“When are they expected to strike?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

“Think they’d welcome a couple extra helpers?”

“Oh, yes. I told them I’d be back, but no one was sure about you.”

Ah, hell. He had some major apologizing to do.

* * *

After he finished eating, he paid and reclaimed Onyx. The horse glanced at a stall with longing. But when Valek mentioned joining Kiki, Onyx’s ears perked up. Valek understood the feeling. The desire to see Yelena energized him, as well.

He mounted and headed west at a moderate pace. The number of buildings dwindled, and fields of corn plants stretched out on both sides of the road. Soon the drumming of hooves sounded behind him as Onora caught up. She rode an unfamiliar black-and-white piebald mare with a black mane. Janco had borrowed The Madam since he’d lent Beach Bunny to Reema.

“Who is this?” he asked.

“Horse.”

“Original.”

She grinned. “I figured the name would bug Janco.”

It would indeed.

They rode for a while in silence. After two hours of riding, the fields ended and they entered a forest. Valek worried about Yelena and hoped she’d forgive him. The upside to this whole mess was that the people who’d been under Bruns’s influence could be woken. The downside was that a person had to be Theobroma-free for a week—a dangerously long time. At least now they had Cahil’s cooperation. The General could begin to wake other high-ranking military officials and perhaps even the Sitian Council members. One could dream.

Onora slowed Horse to a walk as they reached the bottom of a small valley. Ahead the dirt road was rutted from a recent washout. A rustle sounded above Valek. He glanced up in time to spot a net of greenery falling toward him. Valek stopped Onyx right before the heavy blanket knocked him to the ground.

Valek landed hard on his left shoulder. He rolled onto his back and reached for his knives just as a person sat on top of him, pinning his arms, while a thin blade pierced the greenery and nicked his neck.

The blade disappeared, and Valek twisted his hips and bucked the person off. He shoved the net aside, jumped to his feet and yanked his knives. Two figures dressed in green camouflage backed away from him. Onora stood with two others—also camouflaged. She wiped dirt off her pants but appeared unhurt and unarmed. Odd.

Then the trees spun around him. The irresistible urge to sleep liquefied his muscles. He staggered and went down on one knee. His heavy knives slipped from his nerveless fingers. Valek touched his neck. A small drop of blood coated his finger. The blade must have been treated with sleeping potion.

Valek toppled. He’d congratulate them on getting the drop on him, but...

* * *

Valek woke but kept his eyes closed. Fuzzy memories of being ambushed swirled. His head ached from a sleeping potion hangover. A dull throb pulsed through his left shoulder. He smelled wood smoke. A fire crackled nearby.

“...too slow. We should use Curare instead. It’s faster,” a woman said.

“But it won’t work. Everyone’s been eating Theobroma for months. It neutralizes the Curare. And next time, remember to use a dart and not your knife, Hanni,” Onora said. “You have more control and can keep your distance. You saw how quickly Valek freed himself from the net. He could have killed you before the sleeping potion kicked in.”

Onora? Was she working for the Cartel now?

“I’m sorry. I panicked. Do you think he’s going to be mad we did a test run on him?” the woman—Hanni—asked.

No answer, but it explained quite a bit.

“Just don’t panic tomorrow,” Onora said.

“No problem. Tomorrow I won’t be jumping Valek,” Hanni muttered.

“As long as you all remember that the goal is to rescue my sister-in-law and father without killing the guards. Incapacitate only,” Yelena said.

Her voice soothed his soul. Valek opened his eyes. He lay on a bedroll with a blanket over him. Nearby, Yelena and Onora sat around a campfire with two men and Hanni. Darkness surrounded them. He waited. It didn’t take long for Yelena’s gaze to find his.

She tensed. Even though he deserved it, her reaction stabbed him right in the heart. The others sensed her concern and turned. He sat up. The men and Hanni hopped to their feet. Their hands hovered near weapons. Skittish lot. Valek would have been amused, but Yelena still hadn’t relaxed.

“Onyx?” he asked her.

“Fine. He’s with Kiki.”

Onora poured him a cup of water and brought it over. “Here.”

“Thanks.” He downed it in one gulp. “Test run?”

“Yeah. They’re young and needed the practice,” Onora said.

“We’re older than you,” one of the men said in protest.

“Sorry. They’re inexperienced.”

That didn’t go over any better.

Valek touched his neck. A dart would have left a smaller injury, but the cut had already stopped bleeding. “Were the darts loaded with sleeping potion as well?”

Onora smiled. “Of course. Although I’m surprised you didn’t spot the ambush sooner.”

He met Yelena’s gaze again. “I was distracted.”

“Bad form, old man. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the Commander.” Onora refilled his cup.

“Good, because he believes this old man—” Valek tapped his chest “—killed you.”

“Oh?” She stilled.