Free Wings of Lomay by Devri Walls

traitors amongst us.”
    Kiora cursed the situation. “If it’s true, we can’t let them know where the city is. But without proof of betrayal, any action we take will make the rest of the Shifters question our intentions.”
    Drustan stared back at the enclosure, rubbing his chin. “I think I know which Shifters she means.”
    “The last three to join,” Emane said.
    Drustan nodded. “It doesn’t surprise me. There used to be four in that particular group, and they stuck together. The missing member happens to be the Shifter who pushed Alcander out of the barrier back at the canyon.”
    “Aimon referred to placing a spy with Lomay’s rebels.” Emane reminded them.
    Drustan nodded. “The spy is most likely teaching the others how to mask their threads. The Shifter who pushed Alcander out of the barrier was probably a test—to see if they could control their threads enough to mutiny with the bracelets on.”
    “Some test,” Emane muttered.
    “If I had to guess, the traitors will try to get into the city. They fooled the bracelets and are most likely over-confident in their ability to fool the magic.”
    “The one who tried to push Alcander out of the boundary died,” Emane said. “What do they have to be confident about?”
    “They wouldn’t have ultimately been sure of what killed him. All they know was that Alcander was indeed pushed out—it was a success.”
    “And what if they try something before we reach the city?” Emane asked.
    “It doesn’t matter,” Kiora said. “Erina obviously knows who they are, I assume because her husband knew—you saw the look that passed between them. But we don’t know how much the rest of the Shifters know. If we deal with the spies without proof of who they are or their intentions, it will appear as if we are killing without reason. Their trust in us is shaky at best—taking action could turn the rest against us. They are going to have to witness the betrayal with their own eyes. Until then, we can take turns keeping watch.”
    “Taking them with us still carries risk. With one failed attempt to enter the city, the other two will run. We are going to lose another entrance,” Drustan said.
    Kiora huffed and looked up at the star-spattered sky. Jasmine already knew the location of two entrances—they couldn’t keep losing them like this. “Before we left, you said I shouldn’t worry about this very scenario because the magic would take care of the problem.”
    “That’s when I thought there was one spy—not three.”
    “Summon my bow,” Emane said. “I will make sure the entrance stays secret . . . and don’t look at me like that, Kiora. It’s the only way. I will only loose an arrow if they run.”
    ***
    KIORA TOOK THE FIRST watch. She leaned against a tree as the camp fell silent. Once everyone was asleep, she lit a small ball of blue light, rolling it back and forth across her fingertips. She leaned to the side and held the ball out to illuminate Emane’s face. His hair fell softly across his forehead and his hand rested on his bow—ready to spring into action, even as he slept.
    Drustan’s voice came from the side. “It doesn’t get easier, does it?” he asked softly.
    “What?”
    “Loving two people.”
    She didn’t bother denying it. “Part of me thinks it would be easier if Emane had someone else. Maybe I wouldn’t feel so guilty.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Not that it matters—he isn’t going to find someone until he goes back to Meros.”
    The bugs of the forest chirped and chattered in the darkness, filling the silence between them. Kiora almost wondered if Drustan had fallen asleep when he asked, “Will you be going back?”
    Kiora pursed her lips. She stared up at the sky through the branches, letting the blue light on her fingertips flicker out. “I don’t know. Maybe . . . someday. I can’t really see past Jasmine, to be honest.”
    “Will you take Alcander?”
    Kiora grinned. “That would be an interesting sight,