Unaware of Janco’s turmoil, the man said, “You’re not part of the gardening crew or the harvesting crew, so you’re not allowed in here.”

“Sorry, sir.”

“Sorry isn’t good enough. Many of these plants are very delicate.”

“I didn’t touch anything.” Janco stepped to go around him.

The gardener held up his shears, pointing the tips at Janco’s chest. “Not so fast. You look familiar. What’s your name?”

Without hesitating, Janco said, “Yannis Greenblade, sir.”

“You’ll be docked a week’s pay for this little stunt, Yannis. Be glad I don’t fire you.”

Ah, this man was in charge. Janco lowered his gaze as if in contrition. “Thank you, sir.”

“And stay out of my hothouses.”

“Yes, sir.”

The man lowered the shears, and Janco bolted for the door. Holy snow cats, he’d just encountered the Master Gardener. Now if he could only remember the man’s name.

10

YELENA

The bang of the door slamming behind Valek echoed in my bones. Shocked and speechless, I stood among the prone forms of Cahil’s people in the warehouse. I’d never seen him so angry with me. But he had every right to be. I hadn’t believed he’d win in a fight with Onora, or trusted him to rescue me.

Cahil bent to retrieve his sword. “That went better than expected.”

I raised an eyebrow. All his people had been neutralized, and a nasty cut snaked up his arm from when Valek had disarmed him.

“When I saw the Commander’s new assassin, I thought she’d come to kill us all. And then with Valek... I never thought he’d let you fulfill the terms of our agreement. Although, at the end there, I think he wanted to kill you more than me.”

With good reason. I’d ruined all the plans we’d worked so hard to set in motion. The heart-shaped scar on my chest ached. It’d been only two months since we’d exchanged marriage vows and Valek had transformed the Commander’s bloody C on his chest into a heart, pledging his loyalty to me. In return, I’d cut a heart of my own, vowing to be with him forever.

“Despite your claims, the Commander is not working with Bruns,” Cahil said, distracting me from my morose thoughts.

“How did you come up with that?”

“Onora’s obviously working with Valek. That fight on the rooftop was probably staged. Her claim that Bruns asked the Commander to send her was just to make me doubt Bruns. Just like you want to do with our accord.”

I couldn’t argue the point that Valek and Onora were working together. Why hadn’t he told me? Perhaps he didn’t have time. Did it matter? No. Valek always put my safety first. If he forgave me, I’d never doubt him again. If not...

I shied away from that awful thought.

“Come on,” Cahil said, heading to the stairs.

We returned to the basement office. I bandaged Cahil’s cut and then sat at one of the desks while Cahil straightened the mess they’d left behind in their hurry to leave. He hummed to himself. The bastard was in a good mood.

“Did you lie about The Mosquito, too?” I asked.

“I didn’t lie about Valek. My sources spotted him fighting Onora, and she was seen later. It was a natural conclusion. As for The Mosquito, he is dead. That’s been confirmed.”

One bright spot in an otherwise miserable day. The sleepless night caught up to me. Exhausted and heartsick, I rested my head on the desk and welcomed sleep.

* * *

Voices and movement roused me. Cahil’s people had woken, and they filtered into the office area with sheepish expressions. A few sported bruises, and I helped bandage a number of cuts. It could have been worse.

Cahil sent two of them to keep an eye on the door while the rest discussed their next move. A messenger from Bruns arrived, and I ducked under the desk to avoid being spotted. They went into Cahil’s office, but I remained hidden until the man left.

“Good news, Yelena.” Cahil smiled. “I’ve been recalled to the garrison. No need to invent an excuse for our departure.”

“Why do you have to go back?”

His grin turned sly. “I’ll tell you in ten days.”

Bastard.

“We’ll leave tomorrow morning for the garrison,” Cahil said to his crew. “Hanni, please pick up supper for all of us.”

“Not from the Council Hall’s dining room,” I said. “The Hall’s food is laced with Theobroma.”

Hanni gave me a wide-eyed stare.

“You don’t know that for sure,” Cahil said with an annoyed tone.

“How else can you explain the Councilors’ willingness to leave and allow the Cartel to take over?”

“They agreed with Bruns’s brilliant ideas and strategy.”

“Then why not appoint him General and organize the war preparations themselves?” I asked.

“I’m not going to argue with you anymore.”

Too bad. It would be a nice distraction from my situation.

“Hanni, buy a bunch of meat pies from the market.” Cahil handed her a gold coin.

“Yes, sir.” She bolted for the door.

“This place has been compromised. The rest of you pack up all the intel. We’ll move the furniture later.”

They bustled about, shoving files and various items into boxes and crates. I stayed out of the way.

One of the door guards appeared and gestured Cahil over. “There’s a...person at the door. He insists on talking to you and our...guest.”