CHAPTER 31

The Price of Loyalty

“You shouldn’t be up.”

Flora barely glanced up as Adrian stepped inside the tent, his voice low but laced with frustration. He stood at the entrance, arms crossed, silhouetted against the dim lantern light.

“I’m fine,” she said, though the stiffness in her movements told a different story.

Adrian exhaled sharply, stepping closer. “You got stabbed, Flora. That’s not ‘fine.’”

She waved him off. "It's not like I planned it."

His jaw tightened. He crouched beside her, eyes scanning her wrapped wound. She looked better than she had hours ago-less pale, more steady-but that didn't change what had happened. What could've happened.

"You scared the hell out of me," he muttered.

Flora's expression softened. "I know.

For a moment, there was no answer. The heft of that night yet hovered between them and would not shake. Outside the camp stirred: low murmurs, the soft shuffle of boot on dirt. Their people rallied, recovered, but the war was not over.

Not yet.

"Where is Lorne?" Flora asked at last.

Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "Gone. Took what was left of his men and vanished before sunrise." There was bitterness underlying his voice. "Coward."

Flora frowned. "That doesn't make sense. He wanted in on this fight-he was the one pushing for it."

"Yeah, and now he's gone." Adrian shook his head. "I don't trust it.

Flora shifted, wincing slightly as she readjusted her position. "Maybe he lost too many men. Maybe he realized this wasn't worth it."

Adrian didn't look convinced. "Or maybe he got what he came for."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither said a word. Because they both knew-Lorne wasn't the kind of man to walk away unless he wanted to. And if he'd wanted out, that meant something bigger was at play.

Flora let out a sigh, rubbing a hand over her face. "We should've seen this coming.

We were too busy trying to survive." Adrian's voice was tight. "And now I have to pick up the pieces."

The pack was in disarray: half of them were dead, the other half questioning everything. And Adrian-he was caught in the middle, the weight of leadership heavier upon him than it had ever been before.

"I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up," he admitted, quieter this time.

Flora looked at him, really looked at him. His shoulders were tense, his face drawn. He looked exhausted. Worn down in a way she hadn't seen before.

"There are things I can't fix," he went on. "People I can't protect."

Flora reached for his hand, squeezing it tight. "You don't have to protect everyone, Adrian. Just let me help."

But he shook his head. "I can't risk losing you. Not like this."

Flora's fingers curled around his tighter. "You're not losing me."

He didn't answer right away. Instead, his gaze dropped to their joined hands, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"You almost died tonight," he said finally.

"But I didn't."

His eyes snapped back to hers. "Because you got lucky."

Flora sighed. "Adrian—"

"No." His voice was firm. "I won't do this. I won't sit back and watch you throw yourself into danger for me."

She held his gaze. "Then don't watch. Fight with me."

He blew out a breath, running a hand over his face. "Flora—"

She squeezed his fingers again. "I knew what I was doing. I made that choice. Just like you've made choices to protect me." Her voice gentled. "Don't shut me out."

He was silent for a long moment.

Then, finally—

"I don't know how to do this," he rasped low. "I don't know how to—" He broke off, shaking his head. "I cannot lose another person I care about."

Flora's heart contracted.

She reached up, brushing her fingers against his cheek. "Then don't."

Adrian exhaled slowly.

There was just the two of them in that moment—the war, the betrayal, the bloodshed—all of it fell to the background.

Then—

A sharp knock at the entrance to the tent shattered the moment.

Adrian tensed, standing immediately. "What?"

Jace, one of the few remaining fighters still loyal to Adrian, stepped inside. His face was grim. "We have a problem."

Adrian's expression darkened. "Of course we do."

Jace didn't smile. "It's about Lorne."

Flora sat up straighter. "What about him?"

Jace hesitated. "He's not just gone. He switched sides."

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

Flora felt Adrian go still beside her.

"Explain," Adrian said, and though his voice came out low, it wasn't soft.

Jace swallowed. "He met with them. The ones we were fighting against. I don't know what he offered, but… he's not running. He's working with them now."

Flora's stomach twisted. "That doesn't make sense."

Jace shook his head. "I don't think it was ever about this battle. I think he was playing both sides from the start."

A muscle flexed in Adrian's jaw.

It wasn't news to him; he had grown up in its presence, negotiating the viciousness of pack politics. But this-this-was something different.

  He had trusted Lorne. Not entirely, not foolishly-but sufficiently.

 And now?  

Now he had once again been wrong. Flora watched as emotion danced across Adrian's face-an enraged frustration and a hint of something too near to hurt-until finally, exhaled, fists clenched, he turned his face. 

"Where is he now?

Jace hesitated. "He's moving south. Fast. Whatever deal he made, he's wasting no time cashing in."

Adrian nodded slowly.

Flora studied his face. "What are you thinking?"

His voice was quiet, but firm. "I'm going after him."

Jace nodded. "Figured you'd say that."

Flora shifted, testing the pain in her side. "I'm coming with you."

Adrian shot her a look. "No, you're not."

She glared right back. "Yes. I am."

"Flora—

"I know what you're going to say," she interrupted him, "and I don't care. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines while you hunt down the man who just betrayed all of us."

Adrian rubbed his temples. "You're hurt."

"And I'll survive," she fired back at him. "You need me."

He blew out a frustrated breath. "You're impossible."

She smirked. "And yet, here we are."

Jace cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt your lovers' quarrel, but we don't have time for this."

Adrian shot him a glare.

Jace held up his hands. "Just saying."

Adrian turned back to Flora, exhaling through his nose. "Fine. But you do exactly what I say."

Flora smirked. "Sure. Whatever you say."

He narrowed his eyes. "You're lying."

She grinned. "A little."

Jace groaned. "We're all gonna die."

Adrian said nothing. He turned to Flora, his eyes inscrutable. Then, finally, he sighed.

"Let's move."