Word Count: 2201

~Lavelle

I drag my wary body into the room, letting my bag fall to the ground at my feet.

We've been travelling for so long, I've forgotten what a real bed feels like. The moment we arrived at this tidy inn on the edge of Tavrik's pack, I knew I wanted to collapse into a beds clutches right away.

Elowen strolls past me, inspecting the room diligently. Mel drags her feet behind, lugging her unnecessarily large suitcase behind her. It thumps loudly on the wooden floorboards before she sits herself on top of it.

I make it to the bed, sinking down on top of it. There's only one, meaning we will have to share, but after several days travelling via carriage and on a small boat, I hardly care.

Elowen wanders to the window, pulling the threadbare curtain back an inch, as if she can see a thing in the darkness.

"This is a terrible idea," she declares, turning around to face me.

"Believe it or not, we need to get our sleep," Mel mutters, rubbing her face tiredly. Her hair is an unkempt nest of knots that hasn't been able to have been untangled by her fingers alone.

Elowen shoots her a sharp look. "You're not the one putting your life at risk."

I stifle a yawn. I've become accustomed to bickering. I don't think we've done much of anything else since travelling, being that we're so tired and Elowen has no interest in being here.

"You are hardly putting your life at risk. Lavelle is making the ultimate sacrifice," Mel tells her bitterly.

"It can only be deemed a sacrifice if she is actually successful," Elowen snaps back.

I groan, kneading my temple. "Can you both keep it down? I have a terrible headache."

I was sick the entire trip on Mel's father's boat. Thankfully the travel was shortened by the boats speed, but we were hindered by bad weather once we reached mainland.

Now, we are on the cusp of Tavrik's territory, according to Elowen, who has been our guide. She lived her entire life in the pack, and even in Tavrik's very own home. Her knowledge has been invaluable.

Even if it has come at the cost of her presence.

"Am I the only one concerned about how much time we're wasting." She props her hands on her hips, startlingly blue eyes looking over us.

"Sleep isn't a waste of time," Mel mutters.

Elowen has had her eyes behind her this entire trip, and I can't blame her. I also feel his presence on my back like a faint, warning prickle. My body is trying to warn me that we can keep running in one direction, but he will find us.

Ignoring Mel, Elowen pins me with a glare.

"Lavelle, he'll already be tracking us—"

"He won't get to us by tonight," I assure her calmly. It's impossible. Not when we secured such fast passage across the water on Mel's father's boat.

Zyre might be close, but we have covered an incredible amount of ground quickly, and we haven't stopped once. Not until now, when the plan is about the commence.

"He is going to be furious when he gets his hands on us. Absolutely furious." She begins to pace, crossing her arms over her chest.

"We'll deal with it once my sister is safe." I waver as I sit, wanting so badly to lean back, but I know the moment I do, not even Elowen's shrill voice would be able to wake me.

Elowen looks between Mel and I's drowsy forms, her eyes narrowing into slits.

She wants to push more, to get this over with. I can't blame her. But we're all hanging on by a thread, and we need rest before we face Tavrik down tomorrow.

"Fine," she hisses, finally relenting.

I blink sleepily at her as she sinks into a seat by the window. Her dark brows are furrowed, her entire face taut.

"Let us go over the plan one more time," she says.

I drag my hand down my face. The last thing I want to do is go over what we've spoken about consistently these past few days, but Elowen needs the fortification right now, and I need her to know that this is going to work.

"Mel will be staying here—"

"No," she cuts in.

I give her a flat look. "Oh, I didn't know you had a better idea."

"He will be here by tomorrow, Lavelle. Surely you must realise this." She leans forward, real fear etched out on her features. "He will track Mel here while we are gone."

I'm already well aware that he is tailing us, that Elowen and I will depart tomorrow, and he will find Mel here. That reality is part of my plan.

"Mel isn't who he wants," I remind her, before turning to my friend. "Mel, if Zyre finds you here, explain the plan in the barest detail possible. Just tell him you're awaiting us returning with Caroline."

She nods. "I will."

Mel has been a blessing, going along with everything I propose. She has her concerns, of course, but she trusts that I know what I am doing. Elowen has no reason to believe I can make this work, but that can't be helped now.

"He won't believe it," she says gravelly.

"He has to. He has no reason to suspect I won't be returning with you." So much of this plan is going to rely on Elowen and Mel being convincing in my absence.

It also relies on Zyre having restraint, trusting me.

"He knows Tavrik won't let you go. He probably suspects you're handing yourself in for your sisters release already," Elowen mutters, wiping her hand over her sweat damp forehead.

"I know this is a risk. But Mel will tell him the false plan we constructed," I say. "Hopefully it will be enough to appease him until you return with Caroline."

After that, it will be Elowen's responsibility to make this work. It's in her interest to, since the alternative is her unrequited lover handing himself to his bloodthirsty brother.

"Then what, Lavelle? What do you think Zyre is going to do?" She demands.

"You'll tell him my wishes. You will insist he honours them," I say softly. I want to be more insistent, but I don't have the energy.

