Chapter 30: The Spy’s Downfall

As I gradually regained consciousness, pain shot through my limbs.  My body was weak from the struggle, and the silver's lingering burn was still there on my skin.  On Derek's war chamber's dark walls, my vision flickered and then sharpened.  The air smelt of damp stone and herbs, and I could hear voices, low and urgent.  

"Alpha, she needs to sleep," a firm but kind voice demanded.  

"I understand," Derek said in a frustrated, rough voice.  "But there isn't time."  

I moaned as the pain flared up again and forced myself to sit up.  "What took place?"  

Derek's golden eyes snapped to me, a moment of relief flashing across his face before his expression hardened again.   He folded his arms and leaned against the table, his dark hair still damp from the rain.   Cassius's piercing eyes assessed me next to him like a puzzle he couldn't figure out.  

Cassius said, "A silver net caught you."   "Derek and I got to your place right on time."  

Memories came flooding back like a tidal wave: the ambush they had been planning, the spies, their conversation about Jared's plan.  

"The attack," I said, my voice rasping.   "They planned to attack Redwater before the next full moon."  

Derek tensed.  "Are you sure?"  

I gave a nod.  They claimed that Jared was preparing a significant scheme that would eliminate you first.  The rest will follow if he can bring Redwater to the ground.  

Cassius and Derek looked at each other.  "This might be worse than we anticipated.  Jared has been planning this for longer than we thought if he has already planted spies.  

With a sharp exhale, Derek turned away and then slammed his fist down on the wooden table.  "Fuck it."  

With the information bearing down on me, I swallowed.  "There's more."  

Both men gave me a look.  

I added, "One of the spies brought up Lila."  "Jared doesn't want me dead, but she might.  They are becoming desperate as she sends people after me.  

Cassius muttered an expletive.  Derek's face grew serious.  

Derek's voice became calmer but no less deadly as he finally stated, "We need to find out if there are more of them."  "We must prepare in case of an impending attack."  

I felt a fresh sense of urgency.  I could thwart the spy's plan, which I had heard.  Even though I wasn't a warrior, I still had some power.  

Ignoring the ache that persisted, I forced myself off the cot.  "Then allow me to assist you."  

Derek's eyes narrowed.  "Claire—"  

I cut them off, saying, "I know their plan."  "I understand Jared's point of view.  You can't simply lock me up while this is going on.  

Glancing between us, Cassius furrowed his brow.  "She is correct."  

As though caught between defending me and admitting the truth, Derek's jaw tightened.  He finally let out a sigh and wiped his face.  

He whispered, "You're too obstinate for your own good."  

I gave myself permission to smile a little.  "I have heard that before."  

Cassius laughed.  "We'll have to question the spy who is still alive."  

I blinked.  “One of them made it out alive?”  

Derek's eyes grew icy.  "The cells contain him."  

I pushed aside the slow dread that began to settle in my stomach.  We required clarification.  

We travelled to Redwater's subterranean cells together.  The smell of iron and stone filled the air, making it humid.  Shadows were long as the torches flickered along the walls.  

The remaining spy sat with his face bloodied and bruised, leaning against the distant wall.  His dark eyes were glaring at us through swollen lids, and his hands were bound.  

Derek took a step forward.  "Explain everything you know to me."  

At his feet, the spy spat.  "I would rather die."  

Derek's expression was still unreadable.  "We can arrange that."  

There was a nervous edge to the man's laughter.  Instead, his eyes shifted to me.  He sneered, "Jared will find you."  "And you'll wish you were dead when he does."  

I forced myself to look him in the eye, ignoring the chill that was running down my spine.  "Jared isn't here," I stated calmly.  "You are, too."  

The smirk on the spy's face wavered.  

Derek was crouching next to him, speaking in a dangerously quiet tone.  "This is what will occur.  You will tell me the number of your people, their location, and the date of their planned strike.  

The spy said nothing.  

Derek leaned closer.  "I'll let Cassius enjoy himself if you don't."  

Cassius gave a knuckle crack.  "I do like to get people talking."  

The spy's face flashed with fear.  

I took a step forward.  With a softer tone than the others, I said, "You know you won't walk out of here alive."  "Jared doesn't care about your loyalty.  You are just as disposable as the others the moment you fail.  

Something changed in the man's expression as he hesitated.  

I continued.  "You may have a chance if you provide us with information."  

We were silent for a long time.  Finally, he let out a sharp exhale.  

He acknowledged that they were based in the eastern valley.  "Close enough to observe, but sufficiently distant to avoid detection."  

Derek's eyes became gloomy.  "How many?"  

The spy took a swallow.  "A minimum of twenty fighters.  Perhaps more.  

Cassius muttered a curse.  

I scowled.  "That won't be enough to defeat Redwater."  

"It's a distraction," the spy muttered after he hesitated once more.  

Derek tensed.  "For what purpose?"  

The man let out a breath.  While everyone's attention is on the eastern attack, they intend to breach the southern border.  That's where the real battle will take place.  

My blood froze.  

Derek's eyes were keen as he pushed off his knee.  "When?"  

"Tonight tomorrow."  

There was a tense silence.  

Cassius looked over at Derek.  "We must relocate.  Right now.  

Derek wasted no time at all.  "Warn the fighters.  On the south side, double the number of patrols.  We will preemptively let them believe that we have fallen into the eastern trap.  

After giving a nod, Cassius vanished upstairs.  

Derek looked over at me.  "You just prevented an ambush at Redwater."  

I took a swallow.  "Now what?"  

His face was unreadable.  "We are now getting ready for war."