Chapter 73 Threat in the camp

Chapter 73 Threat in the camp
Sera's Pov

My mother lifted her head.

"You were always more skilled than me," Gia said. "I need you to know I knew that. Even when mother acted like I was the one she needed, we all knew your power." She exhaled. "Your daughter needs both of us. And I'm tired of being angry at you. Teach her with me. Like we were supposed to, as sisters."

My mother stared at her, she stood up.

And she pulled Gia in, and she pulled me in, and she held us both at the same time, and none of us said anything for a long moment because there was nothing left to say that the three of us holding onto each other didn't already cover.

The next morning Damien found me before training.

“Good morning, Sera,” he teased.

“Damien, don't start today,”

I was adjusting my training gear when he crossed the clearing, glanced at the loose cord hanging at my shoulder, and reached out without asking.

His fingers found the cord and looped it back into place, which should have taken two seconds and somehow didn't, because the back of his hand grazed my collarbone and he didn't pull away and I didn't either and we stood there with barely any distance between us for three full seconds that felt significantly longer than three seconds.

He stepped backwards, while I looked at the ground shyly.

Neither of us said anything about it. Then Terry's voice broke through from the camp entrance.

"We've got a situation."

We both turned to look at each other in worry.

A low exchange between Terry and two of the outer guards, and then the guards stepped apart and I saw her.

She walked in with her hands raised and no weapon visible and her chin up like she still owned the ground she was standing on.

Brielle Knox! My entire body locked in place.

"I'm not here to fight," she said. Her eyes found me immediately. "I followed them out. I followed your father and the woman. I've been behind them for four days."

"Get her out," Caden said from behind me. His voice was ice.

"Wait." Damien's hand came up.

"Damien, she is a threat."

"We can't just let her go like that. She has seen our hiding place, it will cause more harm," Then he turned to look at her, “I am guessing you already knew that before you came in here,”

“I wasn't expecting a warm welcome, trust me.”
Brielle's eyes moved around the camp. Taking inventory of everything in her path.Then they settled back on me.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I spat out.

"I have information," she paused. "About what's coming. About who's leading it and what they actually want and how they plan to get here without triggering your outer scouts. Information you need. Information that could change how this ends."

"And what do you want for it?" Damien asked.

She didn't look at him. She looked directly at Caden.

"I'll tell you everything," she held her throat. “I promise every single detail I know."

“What's the catch, Brielle?”

"Him.” Brielle pointed at Caden. “I will tell you everything, if you give me Caden.”