Destabilizing Information

Destabilizing Information
Cadeon 
I get up before the sun rises. 
I haven't been able to sleep—I'm too worried about being attacked once more. Though Gammas are patrolling the area, there's always a reason to be concerned. 
Lili's asleep in the tent. Because such a large portion of the pack house was burned down, we're all outside. We decided to stick around the village, where there are more people. She slept through the night, which is a relief because she was inconsolable. Knowing her sister is the reason for this mess is a fucked up feeling. 
It's been an hour since I woke up, and people are starting to leave their tents and houses. I find that the sunshine is a sharp contrast to the ruin—it's almost like the two of them don't match. It should've been raining with an overcast day.
But enough of that.  
I look around, greeting a few of the Gammas I befriended last night. We all have to work together, so our relationship has to be cordial, at least. While talking to Brad, one of Draven's most trusted men, I spot Draven talking to someone I've never seen before. The man's dressed in rags, and his face is covered in mud. The two seem to be having a tense conversation, but they're too far for me to catch a word they're saying. 
"The campaigns will have to stop for a while, at least until we figure out how to change our plans without jeopardizing the entire operation," Brad concludes. 
I nod. "That's right."
After our brief conversation, I return to the tent to check on Lilieth. I find her sitting up and stretching her arms above her head, yawning.
"How did you sleep?" I ask as I tie the tent's flap in place so nobody will spy on us. 
"Alright," she admits. "You?"
I shrug. 
"You're sure you're not feeling any pain?"
"I'm fine," I say honestly. I haven't felt much pain in a long time—even with all the fighting. I have a few new cuts, but they're no big deal at all. Soon, they'll close up and heal, and I won't ever have to see them again. 
"You're the one I'm worried about," I add. 
Lili rubs her eyes. "Cadeon. This is all so much for me to take. We can't even look at each other, you know? We're so embarrassed by Anice's actions. Mom...she's gone quiet. She isn't like that at all."
"It's not your fault or anyone else's. I don't think you should feel embarrassed—she's the one who's the outlier. The betrayer. You're all giving your lives for this cause. Anyone who dares to question you for your sister's mistake is an asshole. You tell me right away if someone does that."
Lili meets my eyes and for the first time since yesterday, smiles. "What, you're going to fight them for me?"
"A fight implies fairness. I'll kick their asses."
The sound of her soft laugh warms my insides. I inch closer to her on our makeshift bed, and Lili puts her arms around me. I inhale the scent of her skin and harden. The response is automatic. 
I want her all the time. 
But we just hold each other—this is what she needs, and in any case, having any sort of sexual relation in this tent would be uncomfortable. There are way too many people around. 
"I love you," she murmurs against my skin before shifting so she's staring into my eyes. "I don't know what I would've done without you, Cadeon."
My bond pulses. I cup her face and kiss her tenderly. "I love you more, baby. And you're wrong—you'd always be you without me. I'm the one who'd be damn lost."
Minutes later, we leave the tent and I'm informed that Draven is looking for me. I find this strange because he's never asked for me personally. 
I have no trouble finding him. He's standing close to one of the ruins, giving orders to have some of the rubble removed. As soon as he spots me, he says, "I'm sorry if the messenger alarmed you."
"No, he didn't."
"I wanted to talk to you about something particular. I hope that's alright with you."
As we move to a more isolated part to have some privacy, I wonder what he wants to tell me. I doubt I'd be the first person he'd confide in for something serious. 
"It's Lilieth's sister," he claims. "I received some information from one of my men who keeps an eye on your father's pack—apparently, she's been captured."
"Captured? Does that mean—"
"On the contrary," he interrupts. "Anice went there willingly. She wanted to exchange information for a position of power, but they tricked her. They extracted everything they needed from her, and now, she's being locked up and tortured in a basement somewhere. Alpha-borns hate Emberborns—she'd never stand a chance."
Dammit. 
"Now we have concrete evidence that she's the one who's responsible for all this," he continues. "I'm telling you because of your association with the family. I'm doing it for closure—I know some of them haven't stopped looking for her."
"I understand."
"I'm also making it known to you that I couldn't care less if she lived or died. I won't lift a finger to help her. She dug her grave, so she'll have to get herself out of that hole. It would be a betrayal to my people. I hope you understand."
I nod, and he tells me that this is all he wanted to discuss with me. Now, I'll have to figure out what to do with this information. He left it all to me—and sure, everyone guessed that she did this, but they didn't think she was being tortured. 
How will Lili react to something like this? I don't even want to imagine it, but unfortunately, I don't have a choice. 
I spot Corey from a distance. He's standing with Lili, Deo, and a young boy. I recall her mentioning that he lost his father and didn't have anyone else—we'd have to take care of him. Deo felt responsible for him already. He's only five. 
They haven't seen me yet, so I turn away, hoping to find a place where I can think. This isn't an easy matter to deal with. 
Timmon finds me. He can tell right away that something's wrong, just by looking at me. I explain the whole situation to him, and he shakes his head in disbelief. 
"They'll want to rescue her. I know it."
"I think the matter with Lili is complicated," I state. "She's not as forgiving as everyone else is."
"That doesn't mean she'd leave her sister there to die."
"True."
"I don't envy you," he concludes before standing up and slapping my shoulder. "You're going to have to tell her soon. It's clear that the Ignis wants nothing to do with her. Then again, who could blame him? That girl did a number on the pack. Hey, did I tell you I kind of had a crush on her when I first got here?"
"No, you never mentioned it." This might just be the most random thing I've heard all fucking year. 
"Yeah. I changed my mind, though. I don't think we have much in common."
Timmon and I go our separate ways. He has to help a few families find their belongings. I, in turn, have to search for Lili and find a way to tell her. It's not as easy a task, and I'll have to steel myself for what's to come.