Kael's pov
I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up.
Every hour I spent in the heart of the fortress was a gamble with too many pieces in play. I had attached myself to Lucian under the pretense of being useful—offering insights, managing the fortress' internal defenses, even sitting in on the interrogations of Jasper. It gave me access, control. But more than that, it kept eyes off the parts I needed hidden. Still, I hated every second of it.
Jasper should never have been captured.
If Lucian had arrived just a few minutes later that night, I might have gotten Jasper out. But instead, I had to stand there, acting indifferent, forced to lie that I was check if he was still breathing so we could take him in for questioning.
So Jasper was dragged into the fortress. Beaten. Shackled. Bleeding.
I'd promised I'd save him. But promises meant little when I couldn't stop Valen from torturing him.
