*Nemesia's POV*
The night air was cool against my skin as we made our way to the hidden Bear Clan camp, the adrenaline from our escape still pulsing through my veins. The dense forest around us provided cover, but I knew that our return to David's camp needed to be carefully timed and meticulously planned. Any misstep could unravel everything we had worked so hard to achieve.
Gunnar led the way, his massive frame moving with surprising stealth through the underbrush. The other Bears followed in silence, their expressions grim but focused. I could sense their respect for Gunnar and, by extension, for us—our success in freeing him had solidified a tentative trust between our groups. But trust in war was a fragile thing, and I knew it could shatter with a single mistake.
Evar walked beside me, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the darkness. "We'll need to be careful when we return to David's camp," he said quietly. "We can't afford any suspicions."
I nodded, my mind already racing through the possible scenarios. "We'll need to create a cover story—something believable that explains our absence. If David's men notice anything out of place, they'll start asking questions."
Murphey, who was walking just ahead of us, glanced over his shoulder. "We could say we were scouting the area, checking for any signs of Bear activity, especially after noticing the fires. It's a plausible excuse, especially given the tension in the camp."
"That could work," I agreed, though a part of me felt uneasy. Lies built on lies could easily spiral out of control, but we had no choice. "We'll need to act like nothing out of the ordinary happened. Keep our movements consistent with what we've done before."
Evar's jaw tightened, his expression thoughtful. "And what about Gunnar? The Lycans and Jaguars might keep on searching for him..."
I glanced at Gunnar, who was now talking quietly with one of his fellow Bears. "He'll stay with his people, hidden in their camp. We'll have to hope the confusion in David's camp buys us enough time to execute the next phase of our plan."
As we walked, I couldn't help but think about the next step—meeting with the Bear Clan leaders to solidify our alliance and plan the attack on David's forces. The weight of what I was about to do settled heavily on my shoulders. David was not my enemy, not in the same way the other royals were. But he was an obstacle, one that needed to be removed if we were to succeed... and one I had to take care of for the sake of my deal with the Queen.
Athena stirred within me, her presence a steadying force. "We can do this Nem. Imagine how things could be different had the First Prince never met you and invited you over to practice as we were young. You wouldn't meet Marco..."
"I know," I sighed in response. "But it's not as simple as I thought it would be. David... he's different."
Athena was silent for a moment, then spoke, her tone gentle but firm. "He's still a prince of the Lycans. Whatever friendship you once had, it doesn't change what needs to be done. Those were your words... revenge on them all..."
I nodded to myself, steeling my resolve. Athena was right—this was war, and in war, there were no friends. Only allies and enemies. I had to remember that.
As we approached the Bear Clan's camp, the trees around us began to thin, revealing a clearing where the Bears had set up their temporary encampment. The camp was modest but well-fortified, with sentries posted at strategic points around the perimeter. As we entered, the Bears who had stayed behind greeted Gunnar with a mixture of relief and respect, their eyes wary but curious as they took in our presence.
The Bear leader from what we could see as people got out of his way while bowing their heads, stepped forward. His expression was unreadable as he addressed Gunnar. "You've returned son, and with new allies I see. I trust the mission was successful?"
Son... So he was the Leader's son!
Gunnar nodded. "It was. I got to get the information we need but getting caught wasn't exactly the plan... But thanks to these Wolves who kept their word by helping me out."
The leader's gaze shifted to me, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.
"My name is Nemesia and I represent the rebels from the Lycan Kingdom," I say curtly.
The man nodded. "You've proven yourselves to us, Nemesia. But trust is earned with more than one successful mission. We need to see your commitment to our cause."
I met his gaze evenly, understanding the unspoken challenge in his words. "The things we want are almost the same... You want your lands back from the Jaguars and to push them back, while I... we want the Lycan kingdom to fall, reshape and rise under new priorities. Since Lycans support Jaguars, our causes intertwine. We offer our help here... for your help when we'll fight at the capital... and then a new era will rise, and I can promise you the alliance with the new kingdom. But we need to work together to make that future possible. We've got a plan... It will weaken their forces and give your people the advantage."
He grunted interested and yet, still sceptical - nothing strange... bears and lycans were always on bad terms. "And what is this plan of yours?"
I took a deep breath, stepping forward to stand before him. "We plan to draw David's forces into a trap. He trusts me, and that trust will be his downfall. Once his forces are weakened, you and your warriors will strike, taking them out before they can regroup."
The leader's expression remained stony, but I could see a glimmer of interest in his eyes. "And what of the Prince himself?"
I hesitated for a moment before answering, knowing this was the most delicate part of the plan. "He will be injured—enough to take him out of the fight. But instead of killing him, I want him taken to a nearby monastery. The women there are healers, skilled in the old ways. They'll keep him alive, but out of the way... and he'll become my chess piece..."
There was a murmur of surprise among the Bears, and I could feel Evar's gaze on me, questioning. The leader crossed his arms over his broad chest, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.
"Why not kill him?" he asked, his tone blunt.
