BLOODMOON PACT

THE ROAD CUT BOTH WAYS

Chapter 5:

The gates of Red Hollow vanished behind them before the adrenaline did.

Raina kept her horse at a hard gallop until the town’s noise faded into wind and distant barking. Her shoulder screamed with every jolt, and the poison was back to gnawing at her ribs. She didn’t slow down. Stopping meant thinking, and thinking meant facing what Jarek said.

Kael stayed beside her, not ahead this time. His jaw was set, eyes fixed on the dark tree line like he expected Iron Fang to burst out of it.

Neither of them spoke for a long time.

The moon was high by the time Kael finally broke the silence. “We’re heading north. There’s an old hunter’s cabin two hours out. Safe. Off any mapped road.”

Raina didn’t answer. Her hands were too tight on the reins, knuckles pale.

“You don’t have to trust me,” Kael said. “But you need rest, or that poison will kill you before my uncle gets the chance.”

Her laugh was short and bitter. “Funny. Didn’t think I’d have to worry about both.”

Kael flinched, but he didn’t deny it.

The forest thinned out into a rocky slope, and the cabin came into view, half, collapsed, roof caved in on one side, but the stone hearth still stood. Kael dismounted first, checking the perimeter with practiced speed.

“Clear,” he said. “It’ll hold for the night.”

Raina slid off her horse and immediately regretted it. Her legs buckled. Kael caught her arm before she hit the ground, his grip firm but careful.

“Don’t,” she muttered, pulling away. “Don’t touch me like I’m about to break.”

“You are about to break,” he said quietly. “Let me help.”

She wanted to argue. She couldn’t find the breath for it.

Inside, the air smelled of damp wood and old smoke. Kael built a fire fast, the sparks catching on dry tinder. He pulled out a small vial from his pack and held it out to her.

“Healing draught. Not strong, but it’ll slow the poison.”

Raina stared at it. “How do I know it’s not something else?”

Kael’s expression didn’t change. He uncorked it and drank half himself, then offered it back. “Now you know.”

That was stupid. That was trusting. And part of her hated that it worked.

She took the vial and drank. The liquid burned going down, but the fire in her veins dulled to a dull ache.

For a while, they just sat there, staring at the fire. Outside, the wind howled like it was trying to get in.

“Do you think he did it?” Raina asked finally. Her voice was quieter than she meant it to be.

Kael didn’t answer right away. When he did, his voice was flat. “Lord Drayce is ambitious. He’s hated the Voss since before I was born. But ordering my death? My cousin’s death? That’s...”

“That’s what?” Raina cut in. “Out of character? Or just inconvenient for you to believe?”

Kael’s hands clenched. “Don’t.”

“Why not?” Raina leaned forward, eyes sharp despite the fever. “Because if it’s true, you have to choose. Me, or him.”

The fire popped. Sparks jumped.

Kael looked at her like she’d struck him. “I chose you in the snow. I chose you in Red Hollow. What more do you want?”

“I want to know what happens when he’s standing in front of you with an army behind him,” Raina said. “Because that’s coming. And when it does, I need to know if your sword will be pointed at me.”

Kael stood up abruptly, pacing to the door and back. “You think I don’t know that? You think I haven’t been asking myself that since Jarek said his name?”

“Then say it,” Raina said. “Say you’d kill him if you had to.”

Kael stopped. His shoulders were rigid.

“I can’t say that,” he said finally. “Not until I know it’s true.”

Raina nodded. It wasn’t the answer she wanted. It was the honest one.

Outside, a branch snapped.

Both of them were on their feet in an instant, weapons drawn.

The door burst open.

Eli stood there, breathing hard, face pale in the firelight. Behind him, three shadows moved in the trees.

“They followed me,” Eli said. “I’m sorry. They’re”

“Here,” Raina finished, as the first Iron Fang stepped into the doorway.

Kael moved.

Steel met steel, and the cabin became chaos.