Page 73 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

I opened a line between Caiden and me.Do you see anything?

‘The twins are out front of the tent, but if you go to the back of the tent, you should be fine.’

On tipped toes, I slipped between the tents, holding my breath each time I sprinted. Most of the men were drunk or busying themselves with the prostitutes Gideon’s army traveled with.

In the time since I left the Highlands, his army had grown in both size and brutality. Through the tents, I could see men in a makeshift boxing ring, beating each other bloody while others drunkenly cheered them on.

My stomach turned at the thought of what I might find within the tent.

‘Aelia, be careful. Guards are patrolling nearby two tents away.’

I edged along the side of Gideon’s tent, listening for Baylis’s voice, trying to silence the sound of my heart beating wildly in my chest. The sound of the canvas flapping in the wind muted everything else.

“Tell me what you see,” Gideon said, pacing back and forth, the pallet floor squeaking beneath him.

I smothered the fear blooming in my chest, whipping my sweaty palms on my pants.

“I see a blood moon, my king.” The sound of Baylis’s voice brought a tear to my eye. My precious sister. What had Gideon done to her?

“Good, my darling.” Gideon’s voice crept like a rot into my brain. I wanted to scratch it out. “Do you see a victory?”

She could look into the future. They had unlocked our mother’s gift. Bile gurgled in my throat. I did not know this woman—this was a stranger.

‘Do you see Baylis?’

Tears rolled down my cheeks. ‘Yes, she’s here. She’s working with Gideon.’This had to be a spell. I needed to get her out. Maybe Amolie could cure her.

There must be a way to get her out of here.

‘We can’t do it now. It’s too risky. Come back, and we’ll decide at camp.’

I didn’t want to leave Baylis, but Caiden had a point.

“All will bow to you,” her voice floated on the breeze, far away.

‘Aelia, you need to get out of there.’

I could not tear myself away. The world spun around me as I came to accept the lies I believed for so long.

‘Aelia! Now!’

I looked up in time to see Ramus clasp a massive hand on my shoulder.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the l’ttl bird,” he said, a wicked grin cutting his face in two, displaying a host of rotten teeth.

“I’m not your little bird anymore,” I said through gritted teeth. Slamming the blade of my dagger into his wrist, I made a run for it.

He cried out in pain. Blood gushed down his arm. “Remus. She’s here!” he yelled to his brother.

I picked up my pace.

The twins’ heavy steps clambered behind me. Their screams alerted the camp.

I prayed to Ammena that I could make out.

‘Aelia, they’re coming. Dozens of them. Duck left.’

I did as he said, running through the rows of farm animals.

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