A tension migraine throbbed behind my eyes.
“Yes.” I chose my words carefully. “There are strange words written across the settlement located farthest north. It appears to be some type of foreign language.”
Dick’s expression remained blank as he ordered, “Scan the map on the tablet. We’ll have our linguists look into it.”
I pointed out, “It might be nothing, but there are Xs over the mountains outside the valley.”
Dick looked annoyed. “An artistic choice most likely. Let’s focus on strategizing in helpful ways.”
Agitation skittered down my spine at his dismissive tone.
“Yes, sir,” I said through gritted teeth as I lowered my head and stared at the floor.
Annoyance melted into exhaustion.
“Overall, this is excellent work.” Dick’s patronizing tone grated on my nerves. “It looks like you’re a fourth of the way done with winning the war. Congrats. Focus on eradicating the next three settlements and we will be done with the ungodly. Keep us updated on your progress.”
“Yes, sir!” we chorused.
The tablet turned off.
Lothaire frowned just before he disappeared.
Knox, the person who had found the map, carried it over to the tablet and scanned it over to the High Court.
John threw his arm across my shoulder, and I slumped against him grateful for his support.
“Finally, let’s all go eat. I’m starving.” Sadie rubbed her hands together and led the group out the door as the shifters fell into a protective formation around her.
The thought of food made me sick, but I followed her lead. It was the first time the angels didn’t bristle about a grounder telling them what to do.
They followed silently.
Everyone was withdrawn after the battle.
Time distorted.
Fatigue crushed me downward as I slumped at the table and stared at my full plate. My fork was frozen in ice and stuck to it.
The diamond bracelet on my wrist vibrated with warmth, and I barely felt it.
Conversation buzzed like white noise.
Everything was cool-toned, and I drowned in shades of blue-gray, shivering because there was no warmth.
I was a revenant.
All the lines had blurred.
Two days ago, I’d taken an enchanted sword to the stomach. One day ago, I’d woken up from a healing coma with smooth, unblemished skin and an unrelenting urge to cry.
Frost had covered my pillow. Five men had waited in various positions around my bedside.
The twins had hugged me, Malum had glared, and Scorpius had scoffed while Orion had stared at me with unblinking eyes.
I’d ignored the kings.
I still avoided them as I slumped forward at the table.
A woman’s sad eyes before she stabbed me had unlocked a new version of the haze.
I curled my arms around my stomach like I was protecting an invisible injury and I inhaled enchanted smoke, but my heart wasn’t in it as I twirled my pipe between my numb lips.
Someone swore softly, but I didn’t bother to look up.
Dejection was in the air.
Soldiers chatted and ate, but there was a new sullen tension in the cafeteria. Anticipation for war had twisted into gloom, and conversations were more hushed.
People startled easier.
Murdering thousands would do that.
Monsters had that effect.
Before the battle, we’d agreed to give everyone two weeks off to recover before the angels used the map to find the coordinates of the nearest compound.
In the meantime, a combat room was open to practice sparring, the cafeteria was open for meals, and the strategy room was waiting for us.
Just thinking about the windowless room made me sick.
I didn’t want to ruminate on the war because I needed time to pretend I wasn’t a killer. A part of me recognized there would never be enough time.
Muscles spasmed in my stomach as I remembered I was the last thing people saw before ungodly ripped them apart.
No.
Two weeks wasn’t enough.
To my right, Sadie rubbed circles on my back as she chatted with her mates about something.
To my left, John held my hand while Luka had his arm slung across his shoulder, his fingers playing with my curls.
Three points of contact.
Three people tethered me to reality, and without them I’d have floated away.
Across the table, Malum and Orion stared at me while Scorpius clenched his jaw with annoyance. Malum had his arms draped over both his mates protectively.
To test a theory, I held my breath.
Scorpius’s upper lip pulled back into a snarl as I watched three minutes pass on the clock.
I gasped for air, and the blind king slumped with relief.