For a moment I don't move or speak. Cub stands there, alive, and I realise now badly hurt.

A lot of the injuries are healed. The scars on his face and arms look old, but they're still there, and horrifyingly plentiful.

'Ren.' He explains. 'Some old battles but... mostly from... after we last met.'

I blink at him dumbly.

'You're- what- but- but- you're alive?!'

'Etho. He saved me. Snuck me away from the crastle half dead, stole potions... eventually ran away. We found here...'

'Why didn't you say- you- why?!'

'Eat some of your cake. Cake makes you feel better.' He offers.

'Scar's dying. Well... he was shot and... Etho told me to find you.' I remember, panic filling me. Cub pauses. 'They were cornered by the resistance. I tried to get here quickly...'

'Eat the cake quickly then while I prepare.'

'Prepare?' 

'Eat. You're exhausted.' 

I do. And stop. 

Scar was absolutely right about the cake.

I can't get enough of it. Absolutely everything about it is perfect and I make sure I get every single crumb. It's gone before Cub returns. He laughs at my guilty expression as I swallow the last mouthful.

'Scar was right about your cake.'

'Scar told you about my cake?'

'He tried to follow your recipe and... got upset that it wasn't this good.' I admit. Cub sighs with sympathy, then grows serious again.

'Come on. We need to go. And Scar's cookies are better than my cake.' 

'Really?' I get to my feet, watching as Cub prepares. Potions stuffed full of potions, he ties fabric over his nose and mouth to hide his identity, grabs a bow and set of arrows.

And jumps out the window.

A jolt of terror fills me. I run to the window, panicking, until I see him standing on the roof of the nearby building.

'It's safe.' He insists. I stare at the ground far below. 'Trust me.'

'I'm blaming you when I fall.' I reply, climb onto the window sill, and hurl myself through the air.

I jumped too short.

I scream as I reach to grab the edge, knowing I won't. Cub's hand shoots out, grabbing mine.

'I- I told you.' I snap. 'I told you it wasn't safe...' He pulls me into the roof.

'That's why I'm here to help you. Come on.' 

I follow him along, watching him slip down the edge of the next building, utterly fearless. I follow slower, trying to pick up conversation again.

'Why didn't you ever tell Scar you were alive?' I question. Cub sighs

'I know he'd try and find me. As much as it hurt. But he'd end up getting into trouble. I wanted him to be safe. Away from the conflict...' Cub jumps again, landing on the edge of another building. I follow.

'I don't understand,'

'Grian.' He stops, looking me in my eyes as he speaks. 'You understand what it's like to know you would do anything for Scar. Anything to make sure he's safe and happy. And this was how I have to do it.' He walks away. I run after.

'Cub... you... you could tell him you're alright.'

He pauses on the edge of another building.

'I knew he'd just end up getting killed. I couldn't let him find me and die trying to join me and Etho's plan.'

'Your plan?'

'To blow up the crastle.' He jumps down.

I continue on after, and start to realise where we are, pointing out the alley Etho and Scar were in. I can't see anyone there. My heartrate increases. It's too short a time until we're there. 

It's completely deserted. 

Cub breaks into a sprint. I run after, slipping down he edge of the building.

My stomach drops.

Scar's not here.

But Etho is.

Cub's crouching next to him. Blood covers him as he lies there, rasping for breath.

'I'm sorry.' He mumbles. 'There was nothing I could do.'

'What?'

'An- an exchange...'

'S***. They're swapping Scar for Skizz.' Cub's freezes. 'Impulse is giving Scar to Ren. To be hotguy again.' I add.

'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.' Sobs Etho

'You did the best you could.' Cub whispers back, taking his hand as his sobbing turn to choking. 'You- you did the best you could.'

Etho falls still.

Dead.

Cub slowly stands, facing me. A chill hits me at his expression, the burning, seething fury in his eyes. I instantly realise how much he loves Scar. How much he'd go through to keep him safe.

And I know if anything happened to him, Cub would stop at nothing to get revenge and no one would be able to stop him.

'Come on.'

It's all he says as he walks out the alleyway. I have to run after as he sets an unmatchable pace along the street. And then he speaks again, voice dripping with hate.

'Me and Scar thought of Ren and Impulse as having a competition as to who's worst. Ren's been far in the lead the entire time.'

'And now Impulse has won.'

Before I realise it, we reach the gates of the crastle. I see a flash of yellow on a black top.

The resistance symbol.

Impulse.

Cub hisses my name as he climbs onto the roof of the nearest building. I follow, staring down at the action.

Gem's with Impulse, armed. And a pair of other guards stand on the other side, holding back a struggling figure. Bleeding. Hurt.

'Scar.' Cub's grip tightens on his bow.

The Crastle door opens.

From the darkness, dressed in red, clothes covered in the diamonds he stole from the impoverished city, Ren steps into view. Guards surround him. More than Impulse has. And among them, Skizz.

'Impulse.'

'Ren.'

The tension's so thick a bullet couldn't penetrate it. Every guard aims at someone else, even before Impulse speaks.

'I have a deal.'

Ren's eyes narrow.

'Continue.'

'We have Hotguy.' He signals to where Scar's still fighting to escape. 'And you have Skizz.'

'Indeed.' I catch a glitter of something in Ren's eyes as he looks at Scar and sense Cub stiffen next to me.

'I propose a trade. You give us back Skizz, and we give you Hotguy. And then we end the fighting. Neither of our sides will attack each other. I will end my resistance. And you will not send guards after us or kill us.'

Anger fills my stomach like fire, a deep, driven need to protect Scar.

Cub's words rise in my mind again.

You understand what it's like to know you would do anything for Scar.

'Give me the bow.' I mutter. Cub does, wary.

I slip from the roof.

'And I propose another deal.'

Every head turns towards me as I walk straight through Impulse's ranks, stopping rightbetween Ren and Scar. I stare up at the king.

And bow before him.

'Let Scar go and I will join your court as your new archer-assassin-mascot. You will provide him with a good home, enough diamonds for whatever he wants, and you will never try to hurt or kill him again, or send any guards after him.' I force myself to look up at Ren. 'And I, Cuteguy, will do whatever you want.'

'Grian... no...' I hear Scar plead behind. 'Grian... please... no... don't do it.'

'Do we have a deal?'

Ren holds out his hand to shake.

'Deal.'

This is not the end of the book.

But I am taking a small break to plan and build hype