Chapter 57
Chapter 57
ATASHA’S POV
:
“I’m sorry—say that again,” I said, looking from Aries to Rico.
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In response, Aries squared his shoulders. “My Lady, we’ve decided to work under Lieutenant Rio. The boys will train as soldiers. Kasumi and the girls will assist Physician Mendez. We want to repay you and the Lord.”
“I don’t recall asking for repayment.” I set the cup down. “You’ve been through enough. Lieutenant Grace told me there are other jobs for children here. You can earn your keep and live safely in the north. Training isn’t required. It’s enough that you build a good life.”
“I apologize, but we can’t do that,” Rico said. “You didn’t just save our lives. You changed our future.”
I studied the young Alpha. “Your future” felt too large for boys their age, but he wasn’t wrong. Cassian had already told me what awaited them on the road west. They will be sold piece by the piece to witches. Their organs, limbs, eyes and even their hair. They will be kept alive as long as the blood still moves so they could be used again. They weren’t going to be killed quickly. They were going to be used.
That was the future they were headed to before we saved them from my father.
“Being a soldier is dangerous,” I said. “The north isn’t like the south. We face monsters here. some as tall as buildings, and there are other threats you haven’t seen. Don’t throw away your future for the sake of ‘repayment.“”
“We’re sorry, my Lady, but we’ve decided,” Aries answered. “Kasumi and the others are being examined now to see if they can assist Physician Mendez. Those who don’t pass will work as maids. We may be small, but we can still be useful.”
I swallowed as memories of what I went through after my failed awakening flashed into my head.
The word “useful” stuck in my head. After my failed awakening, I had chased that word like it could fix everything, if I worked harder, if I stayed out of the way, if I made myself necessary, maybe someone would keep me. I knew exactly why Aries and Rico wanted this. Being useful felt safer than being helpless.
I looked from Aries to Rico. “I don’t require your service,” I said. “And I won’t stop you either. But before you step out of this carriage, promise me one thing.”
They both straightened.
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Chapter 57
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“Live for yourselves,” I said. “If you want training, train. If you want the infirmary, learn the work. But do it because you choose it. Seeing you do well is the only repayment the Lord and I will ever ask for. Live well, and live for yourselves.”
Rico lowered his head. Aries turned his face to the window. I didn’t need to press them. The shine gathering in their eyes told me enough.
I cleared my throat. “You should also know this. The one who took you, Alpha Collin Black, my father, was hit hard in the attack two weeks ago. He’s in a coma.” I held their eyes, so they understood I wasn’t asking for pity. “Luna Genevieve died two days ago from poisoning. It rotted her from the inside until her heart failed. Currently, the one who is leading Nightfall is my sister, Celeste. Nightfall still stands, but it’s broken. Recovery will take years, if it comes at all.”
Rico’s hands tightened at his sides. Aries swallowed, jaw set. The three of us know that
recovery will be difficult, knowing that the Demon Fangs are always on their border, waiting for them to show any weakness.
“This is better than killing them outright,” I said. “They can no longer do to others what they did to you.”
I let the silence settle, then continued. “You will be safe in the north. Lieutenant Grace will help you with the formalities. If you train under Lieutenant Rio, you follow his rules, no heroics, no leaving posts, no missions without clearance. If you work with Physician Mendez, you follow his safety checks. If any of you want different work later, you tell Grace and she will move you. No one here owns you.”
Aries nodded once. “We promise.”
Rico wiped at his face and managed a small smile. “We’ll live well.”
“Good,” I said, easing back on the bench. “Then go. Finish your assessments. Eat when they tell you to eat. And if anyone tries to use you again, you come to me.”
Aries and Rico bowed and backed out. I expected Grace next, but the door opened to Cassian.
He smirked. “Entertaining, hearing you talk to children like that.”
I didn’t bite. I poured him tea and slid the cup across. “Do you need someone healed?”
A dry thought crossed my mind: I had just told the children to come to me if anyone tried to use them, while I let Cassian use me whenever he pleased, and I didn’t mind it.
He set the cup down. “I’m not coming with you to the mansion.”
I looked up. “Why?”
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Chapter 57
:
“There will be a beast tide in a few days. I’m marching to the border.”
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A beast tide. I’d read about it in northern field reports. It comes when a red moon is near. Packs of creatures leave the deep snow and move as one. Their eyes turn red, and they attack anything that moves. They don’t stop when they’re wounded.
If they run out of prey, they eat each other. The frenzy lasts for days, and the bodies draw more beasts. Patrols rotate every hour to keep men from breaking. Bites carry fever, and claws leave rot that spreads fast unless a healer cuts it out or purges the blood.
It made sense now why we hadn’t stopped at any allied packs on the road north. He was keeping the caravan moving to defend the north from the tide.
“Take me with you,” I said. “You’ll need a healer at the front. I can work through poison and fever faster than most, and I don’t panic when blood runs.”
He shook his head. “You’re the princess consort. When you arrive, you pay respects to my grandparents first.”
I frowned. “You never mentioned grandparents.” And I never heard about any grandparents from the meager information that I had about him.
He smiled. “Of course not. They’re dead. I killed them myself.”
I stared at him, the words landing heavier than I expected. For a moment, I didn’t know what
to say.
AD
