I winced and let out a yell as my mother helped me settle down.
I shut my eyes hard trying not to think about the pain shooting through my arm right now but it's kind of hard to ignore a fire when you're the one getting burnt.
I was back in my tent, sitting upright on the sleeping bag.
I looked up at her.
My eyes were blood shot but at least I had stopped crying.
So much for being tough and defiant but who wouldn't burst into tears after literally getting their bone snapped in two.
I know I was healing.
The medics had realigned the bone. Well, as best as they could anyway. It's not like they had any x-ray guidance.
As per Ornyx's orders, I wasn't afforded any pain killers or really anything else that would help.
So I sat in excruciating pain as my mother watched me.
She looked pained. As if seeing me like this was hurting her as well.
But that's the thing. It wasn't. She wasn't the one going through any of this. And if she really cared. She wouldn't let it happen.
She knelt in front of me and placed her hand on my knee.
"It will be over soon." She whispered.
I gave her a hard look.
She frowned. "Sweetie, the pain? It's only temporary. After this, you'll be stronger, Ornyx will-"
"Leave. Me. Alone." I spoke through gritted teeth.
My mother looked taken aback.
She reached out to touch my face. "Crystal."
I pulled away from her hold.
She dropped her hand, her face dropping.
"You're not my mother. I don't know who you are." I spoke.
I didn't know what to expect.
Maybe her to fight for me? Prove that she was real. That she had been real and all this was just pretend.
But all she did was get to her feet.
"After all this. You will be stronger. And you'll thank me." She spoke in a low voice before turning to leave.
I felt the tears escape my eyes. I thought I was done but I guess not.
I stared at the dagger on the ground in front of me.
How the hell was I going to get out of this?
I must have dozed off because when I woke up I saw Roman in front of me.
He was sitting on the ground across from me.
The dagger was in his hand. He fiddled with it studying it with interest.
He only looked away when he saw me shift.
I watched as he set it down.
"Hey." He spoke quietly. "We've got to stop meeting like this."
I didn't smile.
He let out a sigh as he looked at my arm which was swollen and red now.
"Guess you didn't take my advice."
I didn't say anything.
I felt hopeless and defeated right now.
How was I supposed to fight for Tristan when I couldn't even fight for myself.
Roman got up.
He walked over to a table and brought a cup of some green liquid.
I stared at it skeptically as he knelt down in front of me offering it to me.
"For the pain." He spoke.
I blinked at him. "Ornyx said -"
"I know what Ornyx said." He spoke. "Just take it and pretend to be in excruciating pain when he gets back."
I wanted to ask why Roman was even doing this.
Ornyx wasn't merciful in the least. Not even to someone who had spent his life working in his name.
I couldn't fight it, I leaned over and let Roman top the cup of green sludge into my mouth.
It tasted... leafy and bitter.
I pulled back coughing.
Roman grinned. "I know. Acquired taste. But it works."
He sat down. I saw him studying me.
His eyes fixed on my neck where I had no doubt Ornyx's hands had left marks.
He frowned. "I told you to play along, Crystal." He sighed.
I shifted wincing slightly.
"He's not my alpha." I spoke.
"So you keep saying." Roman muttered not offering any more of an argument.
"Should you even be here?" I asked watching as Roman readjusted himself so that he was lying on the sleeping bag.
He closed his eyes and tucked his arms behind his head.
"Do you want me to leave?" He asked.
I didn't respond.
The answer wasn't exactly yes.
He seemed to know this too because he remained in his position.
We sat in silence for a few minutes.
I could feel the concoction beginning to work, feeling some relief in my arm.
"You know." Roman started casually, his eyes were still closed. For a minute I thought he had fallen asleep but I guess I should have known better. "According to Theresa, Ornyx didn't say who should take Tristan's heart."
My eyes widened. I looked at Roman in outrage.
Of course my mother had told him.
Something told me he had been thinking about this since I saw him fiddling with the dagger.
"No." I spoke firmly. "No, Roman."
He opened his eyes, staring at the top of the tent.
"What if I already did it?" He asked.
My blood ran cold, I felt myself get weak and sick at the same time.
I begun to shake with rage.
"Roman..." I spoke his name scarily calm.
He let out a breath as he pushed himself into a sitting position.
"I haven't." He spoke.
