Page 63 of The Endless War

She wasn’t wrong.

Rising to his feet, Keris walked through the warriors who’d surrounded them, the men and women stepping aside to give him a path. Zarrah was so close. So painfully close, and part of him wanted to break into a run. To race across the island and find her, never mind the obvious consequences.

Instead he forced himself to think, because allowing his emotions to drive strategy was what had gotten him and Aren onto this island with no path for escape.

It might well be true that they had time, that Zarrah would be safe enough in Kian’s camp while they were ignorant to Keris’s presence. But the longer they were stuck here, the more desperate Lara would become. Perhaps desperate enough to take risks she should not, which could get her killed.

He couldn’t leave the problem in his sister’s hands. He needed to solve it himself.

Going back to Daria and Aren, he said, “We’re going to spring the trap.”

“Keris—” Aren started to argue, but Keris cut him off.

“I’m the prize that Kian needs to deliver to gain his freedom. So Daria organizes a trade. Me for Zarrah. She …” He swallowed hard. “She was just the bait, so I think he’ll agree. If Kian is as smart as Daria claims, he’ll demand that he and his tribe be allowed off the island before they give me up. These are dangerous men and women, so the entire island garrison will be required to keep them under control.”

Aren’s brow furrowed. “They’d have to leave other posts undermanned.”

Keris nodded. “If we time it for the cover of darkness, all Daria’s man in the guard need do is get a rope stretched between the cliffs. You, Daria, and the rest of the tribe can climb across the water and make your way to the pier to signal the ship. You’ve enough manpower to take the pier from behind, and then it’s only a matter of your ship sailing in to take everyone aboard before the navy is the wiser.”

“What about you?”

“Never mind me. Tell Zarrah everything and then get her to the rebel commander. She has the power to rid Valcotta of Petra, and if she does that, Maridrina will be protected.”

“We have time,” Aren argued. “We don’t need to make this decision now. Give Lara a chance to find another solution.”

Keris shook his head. “How long do you think Lara will go without communication from you before she gets desperate?” Seeing Aren was going to keep arguing, he added, “Lara asked me if there was a limit to what I’d sacrifice, and this is it. She’s the limit. I won’t allow my sister to die for the chance of me living—not if my capture will ensure every last one of you gets out alive.”

“It’s a good plan,” Daria said.

“It’s a shitty plan.” Aren crossed his arms. “And it’s not like you to submit, Keris. You’re a survivor.”

“Then trust that I will.”

“That’s not good enough. I’m not leaving you to fight this battle by yourself.”

Keris’s chest tightened with emotion he couldn’t quite put words to that the man he’d once thrown to the wolves was willing to risk so much for him.

Even if he wasn’t worth it.

So Keris struck the final nail that he knew would secure Aren’s cooperation. “It’s not just Lara’s life that is at risk anymore.”

Aren stiffened, then closed his eyes and nodded once.

BAIT.

The word made her lip curl in disgust, her anger rising, because by fleeing Daria and her tribe, she’d placed herself like cheese in a trap.

Her aunt hadn’t put her on this island to teach her a lesson; she’d put her on this island to catch someone. Not Keris, for her aunt knew better than anyone that he had washed his hands of Zarrah.

The rebels.

For years, her aunt had been incarcerating the rebels here rather than executing them. Building their numbers and ensuring they suffered, trying to lure the commander who plagued her into an outright attack so that she could crush him. But rescuing his people hadn’t been incentive enough for the commander, so to sweeten the pot, the Empress had added Zarrah to the mix. Why she was worth so much to the rebels was yet a mystery to Zarrah, but there was no denying that Daria had valued her far more than she reasonably should.

Which meant that somehow, Daria had known her identity from the moment she’d arrived. Had been trying to protect her becauseshe’d somehow known that the commander would feel compelled to make a move on the island.

Clenching her fists, Zarrah bit down on a scream of frustration. Her goal had been to join them, and now she’d discovered she was bait to lure them into a trap and destroy them. Yet again a pawn.

Only … something didn’t fit.

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