Elowen huffs, shaking her head at me. Her admonishment of me is so common these days, I don't take offence to it anymore.

"You're an idiot," she snaps.

Part of me agrees with her. I'm putting myself in danger, risking everything. Zyre and I...we're finally in a place of trust, of getting to know each other. Now I'm doing this.

But the alternative is unbearable to consider. It is a stain on my conscience.

"You promised me..." I remind her.

"I know I did. I'm simply telling you that you're a fool if you think he will stand by and allow this to happen." She slumps back in the chair, sullen.

"This is all I've got, unless someone else has a better idea?" I look around the room. "And don't say we turn back now. I'm not leaving until my sister is free."

Every remains silent, including Elowen, who looks away petulantly. Any idea she has proposed to me so far has involved my sister being sacrificed. I won't allow it.

"I didn't think so," I mutter.

"Moving on, our plan is as follows: Mel stays here. Elowen and I trek to the edge of Tavrik's property. Elowen, you will remain hidden until nightfall. I will enter the building and negotiate for my sisters freedom. If I am successful, Caroline will be released by morning, and Elowen, you ensure her safe passage out of here."

There are many points where this plan could go wrong, but I have contingencies.

"And he simply detains you and does not release Caroline?" Mel asks.

"Then Elowen will sneak into the palace via the entry points she knows well. She grew up on the property, after all," I explain. "She finds where Caroline is being held, and has her released."

Elowen begrudgingly admitted that there are cells underground where Caroline will likely be kept. She knows exactly how to get in there, and if anyone can pull it off without being caught, it's her.

"I still maintain that I can do this without you handing yourself in to him," Elowen exclaims.

"It's too risky. I need to be there to distract him." All eyes will be on me. They will be suspicious, expecting I have a hidden agenda. Tavrik won't think for a moment that I'm accompanied by another.

At least not one sneaking into his own home right under his nose.

"Send Elowen to distract him," Mel pipes in.

Elowen sends a scathing glare in my friends direction. "Screw you."

"I'm not trying to risk anyone's lives more than necessary, alright?" As much as Elowen and I don't get along, I would never shove her onto Tavrik's path if I wasn't sure I could get her out of danger promptly.

Even if she gets caught tomorrow, I will be there to ensure she gets away again. It will require some careful manoeuvring, but I know I can do it.

"I can get you out too, with Caroline," Elowen insists.

"No. I need to enact my plan." A plan, that while is a risk, I'm almost certain can work.

As long as everyone plays their parts correctly...

"One you still have no told me, by the way." She stares me down, like it might induce me to be honest.

"I don't trust you not to spill it to Zyre immediately," I say again, for what might be the hundredth time this trip. "If he knew what I planned to do..."

I break off, a lump forming in my throat.

Zyre will think the worst, when he hears. If word gets out to him, he will believe I have betrayed him, believing the letter Caroline was manipulated into sending me. But I intend to end this, and some sacrifices need to be made to do so.

"Melora, are you not this girls friend?" Elowen questions sharply.

"I trust her." Mel's gaze sweeps to me. "This needs to be done."

She wasn't pleased when I told her, but she understands. Mel, while coddled her entire life, is a pragmatic person. She knows that trying to convince me out of this won't work, anyway. She's smart like that.

"Mel won't tell Zyre, either. No matter how much he insists." I look at Elowen beneath low brows. "You, however..."

She stands abruptly, throwing her hands up. "Fine, whatever. What other choice do I have but to agree?"
 
"I'm glad we're on the same page," I say, ignoring her snort of derision. "Now, we must remember, I may need time to enact my plan. It is impossible to tell how long this will take. You cannot allow Zyre to come after me."

Zyre is the wildcard, the potential piece of this puzzle that could send the rest scattering. Other than Caroline and Mel, there isn't anyone else I care about as much as him. There is no one else I would do as much for.

"You believe we can control an Alpha?" Elowen rolls her eyes.

"You must try," I insist. "I know how to destroy Tavrik. I know I am his key to more power, and in the same vein, the key to his demise."

"And if he hurts you?"

"He can't kill me. That much is true."

He might torture me, or worse...I'm well aware of the risks — they are all I can think about. But what if he is already doing these things to Caroline? Who else amongst his pack does he torment while they wait for someone to take him down?

"Tavrik is pure evil, Lavelle," Elowen states, her eyes shuttering. "There are horrors worse than death that he may subject you to."

"He won't need to, because of my plan." A plan that won't just ensure I can get close to him, but a plan that will also ensure he has no reason to harm me.

"He is manipulative, with a silver-tongue. He will deceive you." She shudders. She's been a victim to this herself.

"Not if I deceive him first," I say calmly. "Let him think he is manipulating me."

She stands before me, brows furrowed. "This is dangerous."

"I accept that," I murmur. "Now, we should all sleep. We will need our energy for tomorrow."

One glance at Mel tells me she's about to collapse, and Elowen looks weary too. They need not worry about losing anymore sleep.

This ends tomorrow.

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