Relief immediately washed over me.
"Not yet, anyway." He shrugged. He looked at me. "Theresa thinks I should though. I'm just here to get the go ahead from you."
I stared at him. "I would never ask you to-"
"I know you would never say it." He spoke. "So I'm looking for it in your eyes, in your body language, in the things you're not saying."
"I'm saying. Do. Not. Touch. Him!" I growled.
"Mmhmm." Roman spoke as he got to his feet.
He strolled over and picked up the dagger.
"Roman!" I yelled.
I used my okay hand to push myself to my feet.
"Roman!"
He spun abruptly and suddenly placed a finger to my lips.
"Ssh, I'm about to throw away my life away for you. The least you could do is show a little appreciation." He spoke dryly.
I looked at him in confusion.
He stepped back. "The soldiers appointed to guard you are taking a five minute break for dinner. Theresa's orders. Ornyx will probably be back in an hour, I hear the Silvercrest troops are overpowering him. He'll want to retreat and recuperate. So everyone is getting ready to relocate and change camp. That gives us a bit of a window with all the distraction."
I had to stop to process everything Roman was saying.
"Y-you're, you're helping me escape?" I asked.
Roman shrugged. "It's either that or live with nightmares all my life because I couldn't save you."
I was at a loss for words. I just blinked at Roman.
He was choosing to help me.
"And my mum?" I asked. Was there still a part of the woman I knew in her.
Roman sighed. "The hierarchy here is complicated. She gave me the order but technically, she's not involved."
I felt the disappointment steal away my energy. "So she's not coming."
Roman shook his head.
I simply nodded. That was okay.
It's not like I wanted her anyway.
Right?
"We have to move fast." Roman spoke. "So for once, listen to me, will you?"
I nodded.
"On one condition."
He huffed. "Crys-"
"We're getting Tristan."
Roman didn't look surprised. "My orders were to get you out of here. And putting all your feelings aside, how far exactly do you think we're gonna get with alpha hops-a-lot?"
I narrowed my eyes at Roman. That wasn't funny.
"I don't care. I'm not leaving without him."
Roman ran a hand down his face and groaned.
He turned and looked towards the entrance of the tent.
"You're so stubborn, Crystal, I swear -" he sucked in a deep breath to calm himself.
"Okay." He spoke. "We're all probably gonna die but... I guess we're doing a jail break."
I brightened immediately. Without stopping myself I rushed over and wrapped my arms around him in a hug.
"Thank you."
I knew this wasn't easy for him.
"Don't thank me yet." He grumbled not hugging me back.
He stepped back from me.
"We need to survive first."
***
We used the night as cover.
Roman was right about the evacuation, many of the soldiers who hadn't gone off to fight with Ornyx were helping assemble people and carry bags.
I saw mothers getting their kids ready and men storing up supplies.
I frowned thinking of how they would become nomads again.
Roman tugged on my hand.
He had given me a black jacket to wear hoping we would blend in and not be noticed.
He kept his head low but really no one paid us any mind.
But we still had to hurry. The guards would show up and realise I wasn't in the tent.
And considering Ornyx expected a heart delivered to him upon return, I knew the guards would be expecting to escort me to the cells any second now.
Roman led me to the cave where Tristan was being kept.
But first he stopped by a nearby bush to stash a bag pack where he had stuffed some supplies.
He nodded at the two men guarding the entrance.
"General." One spoke sounding surprised. "We didn't know you'd be coming through."
Roman nodded. "Special request from the alpha's granddaughter. She wanted me here while she delivers on her obligation."
I held up the dagger weakly.
The guard who spoke looked at Roman. "I didn't know she was making requests now."
I tensed up.
Roman remained composed.
He simply shrugged. "Do you want to take it up with Ornyx?"
The man immediately faltered. "No, General."
He nodded at his partner and they started rolling away the heavy rock covering the entrance.
Roman nodded at me, I stepped forward, walking into the dark passageway.
The other guard handed Roman a torch.
"Will it take long?" I heard one of the guards ask in amusement. I froze in my steps gripping the torch.
I guess I didn't look like much with my broken arm in a support. They were probably laughing at me. I wondered if they all knew how I had broken it. Or maybe they knew and didn't think it was out of the ordinary.
"Doubt it. The boy barely has anything left in him." The other chuckled.
