Bad Decisions

PIERRE

A dozen holographic screens glitched on, each one hovering above a general's head, their flickering blue light a sharp contrast to the void-like eyes of men who'd seen too much madness in one lifetime.

It was the war—the ones that had ravaged the past decades, tearing down packs and leaving everything in ashes. I hadn't been on the front lines, but I'd seen enough of its cruelty to understand.

Which was why applying for the Trials was our last resort.

"There's nothing left to scavenge in the valleys," Sett had said. "It's either this, or we perish next month. It's just the Trials, not a war. You're scared for nothing."

"Hey, easy there, man," Levi said, stretching out a hand.

I sighed. "No, he's right. We'll apply tomorrow."

What I didn't say was this: the higher-ups didn't gather thousands, feed and train them, out of goodwill. What was this—charity? Since when did power owe the desperate anything?

Something was coming. Something they weren't telling us yet. Something that would explode in our faces soon enough.

Then Caspian had dragged his dust-streaked, bloodied, feral-eyed sister to our doorstep—willing to sneak her into a system most Alphas wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

It reminded me of her.

"If you're gonna crane your neck that hard," Levi snickered beside me, "maybe you shouldn't have turned your back on her."

I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose and sighed. "She'll be okay. She's better out there than in here."

In my left hand, I fidgeted with my locket pendant, shame eating me alive. It was the same thing they would have told Cleo, too.

Gods, I was such a piece of shit.

In Hemera's Valleys, everyone knew Caspian—the prince who stole headlines and stood before the Council at sixteen.

They called him a new prosperous era.

But a sister? A princess? Kai had been hidden from the public eye. A shadow in the background, watching the world move without her.

Which was why her loyalty came so easily. Why she was willing to lay down her life for someone who had only offered her a speck of belonging.

I didn't deserve it. She'd almost died—and I had done nothing. Next time, she might not be so lucky. Then what?

'That's what they probably told Cleo too,' my conscience taunted. You've become them...

I gritted my teeth. Well, look how she ended up.

You're the higher-up—third prince of—

Shut up. Shut your damn mouth.

I raked my fingers through my hair and turned, hoping to catch a glimpse of her—but nothing. She was good at staying hidden.

"Hey, there we are." Levi whistled. "Twenty-two, twenty-three, and twenty-four." He hummed. "Nice."

I looked up, and there on the screen titled Company X9, our names lined up with others. Beneath it: Captain Erik.

"Might as well finish what we started," Sett murmured, folding his arms across his chest. "We'll get her on the train in an hour."

"We get it, she's going home—shut the fuck up," Levi snapped, hands shoved in his pockets where he tightly clutched the betting list.

I caught him this morning, arranging the last few coins in his pocket. Desperation and exhaustion weighed heavy on his face. He wouldn't bet blind next time.

"There's still hope," he said with a wry smile, scanning the list. "Twenty-two more names in each regiment. I still got hope."

But there was nothing. With every name added, the ten companies finally filled out.

Hope drained from Levi's face as the screens began to go dark. He shoved the paper back into his pocket. "Shit…" he murmured. Then he shrugged. "Caspian's pay comes in two days. Enough to sort shit out."

Sett scoffed.

And me—my shoulders slumped. Maybe it was for the best. She might hate me now, might want to put a hole in my face for betraying her—but she'd understand. Later.

I turned again—and there she was. Next to a pillar, jaw clenched, hand pressed to her injured side. And defiant, eary eyes met mine.

My heart sank.

She shoved her hands into her pockets like Sett, huffed, and turned away as if the sight of me disgusted her.

I wanted to reach out, to say something, but she was already turning and moving toward the exit with stiff shoulders.

Then she bumped into someone.

General Noah.

Her face paled as she straightened.

"Him again?" Levi whispered. "What's his deal?"

I had no clue—but it didn't feel right.

---

KAIMA

"I gave you a special pass," General Noah said, tone unreadable. Not angry. Just curious as if he couldn't understand why I hadn't left on the first train like he wanted me to.

What was I supposed to say? That I didn't do favors? That yes, his dagger helped, but I still hated him enough to stick it in his chest?

"I know my own way, sir. Thank you," I said quietly, keeping my voice as calm as I could—so the rage didn't seep through. Determined to leave with my body intact.

The general tilted his head. "You reject life for death."

"No one's dying, Sir."

"You sliced a recruit's finger in a fistfight. Why do you think you should not be punished?"

"Self-defense. He tried to kill me." I held his gaze this time. "You gave me the dagger."

"For night walks, Aeron. Not to threaten to cut throats." He stepped closer, eyes searching my face. "You've got targets on your back. Yet you still refuse my pass?"

My jaw clenched. "I'm not afraid."

Why was he doing this? I was leaving in the next few minutes. Wasn't that what he wanted? Shouldn't he be happy he'd succeeded?

But General Noah's brows furrowed. "I don't think you understand, Recruit," he said. "The special pass includes private transport, luxury, a return to your abode…"

He studied my face. "And no, you wouldn't be dropped empty-handed. Lupins to last six months. A new life. A surname. Even a mother's love, if the price is right."

A surname. A mother's love.

I understood—war had left many children without family or ancestry. A last name had become a luxury.

But a mother's love? Why was he trying so hard to buy me a new identity?

Because if I wasn't Aeron… I was Kaima. And that was exactly who I ran from.

And his offer?

Only pissed me off more.

"I don't need a pass," I said. My gaze drifted toward the three pairs of eyes on me—among hundreds. "If I wanted paradise, I wouldn't have come here." I scoffed. "Maybe put those lupins into the meals. It's poison."

If I was leaving anyway—what was one more bite of venom?

The horns of the train howled in the distance. I didn't have much to pack. Even if I left now, I'd catch a decent seat.

"Excuse me, sir," I said, and turned to go.

But—

"Look at the screen," he ordered.

"What?"

"I said look at the screen, Cadet."

Was he ever happy?

But I turned—because he ordered.

Only one screen remained lit: Company X9, where Captain Erik still stood, giving a thumbs-up to the General with a wry disbelieving smile.

And right under Name 50…

51. Aeron Blackwell.

I froze.

Murmurs rippled around me. The chill sank into my skin. For a second, I forgot the pain in my ribs. I wanted to stagger forward, touch the screen.

Muscle memory turned my head toward Pierre—his eyes wide, his face beaming.

Proud.

He was proud of me.

I got in—and he was proud of me.

Levi was already sorting through the paper again, his mischievous grin returning as he circled through the names already calculating profit.

General Noah turned to leave. "Welcome to Company X9, Cadet. Start by getting used to the showers."

I had questions. Gods, I had so many. But with his cold departure, I knew better.

I got in.

I really got in.

I looked up again, searching for Pierre—but this time, it was Sett's eyes I met.

And they glared back like ice, promising to kill me once he got his hands on me.

I swallowed hard.

Shit.