Page 99 of Green Ravens

“It means,” Lion gritted, “that Alpha prophesied this moment. He said Meridian would meet his end. The endisOmega. And that Meridian was to use his name to save his life.”

Omega came toward him. “Valor, like it or not, Meridian is righteous in the eyes of the Order. Alpha trusted him enough to reveal his face to him—the only men who’ve seen Alpha’s face are me and Lion, his cherished Call, and his Beastmasters. Anyone else who’s gazed on him met their death soon after. Therefore, we are bound by the law of the Order to honor Meridian’s clemency.”

“Dammit!” Valor spat. “All of them are full of deceit. The Blacks were about to kill Zelmir. How do we know they won’t accept another order to move against us now?”

Lion’s gaze hardened in a way that told Valor to be quiet.

And he did. Lion was his grandmaster. He wouldn’t dishonor his title by continuing to argue against him. But he’d also sworn to his cherished that he’d never allow another scratch to mar him.

“Nothing,” Lion answered. “But you know the laws of the Order, Valor. And I saw Meridian’s face when we told him of the corruption. It was vengeful.”

“And Grace, the man of silence, appeared surprised at the information we told them,” Omega said solemnly. “Though he didn’t outwardly show it—he’s been engineered not to—but I could tell it bent his spirit. I’ve been on the side of a broken soul. I know that feeling, and it was rolling off him and Mirage in waves.”

“All right, I am a spy for the Order, and my allegiance is to them,” Jo cut in as if she’d heard enough. “We have work to do. Virginia, see if you can get information on the Blacks’ and the Browns’ whereabouts from their handlers. Glitch, get into the facilities mainframe and see who the director is talking to about the failure of his mission to kill Woyashi and Zelmir.”

Jo’s team began to scramble.

“Glitch, destroy all modules, blueprints, all that Zelmir’s done so far to rebuild that bomb. I’m going back in. I’m the Browns’ administrative director. I’ll be permitted to sit in on their debriefing,” she said. “I’m gonna figure out a way for you to meet with them. I believe it’s time the six of you have a conversation.”

Valor bristled, his blood running hot. He wanted to act, to lash out, but that was the puma in him. He was too disciplined to react rashly.

He gave a stiff bow to Lion and Omega when they walked by before retiring to their room for the evening.

Sable called Zorion over, where she had a spread of different arrows on a wide table. She hefted his compound bow and began to give him the tutorial she’d promised as if she knew he’d be back in battle again soon.

Valor found himself standing rigidly in the corner. Jo and her team glanced at him every now and then but kept working.

Zorion hefted his bow, as he listened to Sable’s lesson, not needing to be told an instruction twice.

Valor went to his cherished, crowded behind him, and pressed his mouth against the back of his ear.

“You know where to find me when you’re done.”

Zorion stilled only a moment before nocking another arrow, his answer unspoken but understood.

Chief Aiken Oakley

Valor

The forest was dark but Valor had no problem seeing as he weaved through the tall trees.

He removed his hood and hurried to start a fire to ward off any curious foxes or wild boars.

The flames licked toward the sky as he studied the dancing embers that flickered as restless as his thoughts.

He didn’t know how long he’d been sitting and meditating before he heard him.

Several silent steps later, Zorion appeared from around the trunk of a spruce tree.

He didn’t give Zorion time to speak before he was shoving him hard against the rough trunk, colliding in a clash of need and urgency.

Their breaths mingled in the cool air as Valor crushed his lips to Zorion’s, gripping his clothes, tearing, desperate to feel Zorion’s hot skin against his.

Zorion groaned into his mouth, his fingers threading into Valor’s hair, tugging just enough to make his nerves spark.

Valor inhaled, drinking in the intoxicating mix of Zorion’s natural scent of sweet cedarwood and amber.

He nipped at Zorion’s jaw as he dragged his lips down the long column of his throat, reveling in the full body shudder he got in response.

---