Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tashidi’s words stuck me like a physical blow. He was right. If not for me, Tahlia would not be in this mess. If Tashidi harmed her…
I could tell Tahlia wanted to speak, but the presence of Tashidi’s blade against her throat kept her silent. She held my gaze, her lashes damp with tears while her eyes sparked with impotent fury.
I risked a glimpse over my shoulder at the pair of figures standing behind me, blocking my retreat. Both had their hoods drawn and stood in a fighter’s crouch. Cold steel glimmered in the shadows—and something else.
A pair of golden bracelets.
I whirled to face Tashidi. “You’re working with Akil?” I demanded.
Once I had made the connection back at the temple, I had suspected. But seeing physical evidence of my mentor’s treachery hit me lik