"Perfect." Roman responded matching their tone. "A little privacy, though?"
He leaned in closer and whispered. "First kill."
The guards chuckled.
"Sure." One responded and the rock was rolled back leaving us with just the torch to illuminate the place.
I could make out the expression on Roman's face properly and I realised that it never occurred to me that this could be a trick.
That Roman could actually go through with it.
I didn't want to think that way of him but he was Shadow pack. And that comment about a 'first kill' unsettled me.
"Well?" Roman nodded at me.
I shook my head out of it.
He couldn't be that wicked.
He was... different. But I refused to believe he was evil.
I walked foward leading the way.
When we came to the room I saw Tristan in a ball on the floor.
I ran to him, immediately dropping the dagger and placing my hands on his arm.
"Tristan?" I whispered.
He rolled over.
Roman walked up to us placing the torch in front of him.
I gasped when I saw that Tristan's clothes were in tatters. Blood stained his body and cuts and scars decorated his body.
His face was swollen, his eye black.
I fought back my tears at the sight. What had they done?
I placed my hand gently on Tristan's face.
"Tristan." I tried to shake him gently.
He moaned, shifting slightly.
His eyes opened with difficulty and it was a miracle they hadn't swollen shut.
I let out a breath of relief and shifted so that I could support him as I helped him into a sitting position.
His eyes struggled to adjust to me.
"Crystal?" He muttered.
"Yes, yes. It's me." I told him.
It's then that he noticed Roman as well.
His face darkened.
"What's he doing here?"
Before Roman could say anything, I pipped up. "Helping. He's helping. We're gonna get you out of here. Can you get up?"
"He has one foot, Crystal." Roman spoke dryly.
I turned to glare at him. "Then help please."
Roman rolled his eyes but went over to Tristan's other side. He didn't seem to have much trouble hoisting him up but Tristan was in more pain than I thought because he let out an unexpected yell.
He shut his eyes and bit his tongue.
I was on his other side placing my hand on his chest trying to soothe his.
"Sorry." He spoke.
"No, it's perfect." Roman spoke. "Kind of sells the whole cutting out his heart thing."
"What?" Tristan asked.
"Nothing." I spoke.
I didn't know how much time we had but Roman had been right. We wouldn't be able to move inconspicuously with Tristan in this state so we needed to move fast.
I noticed Tristan was wet and shaking.
When Ornyx had said he would wish he was never born, I had a feeling he wasn't kidding in the least.
I took off my support for my arm. It was still very tender but Roman's pain remedy had helped a bit. But I also knew my bone wasn't anywhere near completely healed.
But I didn't have time to wait for the full thing.
I took off my jacket and wrapped it around Tristan.
He stared at me as if he still couldn't believe I was here.
"What - Crystal - how? Your arm, what happened?"
"It doesn't matter. We're getting you out of here." I spoke firmly. "You just be strong for me, okay?" I told him.
His face softened. "I love you." He spoke.
I knew he wasn't saying it because he was overwhelmed with emotion. I knew Tristan enough now to know that he was saying it because he didn't get to say it enough before. And he might not get the chance after this.
But not on my watch.
Roman cleared his throat.
I felt guilty with him having to witness this.
We helped Tristan to the door.
Roman had him lean against the wall.
I tried not to stare at how off balance he looked without his left foot.
I tried not to think about how much I wanted Ornyx to pay for all this.
"Okay." Roman spoke. "I need to take care of the guards. You two remain here and remain quiet."
I held Tristan around the waist, now his sole support.
"What? You're doing this alone?" I asked outraged.
"Do you have some fighting skills that you've been hiding?" He asked me.
I frowned. I didn't want Roman to fight two guys alone.
It was dangerous and I didn't want him getting hurt because of me.
Roman walked back to retrieve the dagger and the torch.
"Wait for my signal." He told me as he handed the torch to me and the dagger to Tristan.
He stared at him. "I've seen you fight with one hand. Can I count on you to keep her safe with one foot?"
Tristan gave him a hard look.
"Not even a question."
Roman nodded and it's like an understanding passed between the two of them.
I never thought I'd see the day when I would see them agree on anything.
"I'll be right back." Roman spoke.
"Be careful." I told him sternly.
"Promise." He spoke with a wink before disappearing.
I held on tighter to Tristan.
