Forged Absolution (Fates of the Bound Book 4)

by Wren Weston

  “Porn is dirty.”

  “Porn is sex. Neither is dirty.”

  “I knew you’d figure it out once Rebecca was taken. It was only a matter of time.”

  “Then why didn’t you leave?”

  “I couldn’t abandon Cecily. She’s my best friend, and she was in danger. Even if I could, how do you run from the gods? How do you run when their prophets live in every city?”

  “You speak as if you believe.”

  Camille fiddled with her blanket.

  “You do believe. You believe, and you converted.”

  “I tried to find Rebecca and the others girls when they were taken, but you found them before I did.”

  “You helped them get taken in the first place,” Kenna said, shaking her head. “After all we did for you.”

  Camille sat up a little higher. She looked her best friend’s mother dead in the eye. “It is because you’ve done so much for me that I have acted as I have. I wasn’t the only mole on the compound, you know.”

  “Olivier was the second.”

  “No, he was our handler.”

  “Then who was the second?”

  “Achille.”

  Kenna bent over the bed for support. Achille’s name had never been on her list.

  “We saw you have visions,” Camille told the oracle. “We saw them come true. We believed. We would have stayed here, close to our new gods if we could have.”

  “Did he even care about Cecily at all?” Kenna asked.

  “Yes. It wasn’t his fault that he was put into this situation. It wasn’t my fault, either.”

  “You make it sound like you’re victims. Two people are dead,” Kenna snapped.

  “I didn’t shoot anyone. I tried to warn you, but you didn’t listen.”

  “You could have warned us long before!” Kenna glared at the figure in bed. Her fingers gripped the metal footboard like claws.

  This was the mother bear, ready to strike.

  “No, I couldn’t have. Olivier would have known. He always knows, and he had orders to ensure knowledge of our presence didn’t leave the compound. There would have been far more deaths had I told you.”

  “What do you mean?” Lila asked.

  “Olivier likes to hide. Olivier likes to keep things where he hides.”

  Mòr sucked in a breath. “Oh my gods. That was what I saw in all those visions, wasn’t it? He was going to blow up the compound.”

  “I’ve gone into the hole under your cabin a hundred times, but I’ve been too scared to disconnect the wires.” Her eyelids fluttered and tears welled in her eyes. “If I did it wrong, the entire compound could… They’re all connected somehow. I just don’t know how. It looks too simple, and Olivier has never been simple.”

  “So you kept your mouth shut?”

  Camille nodded. “I had to wait for the right time. It hadn’t come yet.”

  “The right time to what? To lie to my daughter?” Kenna demanded. “To kill her? To kill me? To kill the oracle? What am I supposed to tell Cecily? That her best friend and her boyfriend lied to her for the last two years? She’ll never trust anyone after this, not ever again. You’ve ruined her, do you understand that?”

  “We didn’t lie to her. Achille and I both cared for Cecily very much.”

  “If that’s true, why did Achille abandon her?”

  Camille worried her blanket once more. “We didn’t know the mercenaries had taken the child prophets until we received orders to meet at the warehouse. We were supposed to return to Italy like some triumphant family, but Achille and I refused to let that happen. We planned to free the prophets and bring them back here. We planned to tell you everything and ask for asylum. But when we showed up, the mercs had already been slaughtered and the prophets rescued. Olivier wanted to detonate your compound and return to Italy, but General Ferro ordered him to stand down. Instead, we were to infiltrate the basement and finish the job you started.” Her eyes flicked to Lila.

  Connell stood up straighter. “That was you?”

  “We’ve been in and out of that building for ages. It wouldn’t have been hard to slip in and back out again. Olivier threatened to kill Cecily if anything went wrong, but I couldn’t let it go right, either. I needed you to know what was going on. I needed you to start putting things together. I gave one of my friends some tickets to a show and told them to take Cecily out of town. Then I tripped the alarm that night during the break-in. Olivier had to abort the mission.”

  “And Cecily?” Kenna asked.

  “I promised Achille that I wouldn’t leave Cecily’s side. He left to take on Olivier, all to make her safe, to make the compound safe. He lost that fight, or he would have come back. He cared for her very much. He was like me.”

  “A mole,” Connell grunted.

  “Achille died to protect Cecily, to protect all of you. Show some respect,” Camille replied. “And yes, we were moles. What were we supposed to do? How should we have handled it?”

  “What have you told your superiors about us?” Mòr asked.

  “Achille thought we should tell them the truth about your power. If we told General Ferro that the prophets could see the future, we figured the empire wouldn’t dare attack the barbaros. I thought he was right. We agreed not to give them any useful information about the compound, nothing they couldn’t glimpse for themselves with a few days’ surveillance.”

  “You thought that plan would work?”

  “We knew it would. The empire has never been worried about the size of the Allied army. They’re scared of you and your sisters. We were sent because they don’t want to be afraid anymore. I told them to be very afraid. I told them you do see the future, and that I’ve seen you have visions. Could you imagine a permanent truce between our people? Could you imagine if we all believed?”

  Camille licked her lips and looked away from the oracle. “In the end, we failed. Achille and I couldn’t get the others to go along with it.”

