Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(31)

“I know that!” she snaps.

“Then you realize why I need to make sure he’s trapped before I present my evidence to the king. He requires proof.” Because he’s too stubbornly loyal to believe me, I silently add. Alzona sits on the bed and studies her hands. She knows deep down I wouldn’t make this request if the situation wasn’t dire. But she’s successfully hidden for years. I know how difficult it is to throw off self-oppression, so I resist the urge to shake her. “You could give Glacium a fighting chance against this attack. If we remove Blaine from the head of this movement, then I believe we can end the troubles crippling Glacium from within,” I say breathlessly.

“Do it,” a voice says from the doorway. I whirl, dropping into a crouch.

Crystal stands there. She stares down at Alzona with emotionless eyes, though I gather from her clenched fists that she’s not as calm as she’d like us to believe.

“You said you wanted to make things right between us,” Crystal says in a brittle voice. “Then do this.”

Alzona sits up straight. “How will doing this make us any better? You’re angry because I didn’t jump into the Dome to save you! How will my story make anything right?” She leaps to her feet. I back away so she doesn’t feel trapped. It’s easier said than done in the minuscule area. I really shouldn’t complain about my room back at the castle.

“Because I know what it means to you!” Crystal cries. “If you can give this up because I ask it, then I’ll know I mean something to you. If saving this world isn’t good enough for you, then do it for me.”

“Trust goes both ways. I still don’t know who you really are,” Alzona retorts.

“Adox has revealed the Ire to the king,” I interject softly. Alzona will have no idea what I’m saying, but I direct the comment at Crystal who starts, looking at me with fearful eyes. She’ll understand this means she can tell Zona. She’ll also know something huge has happened to make Adox divulge their location. No doubt Crystal will have a few questions about the Ire for me later.

Crystal turns to Alzona. “If you can do this for me, I’ll tell you all you wish. And you’ll see why I couldn’t tell you before,” she says to the taller, dark-haired woman. Their eyes lock as they communicate without words.

Alzona is the first to lower her eyes. “I’ll do it,” she croaks. Crystal gives a short jerk of her head and spins around, leaving the room. I lean against the paper-thin wall, hoping it doesn’t give way while I wait for Alzona to collect her thoughts. My old grey uniform is sitting folded on the bed. I wonder who placed it there. The tough yet free life I had here seems like an age ago.

Alzona pushes her hair back with shaking hands. I straighten, sensing she’s ready to begin.

“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just go ahead and get it out,” she says in a small voice. I hate the sound. It doesn’t sit right on her.

The barracks owner stares at a spot on the wall beside me.

“Blaine is my father.”





Chapter Seven


“What?” I stare at her in horror. Blaine is Alzona’s father?

“I’m his only legitimate child, from his first marriage,” she states. The delivery of her words is emotionless. I recognize it as the same tone Shard used while relating Avalanche’s tortured history. Alzona is trying to distance herself from the terrors of her past. I watch as she opens and closes her mouth. She doesn’t seem to know how to continue.

“I know his current wife, Macy. It was she who approached me, asking for self-defense to use against Blaine,” I offer.

Alzona doesn’t display shock like most would at this news. Her reaction tells me more than anything else so far. Empathy for Macy burns from her dark blue eyes.

“Then it’s easier to say,” she sighs. “He beat me. He beat us both. One day he beat my mother until she was a pulpy mess on the kitchen floor. He killed her.” Her voice breaks. She stands, hugging herself. My heart breaks as I finally see her without her sarcastic, defensive and ruthless armor. Her vulnerability will haunt me forever.

“I ran away that night,” she whispers. “I’m the sole witness to his crime. He’ll want me dead. He’s been searching for me for a long time. But I have no idea what his plans are. I haven’t seen him in nearly fifteen years. I don’t want to ever see him again,” she begs.

I edge closer and enfold her in my arms, not sure whether this will make her shut down. She shakes in my arms.

I reach up to stroke her hair. “While Blaine is allowed to roam free, you’ll always be looking behind you. Help me. Help yourself to be rid of him once and for all.”

*

I sleep on the lumpy mattress in my cramped room filled with the echoes of the night. I force my eyes to stay open as long as possible, but eventually I fall asleep to the beautiful strumming of Blizzard’s guitar. It sounds odd, though, without Flurry’s snores punctuating through at regular intervals.

Despite this, I feel curiously content the next day. I’d intended to return to the castle, but there’s other business to attend to. If I do it today, I won’t have to return to the Outer Rings. I’m not sure when I’ll get another chance.

The mess room is in full swing when I enter. Avalanche is serving up breakfast from a large pot. Ice slides a loaded plate down the table to me as I sit.