"Because he's more valuable to me... to the rebels' plans alive," I explained, keeping my voice steady. "Dead, he becomes a martyr for the Lycans. Alive, he's a pawn—a bargaining chip we can use later. And more importantly... he'll owe me a debt."
The leader was silent for a long moment, and I could feel the tension in the air as he considered my words. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Very well. But know this—if your plan fails, if you betray us, there will be consequences."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," I replied, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve. "But it won't fail."
With the tentative alliance secured, we spent the next hour going over the details of the plan. Gunnar and the other Bears provided valuable insights into the terrain and the strengths of their warriors. Their knowledge would be crucial in executing the ambush.
As the plan took shape, I could see the others nodding in agreement. Even Evar, who had been sceptical of the Bears, seemed convinced that this alliance was our best chance.
"We'll need to time the attack perfectly," I said, tracing the map with my finger. "David's forces will be lured into the valley, believing they have the upper hand. That's when you strike, coming down from the ridges and cutting off their escape."
The Bear leader grunted in approval. "And what of the Prince? How are you going to take him?"
I kept my voice calm and steady as I replied, "He will be injured in the battle by one of my men, wearing Bear Clan's clothes, but I will personally ensure he's taken to the monastery. From there, I'll be able to control the narrative. The Lycans will believe he was taken captive by your people, but in reality, he will be under my watch."
The Bears exchanged glances, clearly impressed by the depth of the plan. The leader nodded, his expression grim. "We will do our part. But remember—our trust is not easily earned... we've been betrayed and fooled by the Lycans many times..."
"I know... So was I...," I interrupted, my tone heavy with grief. "This alliance is as important to me as it is to you."
The leader studied me for a moment longer, then nodded in agreement. "Very well. We will prepare our warriors for the battle. When the time comes, we will be ready."
With the plan in place, we left the Bear Clan camp and began making our way back to David's forces. The journey was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts as we considered the enormity of what we were about to do.
Evar walked beside me, his expression thoughtful. "You're really going to take David to that monastery?"
I nodded. "Yes. It's the best way to keep him alive without compromising the mission."
He glanced at me, his gaze probing. "You care about him, don't you? Even after everything you've gone through in the castle..."
I hesitated, unsure how to put my feelings into words. "I don't know if 'care' is the right word. But he's not my enemy, Evar. Not in the way the others are... and there were days when we fought back to back... We trusted each other with our lives... Used to be comrades..."
Evar was silent for a moment, then he nodded. "I trust your judgment, Nemesia. Just... be careful. This is a dangerous game you're playing... But I'm also glad that you won't poison yourself with another cruel kill..."
"I know," I replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I've been giving your words some thoughts... I'm trying not to go mad. For Rowan... and for You."
Something strange flickered in his eyes when I said it. The warm look he gave me mad my look away quickly.
As we neared David's camp, I could see the lights of the fires flickering through the trees. The soldiers were still on high alert, but we had timed our return well—it would be difficult for anyone to suspect that we had been meeting with the Bears. Before we neared the perimeter we sparred a bit to get sweaty and dirty, and also got some small wounds here and there though they would heal fast with our wolves.
"We'll need to act like nothing is out of the ordinary," Murphey reminded us as we approached the camp. "Stick to the story—scouting for Bear activity after seeing the campfires... fighting... that's it."
We all nodded, and as we entered the camp, we slipped back into our roles, ensuring that everything appeared normal.
David was standing near the command tent, speaking with one of his lieutenants when he saw us approach. He smiled warmly, his expression a mixture of relief and gratitude. "You're back. I was beginning to worry."
My heart squizzed a bit... How can a prince and a leader of such forces be this naive? Does he... really believe I would not betray him? It pained me... a bit.
"Just a small patrol... we noticed those fires up the hill and decided that it might be a diversion," I replied smoothly. "We didn't find anything unusual, but we've met a few Bear scouts and dealt with them."
David nodded, his expression serious. "We'll need to remain vigilant. The Bears won't go down without a fight."
"We'll be ready," I assured him, feeling the weight of my deception. "Whatever happens, we're here to support you."
David's smile returned, and he clapped a hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad to have you with us, Nemesia. We'll win this war together."
As we moved away, Evar shot me a sidelong glance. "You handled that well. He doesn't suspect a thing."
"Let's hope it stays that way," I replied, my voice low. "We still have a long way to go."
As night fell, I stood at the edge of the camp, looking out at the darkened forest. The plan was in motion, but the true test was yet to come. I knew that David's trust was a fragile thing even if he looked like he would believe any lie I said, and I knew that one misstep could bring everything crashing down.
But for now, we were safe. The pieces were in place, and the battle ahead would determine the fate of not just our mission, but also my own vendetta.
Athena's voice echoed in my mind, her presence in my mind a steady reassurance. "You've done all you can, Nemesia. Now we wait and see how the pieces fall."
I took a deep breath, nodding to myself. "Yes. Now we wait."
And as the night closed in around us, I couldn't help but feel the cold reaching my bones. It was getting more and more chilly, and I wasn't just talking about the weather. Betrayed once, and now doing it myself...