Chapter 17

seventeen

. . .

Katarina

My heart pounded in my chest as Thaumas and I navigated the dark, winding corridors of Blacktalon Keep. The ancient stones seemed to hum with the weight of history, the whispers of forgotten battles and buried secrets echoing around us. We moved with purpose, our steps silent but swift. We had a traitor to expose, and every second counted.

Thaumas's expression was a mask of grim determination, but I could see the hurt lurking in his eyes—the betrayal of his brother cutting deeper than any physical wound. I squeezed his hand.

"Stay close," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "We need to be ready for anything."

"I won't leave your side," I replied, my pulse rifle held at the ready. The weight of it was comforting, a reminder of the battles we'd already faced.

We reached the chamber where Tharos they confined, a heavy wooden door barring our way. Thaumas took a deep breath, his taloned hand tightening around the hilt of his blade. "Ready?"

I nodded, my heart racing. "Let's do this."

Thaumas pushed the door open with a creak, and we stepped inside. Tharos sat at a simple wooden table, tightly folding his wings against his back. His eyes flicked up to meet ours, a mix of defiance and something else—something like regret—shimmering in their depths.

"Thaumas," he said, his voice strained. "I didn't think you'd come."

"Why, Tharos?" Thaumas's voice was a blend of anger and sorrow. "Why betray us? Betray your own blood?"

Tharos's gaze shifted to me, and his expression hardened. "You don't understand. None of you do. Thaumas left us, abandoned his duty to chase stars and humans. We needed someone who would put Raptoria first."

"And you thought aligning with our enemies was the way to do that?" I snapped, my grip tightening on my rifle. "You put everyone at risk, Tharos. Your own family."

His eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he quickly masked it. "I did what I thought was right. For Raptoria."

Thaumas took a step forward, his wings spreading slightly in a display of dominance. "This isn't the way, Tharos. We need to stand united against the Necrontyr, not tear each other apart."

Tharos's gaze dropped to the table, his shoulders slumping. "It's too late," he muttered. "They'll come for me. For all of us."

I exchanged a glance with Thaumas, a silent understanding passing between us. We needed Tharos's cooperation if we were going to expose the full extent of the conspiracy. And that meant giving him a reason to trust us.

"We can protect you," I said, my voice steady. "But you need to help us. Tell us everything. Who else is involved?"

Tharos looked up, his eyes filled with a mixture of desperation and hope. "There's a meeting tonight. In the old armory. That's where they'll be."

Thaumas nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Thank you, brother. We'll make this right."

As we left the chamber, I felt a surge of determination. We had a lead, a chance to expose the traitors and rally the clans. But time was against us, and the stakes had never been higher.

"We need to set a trap," I said as we made our way back to our quarters. "Catch them in the act."

Thaumas nodded, his mind already working through the details. "We'll need to hurry. And we'll need allies we can trust."

The hours that followed were a blur of preparation and whispered conversations. Thaumas and I gathered a small group of trusted warriors, outlining our plan with meticulous detail. There was no room for error; one misstep could spell disaster.

As night fell, we gathered our small team of loyal warriors. Each of them knew their role, each of them ready to lay down their lives for Raptoria. Thaumas and I led the way, the old armory our destination. The darkness enveloped us, the air thick with anticipation and the faint scent of rain.

We reached the armory and positioned ourselves strategically, hidden among the shadows. Every creak, every whisper seemed magnified in the tense silence. My pulse rifle felt heavy in my hands, a reminder of the battles we'd faced and the ones still to come.

The traitors arrived, their voices low as they discussed their plans. I strained to catch every word, my heart pounding in my chest. Thaumas's presence beside me was a steadying force, his determination a beacon in the darkness.

"Loran's death has set us back," one traitor said, frustration clear in his voice. "We need to strike, before Thaumas consolidates his power."

"We have the support of several clans," another replied. "But we need more. We need to sow doubt, undermine his authority."

Thaumas's eyes met mine, a silent signal. It was time.

With a swift, fluid motion, Thaumas stepped from the shadows, his wings flaring wide. "Looking for me?"

The traitors froze, their eyes widening in shock and fear. Before they could react, our warriors moved in, weapons drawn, surrounding them in a tight circle.

"This ends now," Thaumas said, his voice ringing with authority. "You're all under arrest for treason against Raptoria."

But something was wrong. As we began to disarm and restrain the traitors, a sudden explosion of movement shattered the tense silence. One traitor, a wiry griffin with a scar running down his beak, lunged at me with a blade.

Reflex took over. I fired my pulse rifle, but he was fast, too fast. The shot went wide, and his blade slashed across my arm. Pain flared, but I didn't have time to register it. Thaumas roared, a sound of pure fury, and tackled the attacker, feathers flying in a whirl of motion.

Chaos erupted. The remaining traitors fought back with a desperate ferocity surprising our warriors. I tried to bring my rifle to bear again, but a sharp pain hit my head and all went black.

I awoke with the healers placing a cold pack on my head. Thaumas knelt beside me.

"We were ambushed," he said, his voice tight with anger and fear. "They knew we were coming. Someone tipped them off."

I nodded weakly as the pieces fell into place. The plan had gone awry, putting me in grave danger. But we were still alive, and that meant we still had a chance.

"We need to regroup," I whispered, my voice a raspy croak. "Find the traitor."

Thaumas's gaze hardened, a fierce determination blazing in his eyes. "We will. And we'll make them pay."