16. Chapter Sixteen: Theo

Octavian comes for Theo, as promised. Theo and his soldiers guard the entrance to the tunnels as they await news to keep an ear out for Octavian’s mercenaries and to block any potential escapees. There is no need to alarm the people of Cesscounthe with an army after all. This mission calls for stealth. No, the army and complete takeover will come after Theo explains he is now this city’s ruler.

It’s late evening by the time Theo hears shuffling footsteps coming from the cavern. At the sight of Octavian’s face, his skull mask removed, Theo relaxes.

But Octavian is frowning. He looks from Theo to the other soldiers before jerking his chin back the way he came. Theo says, “My second needs me. Hold the line,” to his soldier, and then follows Octavian into the dark.

They enter through the caves as a pair. Blue lichen casts deep shadows across Octavian’s furrowed brow. Moisture lines the cavern walls, and the ground is slick beneath his feet. They pass aborted passages as they walk, footfalls echoing, and Theo follows the tunnels for as far as he can see. Some lead into ever-shrinking tunnels, others to drop-offs so steep, he only needs to tilt his chin to see down into an endless darkness.

Octavian finishes explaining how the takeover had gone perfectly, without a single hitch, as he hands Theo his wineskin for a celebratory drink. “The tunnels that we use will take us into the Abraxi District, where the nobles reside. We won’t encounter any resistance there. Some of their Council Members want to side with us, actually. It will be easy to turn their governing body.” He spares a brilliant smile for Theo. “I wanted to bring you alone so we can celebrate this – together.”

Theo swallows down the wineskin’s contents – some bitter spirits that burn his throat – wrinkling his nose. He is far too distracted to judge. He follows his second, thinking, The Elders will be overjoyed when they hear how flawlessly my plan has been executed. Surely this will mean us both moving up in the world.

But beneath those thoughts, something pulls his attention away from Octavian’s explanation of victory. A scent drifting through the damp caverns – a scent both familiar and delightful. It twists his heart when he focuses too hard on it.

Even now, Evland Childes haunts him –

Theo hands the wineskin back to Octavian, shaking his head. The liquid must have been alcoholic, for it feels as if a fine film has been stretched across his skin, a buzz dulling his eyes and ears.

“And Cesscounthe’s Elders?” Theo asks, clearing his throat.

Octavian pauses. He looks up at Theo, eyes bright. His nervousness from before has vanished, and now he looks as victorious as he should. Elation looks good on him, bringing color to his ordinarily wan cheeks and a grin to his face that Theo hasn’t seen in a long time. Even in the dimness of the damp caverns, he practically glows. “Their Council,” he corrects. “They have… surrendered and are willing to make peace talks. As I have said, some are even interested in our plan.”

“Our plan?”

“Well – your plan – to use their brilliant minds to assume control over the rest of their countryside. They wish to join us. With Cesscounthe fallen, very few defenses stand in our way from taking over all of Siacchi. Once defeated, our people can turn our attention to the true enemy.”

The South.

Theo’s chest clenches at the thought – at the memories that threaten to rush in. He squashes them as quickly as they arise, but still, the bitter taste of defeat and the scent of blood, shit, piss, and death overwhelm him, pulling him back to his first loss – his only loss – now close to some ten years ago.

The day they died.

Octavian’s hand lands on Theo’s shoulder, pulling them both to a stop. “Will you be ready to face the Snake of the South again? Balivartia?” he asks. His smile vanishes, and now a carefully plastered look of concern widens his eyes. Something sharper roams beneath the depths, something that Theo can’t fully parse – not with this odd roaring in his ears distracting him. Not with that strange scent, though weaker now, still pulling at his attention.

“Of course,” Theo says.

“I understand this siege has been difficult,” Octavian continues, pulling Theo to a stop once more when Theo tries to resume their rapid pace. “The capture of the prisoner… the Siacchian… was not easy.”

Evland Childes, Theo’s mind automatically corrects, but he manages to keep the words from leaving his mouth. Instead, he nods. “Proving myself on a timeline has always been a challenge, but when faced with…” he pauses, blinking. The cavern grows darker around him. “With you,” he finally says, meeting Octavian’s gaze directly. “With you, someone I know I can count on, it becomes easier.”

Octavian’s face softens.

“I do not trust easily,” Theo continues. “You understand that.”

“Of course.”

“But this siege has taught me that trust is necessary in order for me to win. It is still a weakness, of course –”

“It is not a weakness though,” Octavian protests. “Trusting someone – allowing yourself to open up again – it is a strength.”

When Theo opens his mouth, Octavian continues, “You trusted me here, didn’t you? You let me lead this siege because I know the inner walls of Cesscounthe. The Elders are breathing down my neck, and you knew my failure would mean our failure, but you trusted me. Just like –” Octavian touches his arm. “Just like I knew you would, Theodori.”

Theo closes his eyes and imagines a different voice speaking those words. A different voice speaking his name – his name, the name that those important to him addressed him as so long ago.

