Kalian was lost in thought as they traveled the remaining miles to Selcouth. Already, he could see smoke curling from the Ironblades' campfires. That realization had drudged up a new question in his mind. How were they going to explain where they'd been? They had left abruptly and spoken only with Lir, when Moira told him he was in charge.

Besides that circling question, Kalian couldn't shove aside the memory of what Laydon had said. "You're his pet. His prize. He must've sent you. Only he could send you." Who was he? Who would've sent Moira to personally execute a man? Who had that much power over her?

Kalian studied her curiously. She hadn't been bothered by what the man was saying. She hadn't been surprised, confused, or afraid. That made him think perhaps she knew who Laydon had meant. If so, was she going to tell him? Was he someone of interest?

As if sensing his gaze, Moira looked back over her shoulder. Her thick dark curls were pulled into a bumpy braid today, and there was a faint flush in her cheeks. She faced forward again. "If the others ask where we've been, we'll tell them we were given an assignment from General Dagen. He wanted us to dispatch a traitor, or something along those lines."

"All right." Kalian hesitated before asking, "Do you know who Laydon meant? That He he kept talking about?" He didn't miss the way her shoulders tensed.

"Possibly Dagen," Moira sighed at last. "Dagen is the only Ironblade who ranks above me, so only he could send me to deal with someone."

"Why did Laydon call you his pet? His prize?"

"Dagen likes to think he owns everyone who serves beneath him." Kalian brought his horse alongside Jasmine. Moira's eyes closed for a brief moment. When they opened, that raging light burned within them. "He thinks he has a claim on me especially."

"Why?"

"He's a pretentious dick, just like Malachi. It's no wonder they're good friends."

"I...see."

"Actually, I'll handle the explanations when we return to camp," Moira said, abruptly changing the subject. "You just get some rest."

"I'm perfectly fine."

"Then speak with Bellamy. Attend to your duties. Just leave Malachi and Lir to me."

"All right?"

Moira offered no further explanation, and guided Jasmine on ahead. Kalian didn't pursue her. He rode at a steady pace until the camp was in sight. He dismounted once he was past the guard posts. A young boy came running and took his horse by the reins. Another was caring for Jasmine, and Moira was already stalking towards her tent, where Lir and Malachi waited.

Kalian sighed, but turned towards his own tent. The flaps parted before he could reach it. Bellamy appeared, an excited light in his eyes. "You're back!" He clapped a hand on Kalian's shoulder, then pulled him in for an embrace. Kalian flared his wings to keep the man from touching them. "Where did you go?"

Kalian jerked his chin towards the tent. "I'll explain in private."

"All right." Bellamy stepped back into the tent and Kalian followed. Bellamy crossed his tanned arms, waiting for him to speak.

"I'm going to tell you the truth, but you should know our cover story as well," Kalian began. "Moira is telling Lir and Malachi that General Dagen ordered us to dispatch a traitor."

"Well then." Bellamy blinked in surprise. "That should be easy to remember. What really happened?" A smirk slid onto his lips. "Were you just really eager to be alone where there was no chance of anyone finding you?"

Warmth tinged Kalian's cheeks as he shook his head. "No, that's not it at all." Bellamy's expression became skeptical. "Moira learned the name of the man who planned the attack on Cosette. The attack where my wife and daughter were killed."

His friend's smirk faded instantly. "Did you kill him?"

"Yes, after I questioned him. I was hoping he knew the name of whoever led the attack, or maybe the name of the man who killed Calandra and Yara. But if he did, he said nothing."

"Damn." Bellamy gripped Kalian's shoulder once more. "I'm sorry, Kal."

"I'll find him eventually. I just have to keep looking."

"But in the meantime?" Bellamy flashed him a pointed look. "Are you really telling me that nothing happened with the Commander?"

"Something happened, but nothing you'd be interested in," Kalian chuckled.

"Tell me anyway."

Kalian turned away, lifting a hand to his chin. "Well, I admitted that I'm attracted to her. I admitted that I would someday be willing to do...more, with her."

"And?"

"And she shared the sentiment."

Bellamy let out a whooping laugh. "I knew it! I knew you'd be the one."

Kalian knit his brows. "You warned me away from her since I first arrived."

"Yeah, but I knew it was bound to happen, given how relentlessly you were trying to become her Second. Which, you still haven't succeeded in becoming, and yet somehow, she's admitted that she's interested in you?"

"It makes less sense to me than it does to you," Kalian reassured him. "I might need your help throwing Delilah off my trail though. I don't want her to keep pursuing me, only to be let down."

Bellamy grimaced, combing his fingers through his hair. "I don't think you need to worry about that anymore."

Kalian glanced at him. "Why?"

"Let's just say Malachi has gotten what he wants out of her and now she isn't going to break things off."

