Dawn Study (Soulfinders #3)(84)

“And what if I don’t agree with what you have to say, Traitor?”

Oh, boy. “Then you can go.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes. I’m not the enemy.”

She glanced at the prone forms scattered on the floor.

“Those men are asleep. Not dead.”

“Fine.”

Where to start? “The Councilors, Bain and Irys are not dead either. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Try contacting Irys or Bain.”

“How? There are no more super messengers. Your Commander had them all destroyed.”

One thing about Bruns—the man was smart and a smooth liar, which Zitora should have picked up on. Unless... “Bruns wears a null shield pendant, doesn’t he?”

“Of course, or you’d attack him with your Soulfinding magic.”

“I can’t access my power right now. The baby is blocking it.” I hoped.

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Read my thoughts. See that I’m not lying.”

She scrunched up her face as if smelling a rotten egg. “I can’t.”

Shoot. Valek had been able to read my thoughts a month ago. The baby’s ability must be getting stronger as he or she grows. “That’s the baby.”

Zitora failed to appear convinced.

I tried another tactic. The truth. “Bruns has lied to you. His Cartel is planning a takeover of Sitia and is working with the Commander, who is under Owen Moon’s control.”

“He said you might try to twist things around. Besides, Opal never said a word about this Cartel to me.”

“That’s because when Opal left to help you, we didn’t know the extent of their reach. They’ve been feeding everyone Theobroma and using magic to brainwash everyone. At least tell me you noticed the taste in the food at the Hall.”

“I did, but Bruns said the new chef likes to use it as seasoning, and it’s harmless in small quantities.”

Bruns had an answer for everything. I needed to try yet another angle. “You don’t even know Bruns. But you know me and what I’ve done to keep Sitia safe. Do you really think I would do anything to harm it?”

“You’re married to Valek and are having his child. You could have been sent here as a spy.”

She had a point. Although it’d been years since anyone had accused me of being an Ixian spy. Which reminded me of Cahil. “Do you trust General Cahil?”

“Yes.”

“Talk to Cahil before you report this to Bruns. Ask him about Bruns. He’ll say the man’s a genius and is going to save Sitia, but use your magic and you’ll sense he’s lying.”

“Why would he lie?”

Time to take a gigantic risk. My heart fluttered. “Because he’s working with us. And you know how much Cahil hates me. So if he’s helping us, that’s because he understands Bruns is dangerous and must be stopped.”

Her expression softened just a bit. “If you’re telling the truth...am I in danger?”

“Not if Bruns thinks you still believe him. He’s waiting for the Theobroma to build up in your system so he can brainwash you, too. He hasn’t learned that it doesn’t work on the Master Magicians. Both Irys and Bain have been playing along until we’re ready to fight back.” I took a deep breath to steady my voice—I’d just dug us in deeper. “If you tell Bruns what I just said, he will kill them, and you, as well as Cahil. And then it’s only a matter of time before the rest of us are all dead.” I rested my hand on my stomach. “When you believe me, tell Cahil. He’ll get a message to us and we can arrange for you to escape.”

“And if I don’t believe you?”

“That message won’t be hard to miss.” I called for Valek and Onora.

They returned and we hurried into the back room. A grimy window let in enough light for us to find the exit. Fisk always ensured there was a back door in his headquarters, just in case. Once we stepped outside, I grasped their hands so it would be harder for Zitora to track us to our apartment.

“Did you convince her?” he asked.

“I don’t know.”

He slowed. “We need to leave the Citadel right away.”

“Bruns already knows we’re here. And I may have doomed us all anyway, so there will be no point in trying to leave. It will only delay the inevitable.”

It was a sign of his exhaustion that he just squeezed my hand.

After a few blocks, Onora said, “I’m gonna swing by the Council Hall. If I’m not back by midafternoon tomorrow, worry. Otherwise, don’t.” She aimed that comment at me as she released my hand.

“Sorry, but I’m gonna worry anyway. Get used to it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That’s nice, but it would be better without the sarcasm.”

She flashed a rare smile and ducked down a narrow side street. Valek and I took a winding path back to the apartment. He towed me to the bedroom.

“Is the Keep safe?” I asked, thinking I might have a couple hours to check the library.

“Yes, but I need you, love. Zitora could find me again, and I don’t have any energy to block her.”

He released my hand long enough to strip off his shirt and pants. The heart-shaped wound on the center of his chest had healed, but the scar hadn’t faded. I traced it with a fingertip. The mark on my chest matched his—symbols of our marriage vows.