“I am not strong enough to do that yet, Octavian,” Theo says, meeting his second’s gaze. “That is what I am doing now. Amassing power so I can one day get to the point where I can care about someone again. Where I can be strong enough to trust so openly.”

Octavian shifts his weight, looking ahead of them. Beyond where they stand, the cavern widens into a cave awash in blue lights. His eyes dart back to Theo.

“And with this victory,” he says. “Where do you stand with that power? What trust can you give me now, Theodori?”

Theo stares at his second and for a moment imagines he’s gazing into blue eyes, not gray, and a face of a different shape. He pictures the fall of Octavian’s hair, twisting and darkening into black curls, and he imagines his wolf wants to be with him so desperately when they are apart, Theo can think of nothing else, and he says, “Whatever you need.”

Everything. Anything. For you.

And though the words are directed at another face, at another person entirely – they land perfectly with the wrong mark. Octavian goes stiff and then soft. He looks at the cave ahead again and presses his lips together. Then he shakes himself. He grabs Theo’s arm and turns them around.

“What are you doing?” Theo asks. The world spins as they move.

“There is something I forgot.”

“And we have to return for it now?”

“It’s important.”

When another question loads itself on Theo’s lips, Octavian gives him a beseeching look. “Didn’t you just say you would trust me now?”

Before Theo can reply, a wave of nausea grips him. He staggers, only held aloft by Octavian’s grip on his arm. Octavian doesn’t react to the misstep as he continues to drag Theo away.

Distantly, the sound of footfalls and a low voice – a woman’s voice – reach Theo’s ears. He blinks, trying to organize his sluggish thoughts.

“Did you hear that?” he asks.

“Hear what?” Octavian replies. He glances down at Theo and his brow furrows, then he shakes his head. “I don’t hear anything, Theodori. You look unwell. We should return to the camp quickly.”

“But my victory –”

– and my prisoners.

Once again, Evland Childes floats to the top of his thoughts like scum on a pond – like a drowning man surfacing from the ocean for air.

“Your victory is assured,” Octavian says as he pulls Theo along. He casts a look over his shoulder and his jaw tightens as he increases his pace. “Your plan could use refinement, as always, but you moved well. You – we – finally impressed the Elders, Theodori. They thought we would fail, but we’ve proved them wrong, as always.”

“Not as always,” Theo corrects.

“We will turn our attention to the South next, Theodori. We will bring them and their demon princes down – I assure you, their heads will rot outside the borders of our kingdom. Together, we can make strides in this world. Already I’ve made sources, those we can turn to.” Octavian smiles, the expression small but victorious. “I’m so pleased, Theodori,” he continues. “I really wasn’t sure if we were going to make it…”

He trails off, his pace not slowing as his words fade.

“Of course we would win,” Theo says. Even his words sound strange to him, slightly slurred.

“He distracted you. I thought – I was worried, oh, this is ridiculous.”

“He?”

“You were spending all of your days at his side, Theodori. What was I to think other than that you had lost yourself to lust or whatever it was – his beauty wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but lesser men have fallen prey to the enemy for such things in the past.”

Theo’s thoughts slop about in his brain. “Octavian, what are you talking about?”

“The Siacchian,” Octavian spits the words.

Theo jerks to a halt. He draws himself to his full height – has he been hunching? Despite the tilt to the world and the strange blur at the edge of his vision, he meets Octavian’s gaze directly. “Evland Childes.”

Octavian’s face goes still. His throat bobs. He seems to part his lips with effort as he says, “What?”

“His name. His name is Evland Childes.”

Octavian stares at Theo. He has such absolute control of his expressions; it has always been something Theo admired about him. When superiors would pull them aside and lecture them for their failures, Theo could never maintain the rage that sparked in his eyes or the exasperation that tugged at his lips, whereas Octavian looked like stone.

Even now, as his eyes dart about Theo’s face, around the cavern, his expression is closed. But maybe it’s because of the years together that Theo is able to read the tiny creases in his lips, the twitch to his gaze – Octavian is furious, heartbroken.

Betrayed?

“No,” Octavian says. “No. It’s not.”

He presses a finger against Theo’s chest and – impossibly – Theo staggers back, put off balance by the shove.

“You think you’re so smart, Theodori, don’t you?” Octavian hisses. “You think you could still keep me at your side when you break down into this shell of yourself – this man enraptured by a pretty boy?” His lips curl. “Come back to me, Theodori. Show me you’re still there – show me you’re still the fearless leader you always promised me you would be.”

“I have nothing to prove to you,” Theodori snarls, baring his teeth. His hands curl into fists, short nails cutting into his palms.

“Oh, but you do.” Octavian chuckles, the noise bitter. “Did you really think I would stay with you through it all? Do you think I have no choices, Theodori? Do you not realize how many others came to me with offers of power and glory – offers that I turned down because I had put all my faith in you.” He spits the word.