  “The others?” Lila asked.

  “Four teams were sent into the Allied Lands. Two ended up in America.”

  “One here and one in La Verde?”

  Camille nodded. “Achille and I went up to La Verde to speak with them, to convince them that the oracles were real and that we shouldn’t anger the barbaros gods. I pleaded with them for peace, for honesty with our superiors.”

  “What did they say?” Lila asked.

  “They laughed. They hadn’t been able to infiltrate the compound as effectively as we had. They had never seen the gods speak through an oracle. They said we were all brownnosers, kissing ass to get a promotion, spreading lies. Achille called them useless for not seeing what was plain. They nearly killed him for the slight. I suspect General Ferro sent the mercenaries because our reports differed so much, because Olivier’s reports differed so much from mine and Achille’s.”

  “Where are the La Verde moles now?” Lila asked.

  “They were ordered to join the mercs at the warehouse too. I suspect they died there, otherwise you would have known about us.”

  “What about Olivier? Does he believe in our gods?”

  Camille shook her head. “He still worships the Father. He does believe that the prophets can see the future, but he thinks you are all witches sent to test our faith.”

  Mòr sighed. “He’s seen me have a vision?”

  “No. He didn’t need to. He believed me and Achille when we told him. He knows we wouldn’t lie about something like that. We’ve known one another since we were kids.”

  “When you first volunteered?” Lila asked.

  Camille nodded. “Young recruits like us are sent to Burgundy to learn Allied languages. Those who do well are sent on missions like this. I studied hard. When I got orders for New Bristol, I made a plan to escape at the first opportunity.”

  “Why didn
’t you?”

  “I met Cecily, and I stayed. She’s the first friend I ever had.”

  Lila shifted in her wheelchair. “So you’ve been protecting her over the solstice break. What was your plan for after?”

  “There was no after. I’ll not let them destroy this place or harm a prophet of the gods. Blair has a box in her possession. I gave it to her. She’s supposed to give it to Cecily if anything happens to me. I knew she might be the only person in the world who wouldn’t peek into it out of turn. It has the explosives marked. I figured you could clear the compound and see to them yourselves.”

  “And you would deal with Olivier?”

  “He’s not the only one who can build a bomb. It’s hard to kill someone as paranoid as Olivier unless you’re willing to take yourself out too. I just wanted a few more days with Cecily first. I just wanted to celebrate the solstice with her. But if I hadn’t been so selfish, then Nico and Delilah wouldn’t have had to die and Olivier wouldn’t have shot you.”

  Silence filled the room. Eyes darted back and forth, the same questions on everyone’s mind. Had Camille really intended to sacrifice herself for Cecily? For the oracle? For the good of the compound? For the gods?

  “I’m not sure what to say to that,” Kenna said, her boots shifting on the tile.

  “Send for the box if you don’t believe me,” Camille said. “Shoot me full of serum.”

  “You’re not well enough for that, and you know it.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You’d do that for Cecily?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? Because you’re best friends?”

  “No, because she’s in love,” Lila answered simply.

  Camille shook her head, her face paling. “No, I’m not like that. I’m not. I’m—”

  “That’s why your parents gave you up as a child, isn’t it? That’s why you had so many injuries. The empire believes that it is wrong for men to bed men and for women to bed women. Your parents tried to beat it out of you. The army tried too.”

  “I told them I’m not like that, but they wouldn’t listen. Now you don’t believe me either.”

  Lila waved her hand. “You’re not in the empire anymore, Camille. It’s a trifle here, a quirk, like red hair or being left-handed. No one cares.”

  “I don’t care what it is here! Stop saying it! I’m not like that.”

  “You’re more bothered by that than being called a mole?” Kenna asked.

  “She’s not a mole,” Lila said. “If what she’s saying is true, she’s an asset. If the La Verde team died at the warehouse, then she’s the only mole still in the country. You can use her. If she continues to tell her people that Olivier isn’t dead and that the oracles are real…”

  “Then they might think twice about attacking.”

  “Exactly. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste this opportunity. As you’ve said, war is brewing whether anyone wants it or not.”

  Chapter 29

  The hem of Lila’s purplecoat slapped at her calves as she trudged downstairs into the basement, each stair jolting her abdomen, each step afterward a proud refusal to use the limestone walls as a crutch. Dixon and a purplecoat walked beside her, ready to catch her if needed.

  Lila refused to need them on principle.

  The mercs inside the cells peered through their windows as she passed, watching warily. They’d seen Olivier brought in the day before. Perhaps he’d even managed to spread the story of his chase through the cells, gloating about the gunshots that had laid Lila and the others so low.

  Lila wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of a bent back. She looked each merc in the eyes with practiced highborn haughtiness, then turned sharply into the interrogation room.

  The purplecoats remained outside, guarding the entrance.

  Mòr and her sister broke off their conversation. “How was your nap?” the oracle asked as Lila plopped into a proffered chair with a grunt. Dixon settled in behind her, hovering.

  “Unnecessary and overly warm,” Lila said. Dixon had piled several blankets atop her on the cabin’s couch. He’d fussed with the fireplace as well, stoking the flames in the middle of the day. She’d only slept because of exhaustion and her pain medication. When she woke, her tropical nurse had brought her a fresh tray from Chef Annag, upon which sat a bowl of lentil soup and a bowl of strawberries.

