Page 5 of Wicked Enemy

“I’m sorry,” I repeated again even though I could hear just how pathetic those words sounded in the face of all that.

“Sorry doesn’t even begin to cover it! Do you know what will happen now?”

Since I knew him well enough to understand that it wasn’t really a question, I just continued keeping my eyes lowered while waiting for his next admonishment. All around me, the mass of gleaming medals and awards that Chief had received over the years stared down at me from the spotless shelves. I shifted my weight slightly on the pale wooden floor.

“We’ve taken most of Arden’s people into custody,” Chief Anderson continued. “Do you think he will let that slide?”

“No, sir.”

“No, sir, indeed. Arden is an arrogant bastard with an ego bigger than this entire city. He won’t stand for such a blow to his reputation. The first chance he gets, he will lash out at the north side. And we all know what happened last time he did that.”

My eyes were once again involuntarily drawn back to the vicious scar across Chief Anderson’s jaw.

Guilt and shame slithered through my stomach like cold snakes because I knew that every word he had just spoken was true. After those weeks with Levi, I knew him better than anyone here, and there was no way that he would ever let this go. He was going to come for ruthless bloody revenge.

“Arden is going to attack the north side to get revenge. Blood will flow and innocent civilians will die.” Chief’s words cut through the room like a blade, carving deeper into my already bleeding heart. “And all because of your failure.”

I felt as though I was about to throw up all over my impeccable gold-trimmed white boots. What had I done? Chief was right. I had betrayed Levi. I had hurt him badly enough that he hadn’t even been able to hide the pain in his eyes. And I had gotten his people captured. There was no way that he would let that go. He was going to attack the north side the first chance he got, and innocent people would get caught in the crossfire. Levi might have paid for damages and sent people to his healer on the south side, but he would never do that here on the north side. Especially not if he was lost in that terrifying rage and madness that had been swirling in his eyes when he knocked me out.

War was coming.

And it was all my fault.

“You will be demoted to Junior Constable and your salary is forfeit for the next three months.”

I snapped my gaze up to Chief’s face while my mouth dropped open in shock. But the unflinching expression on his face as he stared back at me, as if daring me to challenge him, quickly made me drop my eyes again. “Yes, sir.”

“Chief, please, this is a bit extreme—” Ulric began before being cut off.

“One more word out of your mouth, Smith, and you will join her.”

Slowly closing his mouth again, he shot me an apologetic look and then bowed his head as well.

“Because of this failure, the entire South Side Department has fallen out of favor with the parliament,” Chief Anderson ground out. “And if the parliament is unhappy, they will cut our funding, which you both know that we sorely need. Do not fail me again.”

“Yes, sir,” we replied in unison.

“Dismissed.”

We bowed before turning around and walking back out of Chief’s office. The hallway outside was deserted, which I was secretly glad about since that meant that no one had overheard the damning words that had been hurled at me.

The bright morning sunlight felt far too cheerful as it illuminated the pale wooden corridor around us while we made our way towards the stairs. Chief’s office was on the top floor of the constable force’s building, so I opened the door to the stairwell and held it open for Ulric before following him as well.

As soon as it had closed behind us, he bumped my shoulder with his in a comforting gesture and said, “Cheer up, kiddo. It’ll be fine.”

“How?” I cast him a disbelieving look as we started down the steps. “Chief was right. Because of me, Arden is going to attack the north side to get revenge.”

“We’ll handle it.” Reaching out, he gave my arm a little squeeze. “It’s alright. We all make mistakes.”

Guilt twisted my insides hard enough that I had to look away. Staring at the pale wall in front of me as we continued descending the steps, I tried desperately to block out the terrible feelings of shame and regret that were clawing through my chest.

We all make mistakes.

Sure. But the problem was that I hadn’t made a mistake.

Levi was now free to attack the north side not because I had made a mistake. No. The King of Metal, the most ruthless dark mage this city had seen in decades, had escaped our fool proof ambush because I had made achoice.

Because I hadlet himescape.

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