Chapter 112 Chapter 112: Traitor
Senna’s POV
It was easier to think when there was something to destroy.
That was the first thing I noticed about myself as the panic started to settle in. Korrigan’s word still hung in the air.
Was he right? Had the noble boy taken Junie? But why? The noble boy had been safe here. Why would he leave?
My heart raced. I had promised to keep her safe. And I had failed. Anger ran through me. It came as heat. Hot, fast, and rising under my skin like something trying to burn its way out.
I stood in the middle of the waterfall cave without fully seeing it anymore. Korrigan and Isolde were speaking, but their voices sounded distant and layered over one another. I couldn’t make out the words clearly.
Kalev said my name once. I didn’t turn. Junie was gone. That was the only truth thing that mattered.
“I promised her,” I said. My voice didn’t sound like mine. It sounded flat and stripped.
Korrigan stopped speaking mid-sentence. Isolde looked up at me cautiously.
“She was safe here,” I continued, though I was no longer sure I believed the words even as I said them. “She was supposed to be safe here.”
My hands were shaking. I forced them into fists at my sides.
Kalev stepped closer. Concern flooded his face. He reached out for me but I brushed him off. I was furious.
“Senna…”
“No,” I said sharply.
The word snapped through the air harder than I intended, and for a moment, even I was surprised by how final it sounded.
I turned slightly then, finally meeting their eyes.
“This is my fault. We shouldn’t have trusted him. That boy. He took her. He’s loyal to them.”
“You don’t know that,” Kalev said.
“What other possible explanation is there?” I asked.
And for the first time in a very long time, I felt my anger towards Kalev returning. He was the one who had brought that boy here. He was the one who had said Junie would be safe with her. He hadn’t even questioned it. And like fools, we’d all just gone along with it.
“FUCK!” I yelled. Then I slammed my fist into the stone cave wall.
Where was she? What had he done with her? She was probably already dead. I’d failed her. I’d let her die. She’d trusted me to keep her safe.
“This isn’t your fault,” Kalev said.
“No,” I whipped towards him. My eyes had fire in them. “It’s yours.”
Korrigan, Isolde, and the new people remained perfectly still and silent. Kalev’s recoiled at my words. He flinched. Then he exhaled and shook his head.
“We can find her,” he told us. “The island is probably protecting her.”
“Like it protected her brother?” I pointed at Sandra. “Like it protected the other people at the camp. Don’t you see, Kalev. It won’t protect Junie. It will only protect me. Because you designed it that way.”
Kalev stared at me in stunned silence. I wasn’t being fair. I was blaming him for something that wasn’t entirely his fault. But blaming him was easier than swallowing the truth. I was just as much at fault as he was.
“Let’s just think about this,” Korrigan said, stepping forward. “Why would the boy take her?”
“Maybe he knows about the siphon. Maybe he feeds from it too. I don’t know.”
“What do you mean feeds from it?” Sandra asked. “What siphon.”
In a rambled blur of words, I told them about the siphon. About the way some of the nobles were draining wolves and using them to make their own wolves stronger. They listened with horrified faces.
“That’s monstrous,” Sandra whispered.
“It is,” I told her. “But now you know what we’re dealing with. These people, these nobles, they really dangerous. And really, really awful.”
“So you think the boy took Junie to some of the nobles?” Korrigan asked.
“I do,” I nodded. “I think that boy was playing us all along. I think he was a traitor right from the start. Maybe they’re going to hold her hostage.”
“For what?” Isolde asked.
“Isn’t it obvious,” I said. “For me. They want me. They want my wolf. And they know that I’ll give myself up for Junie.”
“No,” Kalev said. “There has to be another way.”
I grabbed my bow and arrow. I looked at him hard in the eyes.
“There isn’t,” I said. I started towards the waterfall.
I had to find her. Wherever she was. If it was me they wanted, then so be it. I’d make a trade. I had to. I couldn’t let them just kill her. Junie was gentle and kind and sweet. She didn’t stand a chance. She reminded me so much of Thistle it hurt.
“Senna, wait.” Kalev’s voice sharpened as I kept walking. Korrigan and Isolde also started calling after me. But it was no use. I’d made my decision. I was going to go and find Junie. No matter what. No matter if it cost me my life.
It was my fault she was gone.
“Think about this,” he called after me.
But I was already past thinking.
The waterfall parted and I stepped through the waterfall without hesitation. I did not slow down. Behind me, Kalev’s voice called again, but it was swallowed by the waterfall before I could make out the words.
I saw him a moment too late.
He was waiting just beyond the edge of the clearing. His eyes were sharp. They locked onto me. I reached for my bow, but it was too late.
He closed the distance between us. His hand caught my arm, yanking me forward hard enough to break my balance. I stumbled. I felt the cold metal pressed against my throat. He had a knife to my throat.
His breath was close enough that I could feel it against my cheek. He was breathing too fast.
“Don’t move, Senna,” he said.
Kalen. He’d found me.
And now he had a knife at my throat.