This was a situation so far out of their control that it was hard to maintain focus in the presence of the impossible.
Jane swallowed hard, an appalled expression on her face even as she held her ground.
Caden lifted a hand signaling her to wait. This was an opportunity to understand this new enemy of theirs.
Gawain circled the burning human as he studied the quickly deteriorating body. His fellow clan member, Emersyn, shadowed him from the other side.
Chirron shook his head, looking like he was struggling to find the right words and failing.
Van glanced at Merc. "How about you? Know anything useful?"
The Tenrin shot him an emotionless look before taking flight and returning to his former perch. He squatted on the branch of the tree, observing the situation carefully.
Van squinted at him. "Fucking birds."
The Tenrin fluttered his wings but ignored the Lion Clan leader, his gaze never leaving the burning man.
Caden ignored the rest, focusing on the former prisoner. "Who are you?"
This wasn't the same man Gawain had killed seconds before. Caden didn't know who or what this was, but he knew he was changed.
Whatever it was felt old and dark. A horrible hunger that stemmed from the beginnings of time was hidden within the creature. Some might call it primordial. So old the mind couldn't even fully comprehend it.
There was a suspicion crouched deep inside Caden. Memories of a conversation he'd once had with Eva and what she'd sensed when she'd faced the Kyren's captors.
She'd suspected there was something bigger guiding their actions, feeding off their discontent and magnifying it until they felt like they had to do something about it.
There'd been fear on Eva's face when she'd spoken.
Caden didn't know if this was the same, but the thought felt right.
Whoever the human had been, there was nothing of him anymore. Something else stood in front of them.
Something that felt no pain—or any emotion that Caden could discern.
The creature stared at them. Amused at their horror.
His gaze shifted to Caden. "Not as stupid as the rest of your kind."
Caden didn't say anything. He simply waited. This creature was arrogant. It would be his downfall. Caden simply had to give him the space to find it.
"Are you the one who destroyed my previous plans?" the creature asked.
There was no emotion on his face as his skin bubbled before flaking away. It blackened as they watched, the creature unbothered by it.
Gawain edged behind him and drew his sword, shooting Caden a look.
Caden didn't react, pretending he didn't see Rain Clan's leader. He focused on the creature, intent on gleaning every bit of information while he still could.
Time was limited. The creature's host wouldn't hold up much longer.
"No, I was wrong. You are not that person." The creature's head turned toward Gawain, abruptly. "You lack the presence of that line. No matter, your lineage is still ancient. It once ruled this world. How far you've fallen to become the loyal dog of another."
Caden let his words pass, feeling none of the anger the creature intended.
The being in front of him wasn't the first to call him Fallon's dog. It was a favorite insult among Fallon's enemies—and even some of his allies.
People didn't understand how Caden could be content with a subservient role. They thought Fallon had forced him onto this path.
They were wrong.
The word they thought was a wedge was Caden's greatest strength. Call him a dog or whatever, he'd never cared what others thought.
He didn't serve in Fallon's shadow because he had no other choice. This was the path he'd chosen.
There'd been other paths. He could have been a general or become a clan leader if he'd truly wanted.
He hadn't.
Caden had always known his strengths and weaknesses. The shadows were where he was happiest. They were a cover and a safety blanket, allowing him to move unobstructed.
The light was for others. People like Fallon and Eva. Both individuals who could change the world.
But only if they lived long enough to do it.
Caden was meant to protect them, killing their enemies and ensuring they lived happy and free from the constant worry that came from being a target.
He'd never wanted anything else for himself. Loyalty was enough.
At least until Eva.
If she needed him to, he'd step out of the shadows he'd existed in for so long. Use the light to burn the world into a version she could live with.
"Do not worry, child. I can guide you to greatness. All you need do is cast off the old," the creature promised.
The snickers started softly. Growing until Van and Gawain's laughter echoed off the cliff side.
The peaceful expression on the creature's face faded.
"You don't understand him at all if you think he can be made to flip that easily," Van rumbled. "There's a reason he's called the most loyal mutt."
Caden watched as thoughts moved across the creature's face. Cunning followed by puzzlement.
"McClure's children have always been greedy. You are no different," he said to Caden.
"Who is McClure?" Van muttered.
"What are you hoping to accomplish here?" Caden asked, not caring about the answer.
"If you're not the one responsible, I simply have to find the one who is."
"What does that mean?" Caden demanded.
"You'll see." The creature's bones began to collapse as the tissue connecting them burned. "Very soon, I think."
The rest of the body folded. His skull landed upright, eyes still on Caden. There was a rictus grin on his face. His lips and nose were gone, his flesh charred black.
Flames continued to eat at him, destroying the last of his body as they watched.
"What in our ancestor's name was that about?" Van asked.
"Mind games and power plays." Gawain nudged the body with his sword.
A piece of bone broke, and part of the body collapsed into ash. Smoke wafted out of what remained, curling in on itself as it rose into the air.
The Trateri watched spellbound as it sent out feelers, searching for something.
"I'm guessing that's not a good thing," Jane said.
The smoke snapped in Caden's direction. Chaos erupted. Shouts sounded as the smoke darted toward him, giving him no chance to dodge.
The smoke surrounded his face, trying to infiltrate his lungs.
Something in him resisted. A speck of light that flared, driving the smoke out again. Caden got a flash of images that made no sense. A cave encased in mist. A ring that was also a sphere. The sound of feathers and wind.
And finally, Eva.
The smoke buzzed, giving off a sense of anger as it retreated. Then it darted toward Caden again, undeterred.
A yip sounded from the hills surrounding them. Fire shot toward Caden. It hit with a whoomph, encasing the smoke.
The two elements dueled. The fire winning as it shredded the remnants of smoke.
The fire fox's tails windmilled around him as he ran over the air, landing on the ground a few feet away. He trotted toward Caden with an expectant look.
"I owe you—again," Caden told him.
Van's eyes were wide as he looked from the fire fox to the spot in the air where the smoke had just been.