He placed his arm around me. As we waited silently.
I could feel Tristan's heart beating. Or maybe it was mine?
I heard the rock scraping the ground indicating that the cave was opened.
"Hey fellas, who wants to see the body of a dead Silvercrest alpha?" I heard Roman's voice.
"No sh*t! She did it?" I heard a voice.
I heard shuffling and footsteps and knew they had stepped in.
"Yeah, she's a natural Van Cliffe." Roman spoke.
"Damn, it's true what they say I guess. It's in the blood." One spoke.
We could hear the voices getting closer and the light from one of their torches getting nearer.
The footsteps got closer and closer and I knew the man was only seconds away.
"What do you expect? That's Xavier's kid. He was a beast - wait, where's the body?" The voice was right outside now.
I heard a yell.
"What-"
Tristan suddenly let go of me and twisted his body.
He pulled the guard closest to the door inside and pushed him to the ground. Next thing I knew he had plunged the knife into the man's chest, once, then twice, the third time I yelled his name.
He was breathing heavily.
There was a wild look on his face.
Blood stained his hands.
Roman rushed back in.
He studied the sight before him.
I saw his face drop for a second but he quickly forced himself to recover.
"I see you've got this covered here."
He moved forward and helped me lift Tristan.
Tristan swallowed hard as he stared at the man on the ground.
He wiped the blood on his torn pants.
I picked up the jacket which had come off and walked back to him.
He didn't meet my eyes and I knew he was ashamed about what he had just done or maybe what I had just seen?
I didn't know what to think. The man had already been dead but he just kept going...
I swallowed hard as I realised that the Tristan who was brought here wouldn't be the same one who went home.
I couldn't imagine what had happened to him during his time in this room.
But I could tell that it had done irreversible damage.
Tristan put more weight on me and he was breathing heavily.
That small action must have taken the little energy he had left.
"Are you gonna be okay?" I asked in concern.
"Yeah." He spoke sounding breathless.
"Unfortunately, there's no time for a breather." Roman spoke not sounding like he cared much anyway. "Come on."
He had Tristan wrap his arm around his shoulder.
He did the same to me with his other hand and I held his waist as I used all my strength to help him move.
"Wait." Roman spoke abruptly when we were in the passageway.
I heard it too.
Footsteps.
"Someone's coming." Roman spoke.
I flashed the torch ahead.
I started to panic when I saw the figure of a woman in the soldiers uniform.
She shone a light at us as well.
Roman looked ready to leap into action but then he furrowed his brows pausing.
"Meggy?"
Surely I looked a second time and saw the rogue who was also Roman's ex.
Last I saw of her was when she was in the Silvercrest prisons telling me what a disappointment I was.
I should have known she had ended up here when Tristan had been taken.
I held on to Tristan ready to protect him from any attacks.
She walked up to us and I became more tense.
To my surprise she grinned.
"This is an odd sight." She spoke.
Roman looked surprised. "You escaped. I heard you escaped. What the hell are you doing back here?" He asked.
Meggy's eyes skimmed over me with distaste before landing on Tristan.
"Against my better judgement, I'm here for him."
"You're not touching him." I immediately spoke protectively.
Meggy scoffed at me. "I'm not here to hurt him. I came to bust him out of this joint."
"What?" Roman and I asked simultaneously. Confusion evident on both our faces.
I looked at Tristan waiting for an explanation.
But he just smiled gently at Meggy.
"What can I say?" Meggy muttered. "Facing death together kind of bonds you for life."
I shared a look with Roman wondering if he found this as weird as I did.
"Okay." He finally spoke sounding doubtful. "The more the merrier."
We suddenly heard screaming and commotion outside.
"What was that?" I asked.
Meggy grinned. "Oh yeah, I ran into some Silvercrest soldiers. They weren't too happy to see me but I might have tipped them off on the camp location. So we might want to get a move on before all hell breaks loose."
I heard a scream.
It sounded like it already had.
One thing was for certain.
The fight was coming here.
"Are you gonna be okay?" I asked Tristan.
He nodded firmly but I knew he was trying to be strong.
I tried to be gentle but move as fast as I could while still supporting him.
We had to stop for a bit so that Roman could retrieve the stashed bag pack.
Tents had been knocked over and somewhere a small fire had erupted.
