Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

Kora was furious with Derek for leaving in the middle of their conversation. He vanished right before her eyes after saying he had to meet someone. She hadn't stormed out of the room to look for him. He wanted his secrets? Well then, fine. He could keep them. She was done with the half-truths and explanations that didn't seem complete. As well as everything else.

The problem was that Kora wanted to storm out. Not to look for him but to leave and do her own thing. She hadn't intended for anyone to help her anyway. Derek's cuff would make things easier, but she wasn't comfortable with it. For many reasons. The least of which being that she didn't trust him. Without coin or a place to go, Kora would only make things more difficult than they already were.

But she couldn't stay either.

She looked down, only then realizing she had put on her black clothes. Then she looked at the door. She had a plan. If Villette was weak, now was the time to put her scheme into action. And if she wasn't? Well , Kora hadn't expected her to be anything but what she was, so it didn't matter.

With her back straight and chin lifted, Kora emptied her pack, slipped it over her head, and walked from the room. She snuck down the stairs as she had done the last time and stole out the door. It was easy to keep to the shadows away from the rare streetlamp. She hastened to the alley Derek had brought her to and found the gate beneath the vines.

It creaked loudly when she opened it, making her wince. She slipped through and closed it behind her. Kora knew she would be traveling fast on her return, so she made sure to turn and look behind her at where she needed to go to get back to her level. Then she headed toward the soldiers' quarters.

None were posted outside, thankfully. It made getting next to the building easy. She kept low, creeping beneath the windows, listening as she passed. Most of those inside were sleeping, and the few who were up were drinking and playing a game of dice. They shouted and slammed their tankards on the table. Just the type of noise she needed to drown out any sound she might make.

Kora peered into one of the darkened windows. The shutters were open, and moonlight spilled inside, showing rows of beds. She pushed open the shutters and climbed through the window, landing softly on her feet. Then she began looking for female soldiers.

She stopped at the first she came to and looked at the boots. They were several sizes bigger than hers, which likely meant the uniform wouldn't fit. She checked three more before locating a pair that would fit.

Kora found the other items she needed in the chest at the foot of the soldier's bed. She cringed when the armor clanked as she lifted it. Someone farther down shifted in their bed. Another's snores softened as they turned over, then they grew loud again. She slowly added the items to her bag. She decided to leave the helm since most in the city didn't wear them, but she did grab the boots.

Getting out of the room proved more nerve-wracking than getting in. Every movement she made caused the armor to clink. She finally had to hold the bag out with both hands to stop the noise. That worked until she came to the window. Kora swung the bag outside and slowly lowered it by the strap until it was on the ground. She dropped the boots next to it. Then , she climbed out.

She gathered everything and slunk back around the building, only to come to a halt when the soldiers who had been playing dice walked outside. She flattened herself against the building. The shadows were narrow and thin there, but they concealed her well enough. Unless one of them turned and looked her way.

Kora held her breath, waiting and watching. The minutes lengthened as the group stayed outside, smoking and trading stories of their latest bed partners. Her legs began to cramp from squatting. She debated darting to deeper shadows when one of the soldiers looked in her direction. He must not have seen her as he flicked what remained of whatever he smoked to the ground. The others finished, and, finally, they returned inside to their game.

Relief surged through her. Kora didn't budge until she heard them deep in the game once more. She fought against the need to run. She made herself move deliberately to keep the noise at a minimum and not draw attention to herself. Every few steps, she looked over her shoulder. Then she would look around to see if anyone watched from a window.

The moment she spotted the alley that led to the hidden gate Derek had shown her, some of the tension left her body. Until she tried to push the gate open, and it wouldn't budge. She used both hands and shoved, but it still didn't move. Kora needed the uniform, and this was her only way back to the inn. There had to be a way through.

She looked at her hands. It had been a long time since she'd called on her hellhound magic. Would it even work? Better to find out now. She placed her hand on the pillar where the gate latched and let the flames erupt from her palm. The fire blazed huge, and she hurried to dim the light and concentrate it on the latch.

