Red Hands (editing)

Chapter 6: Of Fruit and Freedom

As soon as the sun came up, I packed up my cot and left the armory for a walk around the perimeter of the First Circle station. Soon after, I found Vivica Wolfe standing outside the stables with Asha and Wylo. Wolfe's ears prickled toward me as I neared them, and the group's low tones quieted into silence. I came to stand beside Asha's tall, full form. Wylo grinned at me from beside her, widening ver shadowy soul form until a white crescent opened up where I imagined ver mouth would be.

"Let's talk," I said.

"What made you change your mind, pup?" Wolfe said. Upon seeing my tight lips, she waved her hand in the air as if to brush away my unspoken concerns. "Speak freely. Wylo cast ver silencing void already, or if it's Asha you're worried about, she's one of us."

I'd intended on talking with Wolfe in private, but I should've suspected there were others in our unit associated with the rebellion. I preferred not to involve anyone else in this, if not to protect myself, then to limit who knew about the subjects of my hate. Yet now I knew who Wolfe trusted with her secrets. I'd my leverage, and she'd hers.

"I need information," I said. "If you can give me what I need, I'll be indebted to you... 'nd your friends."

"I don't think you know how this works," Aspen said.

But Wolfe held up a hand to silence her. She regarded me with narrowed wolfish eyes, examining my face for deceit like I'd done with her yesterday. She found nothing but the truth, as I'd known she would. The rebellion was the last chance I'd left to get the revenge I wanted, and I let it show. I needed this, and for some strange reason, she needed me. Wolfe seemed to consider my words carefully. Finally, she cracked a canine smile and patted me on the shoulder with such force that I stumbled sideways into Wylo's shadow before regaining my footing.

"I don't mind helping out a friend," she said, "but we expect you to keep your promise, pup."

"That warden you serve isn't going to be a problem, is she?" Aspen interjected.

I shook my head. "She wouldn't lift a finger to hurt me, whether we fight together or stand on opposite sides 'o the war."

I'm sorry, Dolent. This was the only way, and if she knew, she'd understand why I had to risk our bond. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to betray her trust. I didn't want to tear apart our connection or force her to confront me on the battlefield. But if I was to protect her, this was the only choice I'd left.

Aspen and Wolfe looked to Wylo, whose wraith magik made ver a powerful truth seeker. Ver voice came from ver soul and echoed in our minds rather than our ears, silky smooth like ink and velvet: "Mortala is always honest, and this is not an exception."

"Thank you, Wylo," I said, nodding my appreciation.

"Lovelace, the sentimental type?" said Wolfe. "You're lucky the rebellion has a special interest in you. What do you need to know so badly?"

"I've one more condition."

Aspen sighed audibly from my side, her face more wolf-like than Wolfe's herself. "You're joking with this."

"We have to hear xem out," said Wolfe.

This was a secret that I'd never dared to tell anyone but Embrose. Since the day Mars'd released me into Abluvion's custody, since the very moment I'd decided to end the Bloodhaven legacy, I'd vowed to embark on my revenge alone. I'd done everything in my power to gather information on Mars's unit, of which his brother Alaric was a part. I'd stolen confidential letters from instructors, tracked every graduating unit's new assignments, and used Dolent's newsletters to hunt for information on Elysia's newest and most successful general, but all to no avail. With the binding ceremony barely over a fortnight away and graduation soon after, I was running out of time before I'd be assigned my unit and sent out into the field. Soon I'd lose touch with Abluvion's wealth of connections. It was now or never.