All around people we're running around not really paying attention to us as the soldiers worked more frantically to get everyone to safety.
"You led the Silvercrest troops here?" Roman asked Meggy sounding angry.
I had to remember that all things considered, these were still his people.
"Not quite." Meggy spoke as she led the way in the opposite direction. She brushed off some leaves from a tree that almost smacked her face as we disappeared into the woods. "I gave them a little hint. The rest they should figure out soon enough. If they get the best of Ornyx and the rest of the army, they'll be touching base here soon enough."
I fought the urge to look back as I found myself worried about my mother.
And all those innocent children.
I tried to look at Roman. He had a straight face on but I knew it couldn't be easy for him.
"What happens when Silvercrest touches base?" I asked, narrowly missing tripping over an overgrown tree root that I hadn't seen.
It was hard to really focus the flashlight and help support Tristan at the same time.
Meggy scoffed. "Don't you know anything?"
"The war is over." Tristan spoke more calmly. "Touching base in another pack's territory kind of means you've 'captured their flag'."
"That and killing their alpha." Roman muttered. "And I doubt Ornyx would go down that easily."
"Nope, the bastard is still probably ripping out throats as we speak." Meggy spoke. "If you don't want yours to be next, move faster."
And so we did.
I don't know how much ground we covered but I knew that adrenaline and my determination to get Tristan to save me gave me the strength to move as fast as I could.
I only slowed when I heard Tristan's breathing getting heavier.
"Hey? Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.
Tristan nodded. But I could tell from his face that that was far from the truth.
"We need to stop." I spoke slowing down.
Roman did the same automatically.
Meggy spun around looking irritated.
"Excuse -"
Tristan suddenly hunched over and threw up.
I was almost pushed forward and knocked down with his weight but Roman held him, helping him kneel.
I got on my knees with him rubbing his back as I watched him wrench out guts. Which wasn't anything solid really. It's not like they had been feeding him much.
When he was done he sunk into my arms.
I placed my hand on his forehead and immediately panicked.
"You're burning up." I spoke.
Tristan muttered something incoherent placing his head on my shoulder weakly.
I looked up at Meggy and Roman in worry.
"We have to stop. He needs medical attention and rest."
Meggy sighed. "He must have an infection or something from all his wounds. Doesn't help that they pumped him with wolfsbane." She spoke.
His immunity was down. So was his healing rate.
Roman crouched down studying Tristan.
I held onto him rubbing his arm.
His eyes struggled to stay open. "I'm okay. We should keep moving." He mumbled weakly.
Roman sighed. "Let's make camp here." He spoke reluctantly.
Meggy's eyes widened at him. "Ornyx is gonna come looking for us. We can't stay out for too long."
He got back to his feet. "We won't. Just over the night. He won't make it -" Roman stopped whatever he was going to say when he looked at me, "-very far if we don't stop and tend to his injuries."
Meggy looked angry but for some reason her features softened when she looked at Tristan.
What the hell happened between the two of them? I wondered.
Meggy sighed. "I guess if they're rushing to evacuate the camp... maybe they won't find us here. And if the Silvercrest troops keep them busy enough, we'll have some time bought."
"Never thought I'd see the day when you'd be betting on the Silvercrests." Roman spoke in amusement.
"Well." Meggy shrugged. "Lesser of two evils." She sighed looking at Tristan in my arms.
"We'll still have to throw off our scents." She spoke. "Not a problem for you and I." She spoke nodding at Roman.
Roman nodded immediately seeming to understand. "Crystal, your top. Take it off." He nodded.
Tristan's head snapped towards him as fast as it could anyway in his state.
Roman rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna throw off her scent. "She can wear my jacket." Roman spoke as he immediately started taking it off.
A few minutes later, Meggy was helping me lift Tristan up.
We laid him in between overgrown tree roots. Meggy had laid down some huge leaves for cushioning.
I helped lay his head down gently
Meggy took off her jacket and placed it gently on top of him.
I watched her carefully as she got closer, leaning her head to his to whisper in his ear.
"You didn't survive taking on Ornyx Van Cliffe to die now."
She whispered to him. "Come on, alpha up."
Tristan let out a weak chuckle.
He didn't seem to have enough strength to talk now either.
Roman walked over with a bottle from the bag pack.
He handed the other to Meggy. She took it already seeming to know what to do.