Smoke wafted from her hand. Then the gate sagged. She jostled it open, tearing a few vines as she did. Once she was through, she shut it behind her and tried to cover the torn vines. She hurried back up to the room, half-expecting to find Derek there. Unfortunately , there was no one to share her victory with. She shut the door behind her.

Kora sighed and dropped the sack. She immediately tried on the uniform. It wasn't a perfect fit, but it did the job. The armor covered the too-long sleeves. She pulled her hair to the back of her head as she had seen the female soldiers do.

Then she stood before the mirror. Not because she cared what she looked like but because she wanted to make sure everything appeared as it should. Her gaze moved to the bed. Unbidden , an image of her holding Derek filled her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook away the image.

" I can do this," she told herself.

She had gotten this far. Albeit with Derek's help. She would do the rest on her own as it was meant to be. Kora looked at the gown hanging in the wardrobe. The woman she had been that night was someone else. The one now was who she was. That other night had served its purpose. Now , she would fulfill her responsibilities.

Derek stood at the edge of the forest, looking to the open expanse that led to the canyon where the border lay. He could be on the other side with just a touch to his cuff. But he didn't move. He wasn't sure what held him back. All he had to do was cross the border and see for himself if the dragons were free or not without anyone knowing. Or trapping him.

A chuffing sound drew his attention. Derek turned his head to find a wildcat sitting a short distance away, watching him with intelligent green eyes. The black spots amid its slightly lighter-black fur were distinctive to the species. The feline was huge and imposing. None had ever gotten this close to him before.

It chuffed again.

The sound was one they made in friendly greeting. Derek looked for a wound, but the beast didn't seem to have any that might make it act strangely. He held out his hand and mimicked the chuffing sound. The feline stood and walked to him, continuing to chuff. To his surprise, the animal rubbed its massive head against his hand.

Derek sank his fingers into the soft, midnight fur. The animal purred loudly before moving to lean its body against his. He had both hands petting the wildcat now, feeling its powerful body. Its paws were larger than his hands, and he had witnessed the speed at which they could run.

" You shouldn't just go up to anyone," he warned in a soft voice. The cat lifted its head and met his gaze. " Nay , I don't suppose you do that, do you? You're too smart."

The animal leaned its whole head against him when Derek rubbed its ear. He grinned. " You like that, do you, boy?" He took a quick look. " Sorry . Girl ."

Derek rubbed the other ear. Before he knew it, he was on the ground with the wildcat lying across one leg as he looked at the border. He stroked the animal from head to tail, repeating the motion over and over again. Her eyes were closed contentedly.

" I've had that feeling recently. With Kora . Shocked me. It also made me do things I never would've done." He sighed. " I don't know which way is up anymore. I don't know what is truth and what is fiction. Will I get what I'm looking for across the border? I might simply be imprisoned like my family."

Family . He winced at the word. Villette told him his family had been captured. She had been trying to rescue them, and his mother sacrificed herself for him.

" Villette isn't who I thought she was. She's kept things from me. But then I've kept a lot from her, too. Does that make me untrustworthy?"

The cat briefly opened its green eyes to look at him.

" Do I discount everything she's done because some people are telling me she's wrong? The rest of the city adores her. Or who they think she is, anyway. I'm not sure many would even care if they discovered she was the Divine ." Derek leaned his head back against the tree. " I've trusted her and have believed in her for so long that I don't know if it's because I know what she said is true or because it's what I've always done.

" I swore my allegiance to her above all others. I've done all she has asked of me. But it comes back to…why haven't we freed the dragons? I'm beginning to wonder if they are being held captive. By humans no less. Humans with magic along with a Star Person , but nothing we couldn't fight."

Derek thought about the excuses she had given him, as well as the steps to the next plan, only for something to happen and put things off. Then start all over again.

" What if it was all a lie?" he whispered. " What if I've been killing in her name to spread the fear she wants because I'm a dragon?" He grunted. " Miena said the dragons are being held. I don't know what to believe."

The wildcat rose and walked out of the trees. It paused and looked back at him as if telling him to follow. Derek got to his feet and watched as the animal continued to the canyon. It looked back at him one more time before jumping over the edge.

Derek started to follow when he realized the sun had come up. " Kora ," he whispered and touched his cuff.