Page 125 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

“Secure the building.” Nyke’s commanding voice rang through the clearing.

“Injured inside,” I managed to say. “Allies.”

“Get a healer!” he yelled.

My vision blurred. Exhaustion threatened to pull me under.

“Stay with me, Lucien.” Ilya’s calming voice embraced me.

I leaned into her.Always.

Chapter55

Lucien

Other rebels had received Zurina’s word. They listened. They came.

Just in time.

Two of the closest groups had banded together and followed the path of the emperor’s forces, coming up behind them in the heat of battle and crushing them between our struggling group and their line. With the element of surprise on their side, and Orson and Kasida distracted coming after those in the manor, they’d turned the tide of battle.

Warren was weakened but alive. Healers saw to Zurina, though her condition was still severe. Brishon was taken alive by the arriving rebels with only minor injuries. Their wise leader had given an order to take prisoners where possible and sort them out later. A kind, if difficult, plan. One I was thankful for, since their confusion of Brishon’s allegiance meant his life, not his death. Nyke’s men saw to the rest of us as well, healing wounds and tending to the injured.

Our fallen, and there were many, would be buried with honor in a place of their families’ choosing. Their bodies would be carried back by the rebels as a sign of peace and respect to all people of the city-states, including the emperor’s.

Another captain was hauled up to the mansion through the forest, bound in ropes and chains. I recognized him at once, especially with the helmet pulled free from his sweaty face. Our healer, wielder of the God of Light’s blessings.

“What should we do with him?” Nyke asked as the man was shoved to his knees in a grunt of pain.

“Gaius.” My lips thinned. We’d grown up together. Trained together. And though he wasn’t Orson, he’d still come to fight against us.

“Captain.” Gaius bowed his dark head before meeting my flat gaze. “I chose wrongly. Let me help now.”

I cocked an eyebrow at him. “You seek forgiveness? A reprieve?”

He’d healed Orson sometime before the battle. Nothing else explained how he could move so swiftly or wield magic the way he did today, not with the injuries I’d given him only a few days ago. Because of him, many had died. But also because of me. I should have slaughtered that bastard when I’d had the chance, no matter our history or our past together. My side hurt just thinking about him, the wound he’d given me still raw and aching despite the salve Nyke’s men had applied or the quick stitches they’d finished only minutes ago. I’d made them start before the numbing cream took effect. No time to waste.

“No.” Gaius hung his head again. His shoulders slumped. “My choices cannot be forgiven, but I can make different ones now. At least, as long as my magic holds out.” He looked up at me. “Soliel blessed me to heal others. Not kill them.”

“Zurina.” Her name came unbidden to my lips. “And anyone else who is critical,” I added.

Nyke flicked his hand toward some of his men. “Keep a watch on him at all times.”

The rebels led Gaius off into the mansion. Despite the havoc wreaked by Orson’s flames and Warren’s quakes, they’d deemed portions of it stable enough to keep the infirmary in the dining hall and kitchens, which remained mostly untouched. Though we’d won today, the battle was far from over. The emperor may have lost some of his captains, but he still had others, not to mention the guards at his command. We’d need to take Zhine, minimize the loss of life where possible.

A delicate hand touched my shoulder. Ilya smiled up at me, calm and reassuring despite the burned and stained dress that still hugged her form. At least she’d accepted a cloak about her shoulders to ward off the chill, even if she refused to take time to clean or rest.

I cupped her cheek, letting her hair slide between my fingertips until I reached a short section that had been partially lost to flame. She was alive. Safe. Nyke and the others could take her and her sister home. Back to Sorrena. A sad smile touched my lips. I wanted that for her—for all whom the emperor had taken hostage, including my friends whom he’d raised and trained like me. Now they could have it. But the thought pained me. To be separated from them all—from her. No matter what she said, they’d never accept me in Sorrena. Even if I changed my name, my identity.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Her voice. That voice I could never get enough of. How could I give her up? But how could I not? My fingertips traced her lips as they slid into a frown.

“Nothing. It’s…there’s much to think about with retaking Zhine. Like what to do about the emperor and the other captains.”

“Oh.” Her disappointment was impossible to miss. “I was just thinking that once we leave here…” She shrugged and looked away.

“You’ll go back to Sorrena.”

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