  “I trust Dr. McCrae,” Mòr said. “If she says you need to rest, then you need to rest. You got shot yesterday, Lila.”

  “I remember. Did Camille finish her sketches of the La Verde team?”

  “Yes. They matched the pictures of several mercs who died in the warehouse.”

  “You’ll need to contact the La Verde oracle, then. Her network personnel should go through her systems and make sure the moles didn’t leave any surprises behind.”

  “I already have. Kara’s started the same thing on our network too,” the oracle said. “Blair’s box checked out, by the way. She wasn’t very happy about being woken up in the middle of the day to fetch it, but the site of every bomb is listed on the plans inside.”

  “Where’s Connell?”

  “Preparing Olivier for the interrogation room. He’ll be along shortly. After we’re done with him, Connell and a few of the purplecoats will question him about the explosives. Then we’ll evacuate the compound and disconnect the bombs.”

  “If he proves Camille is telling the truth, will you allow her to stay?”

  Mòr’s eyes drifted to Kenna. “She’ll stay. Whether she stays in the basement or in a guest cabin is not strictly up to me.”

  “I don’t want that woman around my daughter,” Kenna said.

  “If Camille loses her best friend and she’s deemed a criminal, what inducement does she have to keep helping?” Lila asked. “She doesn’t have the empire’s hellfire and damnation to keep her in line.”

  “I won’t see Cecily under Dr. McCrae’s knife. Do you know what it was like to watch the others—to watch you—being wheeled into the clinic? That’s not going to happen to my baby.”

  “I don’t think there’s a chance of that happening with Camille. She’s in love with your daughter whether she admits it or not. She’s also a trained soldier. The safest place for Cecily is by her side, just as the safest place for your sister is beside Connell.”

  Kenna pursed her lips. “Camille doesn’t love Cecily. She denied it.”

  “You read people far too well to believe that. You want my advice? Put her to the truth serum when she’s healthy, confirm her words, then give her a tranq gun and train her as a bodyguard.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Kenna, I agree with her,” Mòr said gently.

  “I don’t care. She’s not going near my daughter ever again. That’s final.”

  “Will you tell her who Camille really is?” Lila asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Will you tell her all of it?”

  Kenna’s expression finally softened. “No. Her heart is not the point.”

  Mòr’s boots tapped quietly upon the floor as they waited for Dixon and Connell to join them. “The purplecoat looks good on you, Lila.”

  “Someone threw out my gray one. I guess it’s hard to mend a bullet hole and bloodstains.”

  “You could keep that one. Connell still wants to offer you a job.”

  “Is that so?”

  Mòr’s lips twitched. “I told him not to bother. He’d only waste his time. You like hiding too much to let anyone see you, especially the gods. Now that you’re starting to believe in them, you don’t like being on their radar. You find it intrusive. I don’t think you want to linger on our compound if you don’t have to.”

  Lila shifted in her chair. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.
You’re always welcome here, even though I know you don’t want to stay.”

  The door opened before Lila could respond. Olivier shuffled into the room, his face a swollen mass of red and purple bruises, his steps drawn short by his ankle chains. He glared at Lila as Connell pushed him into the metal chair in the room’s center. “Should have put another bullet in you,” he sneered while Dr. McCrae slipped into the room.

  “No, you should have aimed better. Or at least fought better.” Lila snorted. “You’re the only person I’ve ever beaten in a fight, and I was shot while I was punching you. Congratulations on that honor.”

  Connell attached Olivier’s ankle chains to the chair legs, then did the same with his wrists and the armrests. “You’re going to answer some questions for us today.”

  Olivier spat in Connell’s face.

  Connell punched Olivier in the jaw, a dull smack that echoed in the concrete room.

  The Italian panted in his chair, turning his chin into his shoulder. “I thought you people in the Allied Lands prided yourselves on being civilized.”

  “You’re not in the Allied Lands, asshole. You’re with the oracle children. We follow the old ways. You’re not much a spy if you haven’t figured that out by now.” Connell straightened to his full height and backed to Mòr’s side. “Thanks for the excuse, though. I’ve been looking for a reason to do that since yesterday. I’ll be looking for an excuse to pull my gun after we’re done.”

  Olivier narrowed his eyes. “Barbaro.”

  “That word doesn’t even begin to describe me.”

  Mòr put her hand on Connell’s hip. “Not before we get what we need. Their trials will come after.”

  “Trial?” Olivier scoffed.

  “Yes. Each of you has been given the truth serum,” Connell explained. “If you’ve confessed to murder or crimes against the oracle, you’ll be poisoned and cremated. I think we already know your fate.”

  “I won’t tell you a thing.”

  “You won’t have a choice.”

  Once he was restrained, Dr. McCrae crouched over the Olivier’s arm and slipped a needle into his vein. Thick red liquid poured into his body. Olivier gasped as it hit his bloodstream. Within minutes, his scowl lifted. His cheeks flushed, and dimples formed in his cheeks. He almost looked beautiful.