“What do you expect? ’Cause there are three of them and one of you,” Janco said.

“I expect to assassinate them. If I do it correctly, they will have no idea what hit them.”

Janco grinned. “Way to go, Boss.”

Ari elbowed him. “We still think you should take—”

“There’s no one to take. And you know it.” Valek understood their concern, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“Little Miss Assassin would have been perfect to act as your backup.” Janco’s expression turned somber.

“Don’t worry about her,” Valek said. “She’s more than capable of taking care of herself.”

He brightened a bit. “Yeah. I bet she’s driving Brunsie crazy.”

“Hanging out with Janco, she certainly had enough experience with the fine art of pestering someone to distraction,” Ari said.

“Hey!”

Valek studied his two friends as they bickered. They had saved his life, protected Yelena, and done so much for him over the years, including committing treason by being here instead of with the Commander in Ixia.

And now, he needed to ask them to do one more thing.

Interrupting them, Valek said, “When you breach the garrison, please keep an eye on the twins. They’re powerful, but they’re still young, and my mother would be upset if anything happened to them.” He already had more of an understanding of this parent-child bond, and his own baby wasn’t even born yet. Valek could only imagine how much worse it would be once the child joined the world and faced all the dangers and hazards associated with living.

“Will do, Boss,” Janco said. “I understand all about keeping mothers happy.”

“You do?” Ari asked with a doubtful tone.

“Yes. Just because I ignore it doesn’t mean I don’t understand it.”

* * *

After Valek ensured everyone understood what they needed to do, he planned to leave the next morning. Having the most experience with syringes, Devlen drew a vial of Valek’s blood, which Teegan preserved. Valek would find a safe place to hide it on his way to the castle. Each magician would decide where to hide his or her own blood. This ensured that the vials weren’t stored in one location and would protect them from being sabotaged by the Cartel.

When he joined Yelena in their room, the desire to lecture his wife about being extra careful and staying alive boiled up his throat with searing bubbles, but he kept it in check. She understood. And he was sure she was biting back on her worries as well.

Instead, they locked the door and spent the evening being together. When they’d exhausted their bodies, they lay intertwined and talked about everything but the upcoming Firestorm.

“If it’s a boy, we could name him Valek,” Yelena said.

“Then we’d both respond when you called,” he said. “No. Too confusing.”

“What do you suggest?”

He decided to have some fun. “Rock. That’s a strong name.”

“It’s also an inanimate object. Try again.”

“Steel. Another powerful name.”

“That’s not a name.”

“Storm?”

“Valek.” She’d had enough.

He considered. “How about Vincent? After my brother.” Grief bloomed in his chest for a moment. Valek and Vincent had gotten into a lot of trouble as boys.

Yelena squeezed his hand. “It’s perfect.”

“But we both know the baby’s a girl,” he said.

“We do?”

“Yes, we do. What should we name her? Sweetie Pie?”

She elbowed him. “How about Daddy’s Little Girl?”

“I like that.”

“Figures.”

He chuckled, but then thought of their future daughter. She’d be beautiful and strong and smart and stubborn, just like her mother. No doubt about that. “How about Liana?” It was Yelena’s middle name, but it also meant vine. “She’s already wrapped around both our hearts.”

“That’s lovely.”

* * *

Morning arrived far too soon. The garrison teams prepared to leave, and the Citadel team gave them a hand with packing. After saying goodbye and good luck to everyone, Valek kissed Yelena.

He refused to say goodbye to his wife. Instead he said, “I will see you in a few weeks.”

“You’d better.”

Swooping in for another kiss, he cupped her cheek. “Yes, sir.”

Valek mounted Onyx. They headed northwest. The Commander’s castle was about a three-day ride north, but Valek planned to approach it from the west. He found a stable for Onyx a few miles south of the Ixian border. The horse would draw too much attention and be hard to hide from the Ixian patrols. Realizing that the vial of his blood would likely be safer here than with him in Ixia, Valek hid it in Onyx’s saddle. He then packed a small bag and slung it over his shoulders.

When he reached the border, he expected an increase in the number of patrols guarding the edge of the Snake Forest. What he didn’t expect was the sheer number of soldiers in the forest. He suspected the Commander—or rather, Owen—planned to have the army in position well before the fire festival. But did that mean they would strike sooner? He hoped not, or all their plans would be ruined.

With so many bodies to avoid, Valek needed to use his magic to enter Ixia undetected and to steal a patrolman uniform. He arrived in Castletown late on the fourth night. Ghosting along the quiet streets, he kept to the shadows. When he neared the safe house on Pennwood Street, he slowed. The place appeared empty, but he extended his magic to search the rooms, just in case. The good news—no ambush waited for him. The bad news—no one else was inside.