"And her brother didn't stop it from happening?"

Bellamy shook his head. "Delilah snuck out while Marley was on guard duty. She met Malachi in Selcouth."

"How do you know?"

"They stayed at the same inn as Samson and I."

Kalian rubbed the back of his neck, blowing out a heavy breath. "I suppose she's made her choice then. Hopefully her brother will help her get away from Malachi if she decides that's what she wants."

"He will."

Kalian cleared his throat presently. "But how are things going for you and Samson?" Bellamy grinned and launched into an altogether more descriptive tale than what Kalian had in mind.

☽◦༻◦☽◦༺◦☽

"Do you really expect us to believe that?" Malachi sneered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Moira looked up from the stack of reports on her desk. "Yes, I do. You're a fool if you believe no one among us would betray our cause in favor of the Faeries."

Malachi strode towards her and braced his hands on the edge of her desk. "I do believe there are those who would do such a thing. I'm looking at one right now."

Moira's gaze darkened. "Excuse me?"

"You spare Faerie, Scindo, and Witch children. I call that traitorous behavior." He leaned closer, and she smelled the lingering scent of ale on his breath. "And did you know there are many who believe our unit has been housing a few Faeries? Can you imagine that? Commander Moira Lev allowing Faeries to remain in her unit?"

"How dare you?" She seethed. "How dare you speak to me like this? How dare you speak of your comrades in such a manner? You're drunk, Malachi. Get out of my tent and return when you're sober."

"I'm sober enough to speak with you now!" He slammed a fist on the desk. Moira leaped to her feet. Lir stiffened behind Malachi, but didn't move. "I think you should take another look at your bed warmer," Malachi spat. "Something has been off about Deirdre since he first arrived. You just like his dick too much to notice anything else."

Moira backhanded him and Malachi toppled to the ground. She moved around her desk and hauled him back onto his feet. "Kalian Deirdre is ten times the man you are," she hissed. "I will not listen to you insult him or me for another moment."

"So I'm right." Malachi barked a laugh. His cheek was already swollen from her blow. "Fine. If you won't believe me, someone else will." He shoved her away and stormed out of the tent.

Moira stared at the opening, silently fuming. At last, Lir cleared his throat. "What?"

"Regardless if you were or weren't sent those orders by General Dagen, I know you left for another reason too."

"And what reason might that be?"

"Deirdre needed help with something, didn't he? And you agreed to go with him?" Moira swallowed, but didn't respond. "He is a good man. He's a skilled fighter. He's brave and loyal. He's smart. But Malachi is right. There's something not quite right about him."

"He's a grieving man. None of us are right when we mourn."

"That's not it and you know it."

Moira met Lir's gaze, anger flooding her own. "You're right. I don't. All I know is that he has been more useful and understanding towards me in the past few months than you and Malachi have been in the past seven years. You think you're questioning him? You're not. You're questioning me, and I don't appreciate being questioned. I know what I'm doing and I'm good at doing it, whether you want to accept that or not."

"I'm only trying to help." There was a rough edge to Lir's voice.

"Well, maybe you should stop," she snapped.

Lir lifted his chin, every inch of his body going rigid. "There's a new letter from General Dagen. You should read it before attending to anything else." He spun on his heel and left the tent without another word.

Moira glared at the tent flaps, then returned to her desk. She thumbed through the reports until she found the letter Lir had mentioned. Moira broke the seal and unfolded it, skimming over the contents. She drew in a steadying breath, reading it a second time. A heavy stone settled in the pit of her stomach.

Moira set the report down and left her tent. She was met by Kalian. He took one look at her and worry flooded his features. "What is it?"

"We need the unit ready to move out within two days."

"What? Why?"

"We've been summoned to a meeting on the other side of the Striga Mountains."

"A meeting with who?"

"General Dagen, and the Ironblade forces he's gathered over there. Our unit is the only one from this side of the mountains who will be joining them."

"Do you know what this meeting is about?"

"I have a few suspicions." Moira met his deep blue eyes. Some of her dark feelings dissipated as she took in the worry and affection displayed on Kalian's features. "Can I count on you to help me?"

"Of course. But, can't you count on Lir as well?"

"Maybe." Moira lifted a hand to her forehead and massaged it wearily. "I don't know. Malachi is... Well, he's being Malachi. Lir will probably still help, but he's also expressed a few concerns about..." She trailed off and bit her lip.

"About what?"

"About you."

Kalian hooked a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head up. Moira's heart skipped a beat and she couldn't stop the smile that bloomed on her lips. "I'll do my best to silence their concerns. Or, Lir's at least," Kalian said.

"Thank you." He leaned down, pressing the faintest kiss to her jaw. Moira blushed, and Kalian walked away.