He had another bottle that looked similar to the green stuff he had me drink.
They tore a bit of the jacket and both got to work starting to clean Tristan's cuts with it.
Tristan was fighting the urge to yell out. He balled up the jacket and bit hard into it.
I appeared beside him, stroking his hair and holding his hand trying to provide all the support I could.
I almost burst into tears myself when I saw him constantly flinch.
The bond was working overtime even though the empathy link was fading.
"You're okay." I kept whispering willing them to be done already.
When Roman moved to the stump that had been left in place of Tristan's foot, he jolted so fast he almost head butted me.
Roman held up his hands in defence. "Okay, not touching it."
Roman and Meggy were done working on Tristan.
He seemed a bit more relaxed but he was still burning up.
Meggy poured the remaining water on her jacket and rested it on his body. I used the sleeve to pat his forehead hoping and praying that the fever went down.
After some time Tristan calmed down enough to shut his eyes and actually sleep.
I had a feeling this was the first good rest he had gotten in a while even though it wasn't the most ideal.
I thought about how he had killed that soldier so savagely.
I knew Tristan had fought in a war before. I saw how he had handled that rogue who had gotten too close to me.
But still, I never thought of him as someone who could cause harm if it wasn't necessary.
I mean it had been but... he was already dead.
A thought hit me suddenly.
I hadn't even told him about Bridget.
I had been thinking that when we got back I could tell her what I saw him become. She would help bring the Tristan we knew back.
But he wasn't going home to her. And God knows who else would be missing.
I hadn't exactly gotten any updates on how things were going after my brief meeting with Mikey.
Gosh, Joshua was supposed to be sent in to fight.
I tensed up as the worst crossed my mind but I immediately brushed it off.
The Melroses needed to stay alive. They needed to reunite.
Roman held up my top which I had taken off prior, I was now in his jacket.
"I'm gonna spread the scent." He spoke. "I'll be back in an hour, tops."
"If not?" Meggy asked him, her arms folded across her chest and her brows risen curiously.
Roman's eyes darted to me.
"Then keep moving."
My heart sunk.
"Or here's a better idea." Meggy spoke poking him in the chest. "Don't get caught."
I saw Roman grin slightly. "I'll try my best."
He turned to me and nodded.
I nodded back.
He disappeared into the woods probably to strip before shifting.
When he was gone, Meggy turned to me.
I still didn't know if I could trust her.
"You should get some rest. I'll take first watch." She spoke.
Tristan was snoring softly in my arms now.
I didn't want to let go of him. I wanted him to know he was safe now.
"I can stay up too." I immediately offered. But I was exhausted. Bringing Tristan this far hadn't been easy.
And all in all, it had been an eventful day.
Meggy rolled her eyes. "I'm not gonna slit your throats in your sleep."
"Well I wasn't even thinking that but since you brought it up." I glared at her in accusation.
"Fine." Meggy spoke. "Do whatever you want. It's not like I care."
She settled on a another root, her back to us.
I huffed as I adjusted the dry jacket on Tristan. I didn't know if it was my imagination but his temperature seemed to be getting back to normal.
"He'll be okay." Meggy muttered.
I didn't realise that she had turned to look at me.
"He's not weak." She spoke.
I stared at her wondering why she thought she knew him all of a sudden. But then I forced myself to relax. She wasn't the enemy. At least I don't think she would have helped this much if she was.
"No he isn't." I spoke staring at Tristan's face which looked peaceful in his sleep.
"Neither is David." She spoke.
She stared at me in a way that made me feel like she could read my mind. Like she knew just how much I was worrying about Roman right now.
I simply grunted and looked away trying not to feel guilty for caring.
He had risked his life to get both me and Tristan here after all.
I don't know how sleep had crept over me but I knew I was in dream land when I saw my father.
He was seated on a bench in the park reading a newspaper.
He suddenly lowered it and beamed at me.
He gestured for me to join him.
There was no hesitation in my bones as I ran up to him.
But a revolving theme around here lately has been that nothing good lasts forever.
And surely, no sooner had I gotten within ten feet of my father when the scene changed and suddenly Joshua Melrose was marching up to me in a soldiers uniform.
I looked around and we were in the woods somewhere.
He sounded exhausted. "Crystal." He let out. "I need your help."