Theo stares. “How dare you speak to me –”

Octavian whips up a finger. “Hush. You had your time to lord over me. But you’ve lost that power now.”

Theo tries to raise his arms to fight back, but his body does not respond.

Octavian leans close. He smells faintly of blood, Theo realizes. “Do you really want to know what happened to your perfect plan, Theodori?” he whispers.

When Theo doesn’t reply, Octavian continues, “Oh, we went to kill the leaders located in the Abraxi District as promised, of course, but the enemy was waiting for us – waiting for us because you betrayed them.”

Theo blinks dumbly.

“You know the soldiers all hate you now, don’t you? They think you’ve lost yourself in a pretty man. Sure, they fear you, they would never say as much to your face, but they were all too eager to run to me for alternatives. Why do you think I insisted on being the one to lead the invasion into the heart of Cesscounthe? I’m not a fighter like the Wolf’s Teeth. No, but I needed to be there. I’ve earned their trust, yes, but how else was I to negotiate terms of peace between the Siacchians and our soldiers? How else was I to tell our people that you were the one who leaked our invasion plans?”

When Theo splutters, words failing him, Octavian continues, “And of course, it makes sense that you didn’t notice me working – you’ve never noticed how hard I’ve worked. And you never gave much thought to the connections I formed either, did you? Didn’t ever think that one day, someone might come to me with an offer that outweighs even you.” He jabs his finger at Theo.

Theo’s heart crumples. He stares at Octavian, this man who has been his ally through years – through everything. They were supposed to rise to the top together. They were supposed to be comrades –

“And you should know, Theodori, that I didn’t want to. But you left me with no other choice. In the end, it’s exactly as you said: we can only look out for ourselves. If someone – even the enemy – comes to me with an offer for victory, for joined powers – for all the things we were fighting for – I couldn’t simply say no.

“Even if that means having to sacrifice you.”

“What have you done?” Theo says. He tries to move again, but his feet are so heavy, he only manages to take a single step.

“I’ve fixed it,” Octavian says. “I gave you the option. But you always come back to him. To that damned captive. I wish I had never suggested we take a Siacchian –”

“His name is Evland Childes!”

Octavian’s eyes blaze. “I know there’s a lot moving through your system at the moment, but try to keep up, Theodori. That boy was playing you like a game this entire time.”

“Playing me – that’s impossible.”

“Impossible? Ask him his name. Maybe you should win one of your ridiculous Ravage games first, just to make sure he tells you the truth.”

Who is he if not Evland Childes? Theo claws the thought from his mind, desperate to escape the pain that arises at the idea of Evland – no, is that even his name? – lying to him. Instead, Theo focuses on Octavian’s other words. “Moving through my system – Octavian, what have you done to me?” Theo slumps, bracing himself against the wall.

Octavian crouches so he can meet Theo’s gaze. “I learned from the best, Theodori.” He brandishes a bottle that looks so familiar. The smell turns Theo’s stomach, taking him back to his years of training.

Monkshood.

Theo feels his body shaking like his skin is trying to shrivel from his bones. He tries to call to his wolf like he has been trained, like he has done so many times before, but there is no response. He growls. The noise is weak. Octavian must have used a ridiculously high dose – that drink he gave Theo earlier –

Theo manages to heave himself to his feet, but still, his body can barely move.

He closes his eyes.

Stupid. How could he have not noticed?

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were so caught up in lust with that prisoner, Theodori,” Octavian says. He scoffs. “Or should I say Theo? You’re a fool. Just like your mother and father were. I should have had the Wolf’s Teeth kill that man on his second night here. I should have never put my faith in you, Theodori Hunter Wolf-Born.”

Before Theo can reply, the clap of feet against stone rings through the caverns. The noise bounces off the walls, doubled with each stride. Theo turns – only for a warm body to slam into his chest.

And though he shouldn’t have, Theo tumbles. His muscles have softened to liquid, his reaction time quartered.

He hits the ground with a grunt – but can’t summon anger at the thing – the person – that has slammed into him.

For Theo knows this scent now filling his nose. He inhales it deeply and his confusion and anger – even that growing bite of fear – wilt, leaving only contentment behind. This is his person, here, in his arms. Safe.

Impossibly, Evland Childes is here, on top of him.

Evland Childes struggles and then looks down, realizing it is Theo beneath him. His eyes roll in his skull like a nervous horse, but his fear seems to ease as he meets Theo’s gaze. His mouth shapes Theo’s name.

Beyond them, Octavian towers, arms crossed over his chest. “Oh, look,” he coos, rage coloring his cheeks. “You found each other again. I knew that crazy bitch couldn’t be trusted to keep you in one place for so long. No matter. She has me now to deal with the loose ends.”

His boot descends. Theo rolls himself so he can protect Evland – whatever his name is – from the blow at the last moment. Pain starbursts through him as the attack collides with his skull.

Darkness.