said. “Mother mentioned it several times. It’s a Darkling hideout, isn’t it?”
Kalon nodded. “Yeah,