Chapter 14

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Surrounded by Bren, Tesha, Akeno, and an entire group of rebels, I feel completely outnumbered. My power, slumbering deep beneath my skin, would feel outnumbered as well. They're strapped with weapons ranging from bows to mace to spears and swords. That doesn't begin to explain the daggers and knives in their boots or hidden on other parts of their bodies.

Bren really made sure this group was ready for any attack by the king's guards or by the overseers in Fosux. No matter what, these rebels were getting out alive. Not the crown.

I sit on a stump in front of them all as night casts a shield over our heads. The dimming fire is our only source of light near the middle of the group and Tesha warms her hands to the exposed flame, lit by Bren's power. He stands at my side, stiffly watching his crew as they mumble to each other about the sudden gathering.

Making eye contact with a rebel is not something I want to do often. Once I slipped the gold band onto my finger with Renit's initials, I became the opposite side of what they're fighting for. I became their enemy and in war, enemies are to be hated. Without knowing me, they've already made up their minds about who I am to them.

I wonder how many nightmares I'll have tonight about each of them taking their time killing me, over and over again.

Waiting for Bren, I keep my mouth shut. Keeping in mind how much these rebels hate me, if I talk first, they might scream at me to shut my mouth and let Bren do all the talking. He is the leader and with that, I have to wait for him to start any discussion. That's the least I can do, figuring our argument earlier.

He's jealous of Renit, although nothing has happened between us. We've gone as far as an embrace and have to listen while the other relieves themselves in a rusted bucket so to say we're far from romance is an understatement.

The Grounding blocks the truth from my mind. If I cared about Renit, I wouldn't know. Our powers are intertwined, as loved as a married couple, so any feeling I might have for him is blinded and lost behind a witch's bond as old as the breed itself.

One of the rebels trudges through the woods, ducking underneath a branch, and stops next to Bren. "We're in the clear," he confirms.

Bren nods. Through the fear of this turning into a scene, an argument or a full out brawl between Tesha and another rebel, they checked Fosux before doing anything. In the late hours of the night, the overseers are sometimes caught stumbling around the trees, close enough to be a threat. Bren doesn't want to kill anyone if he doesn't have to.

"Listen up," Bren orders sternly. In response, the rebels straighten and all murmuring stops. I'm still not used to the idea of Bren being a leader here, he's never shown that part of him before—I didn't believe him to have that strength. "Roux is going to share with us the plan she has to further our cause. Must I warn you, this is not to be repeated to anyone outside of this group." He lowers his voice. "Including the prince."

I freeze at the sound of that. Although that was what I wanted at the beginning, had told Bren as such, I don't like going behind Renit's back. But this is the only way I can get him back home without any more pain. He doesn't deserve another lick of it. And with him likely sleeping in the dungeons where I left him, we won't have a problem with explaining the plan later.

All eyes turn to me as Bren takes a seat on the log next to my own. My words are trapped in my throat, my tongue tied into a knot. Tesha snorts and shakes her head, giving up on me already. Some of the other rebels follow suit, shifting back and forth impatiently for me to say something, anything.

I'll be a princess someday. If I can't handle this type of confrontation around a smaller group of people, how will I ever be able to handle the castle celebrations, the public address speeches with Renit at my side, the possible visits to the capital to celebrate our children? There's a long list of responsibilities I need to face and, on that list, not one is crossed off.

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