Page 217 of Bitten & Burned
Vael nodded. “And Rowena and I will walk up the main driveway, which will split their ranks even further, causing them to make mistakes and run off alone.”
“Youcan’tuse her as bait, Vael,” Anton said pointedly.
“Why not?” I asked, turning to look at Anton, whose eyes were dark and focused, his jaw set.
“Because you’re not bait. You’re a person, and there are too many variables for this to be a good plan,” he insisted.
“I have to be involved in this for it to work,” I whispered. “They’ll know where I am no matter what, anyway. I’m like a lark in a snare waiting here on my own. Wherever you go, I go. I won’t be alone. Vael will be there.”
Anton slowly nodded, though reluctantly, his hand loosening on my waist.
The rest of the plan came out smoothly. We’d get Silas, bring him back here, and Vael would get the information we needed out of him. After that…
Well, I suppose they’d kill him. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Not yet.
The meeting came to an end shortly after, with Cassian and Dmitri still talking tactics and Quil joining in when necessary. Anton was at my side, rising with me, and guiding me to the door with a steady hand on my back.
Vael was still watching, his expression unreadable. The bond was humming in my body, strange and tight, but before I could figure out exactly why, Vael turned away.
“Darling, why don’t we take you to rest again?” Anton murmured. “I’ll bring you something sweet and feed it to you; you won’t have to move for anything.”
I felt a smile tugging at my lips, and I nodded. “That sounds perfect, Anton.”
And, even though Vael wasn’t looking at me anymore, I could still feel the weight of his presence long after Anton and I had left the study and made our way back to my room.
He was silent at first before speaking up. “I still don’t think you should do this with only Vael. He’s a scholar, not a fighter.”
“Which is why his best place would be at my side. He can’t do what the rest of you can.”
“I’d feel better if you had a way to defend yourself,” Anton murmured, his hand coming to rest on the small of my back.
“Hm…” I said softly, remembering those books I’d borrowed from Blackthorn’s library. Thalia had sent them back with Vael, along with instructions to send a Pulse if I needed anything at all.
“Is there a way to send a Pulse from up here on the spire?” I asked, looking at Anton.
He frowned. “Down in the village, there’s a Pulse Receptacle at the letter office. Why?”
“I might need to send one later… but I need to look at those books Vael has.”
“Does this have anything to do with you defending yourself against drug-addled hunters?”
I nodded. “Indeed, it does.”
“Then, I will tell Vael to bring you your books. As long as you stay in bed and don’t get out while reading them.”
I smiled, bumping my shoulder against him. “Fine. That sounds fair.”
“I thought it might,” Anton said with a smile. “Let’s get you tucked in, and I will send for him.”
I couldn’t be completely certain, but so long as what I was remembering was in fact true, I might have the designs for a weapon and an enchantment to enhance it as well.
Anton was right. I needed something to defend myself. And I was going to use every tool in my arsenal.
Thirty-Five
WORSHIP
Kravenspire, Sol, Verdune
