Read Wilde's Army for Free Online Page A

for that, but I would appreciate you trying.”
    I look from the ground and lock eyes with Perth. “Are you saying you’re willing to sacrifice your life to save all the others?”
    “Yes,” he says with no hint of a lie in his tone at all.
    I shouldn’t have treated Perth as unfairly as I have. “I will come for you. Ride fast. Head north toward Willow Falls. Stay as close to the river as possible, so we can use it as a guide.”
    A small smile grows on his face. “I will. Cadman’s stallion will not be able to ride as far and fast as your Mirain, but I will do my best to stay alive. Be safe and watch for their tricks.”
    Maybe all Perth ever needed was someone to trust him. Maybe that’s all any of the Ground Dwellers have needed, except for possibly his dad. Perth mounts the stallion, creates a blue flame in his palm then transfers it to his sword. Old magic in the iron holds the fire.
    “Oh, and Perth,” I say before he rides away.
    He looks over his shoulder.
    “Thank you.”
    “No, thank you for trying to trust me. You have shown me more kindness than most. I hope for all of our sakes this is not a trap.” Perth kicks his feet into the horse’s sides and rides up the path leading to the mouth of the cave.
    I wait until he reaches the top.
    Perth lifts his sword, and the horse trots in.
    Ten dreadful seconds pass; I don’t dare take a breath.
    Snorting precedes the glow of the blue flames and Perth. Tairbs and coscarthas chase the horse. Ten, twenty, thirty creatures rush out of the cave, grunting and screeching. I’m not sure how they keep up with the stallion’s speed, but they do.
    When no more exit and they’re all out of sight, I move in.
    Mirain and Bowen follow behind, then stop by a tree just before the path leading up to the cave.
    Prickles of fear ripple along my arms and grow stronger the closer I draw to the entrance. I take a deep breath and release the magic from inside; there’s no telling if all the daemons followed Perth out or not. Bringing my sword to my chest, I put my back against the rocks and use my ears to check for clues as to what I’m about to walk into.
    Other than the sound of my nervous breaths and heart pounding in my chest, there are no noises.
    It’s now or never
.
    Stepping in front of the entrance, I see everything just as I had from Brit’s mind—minus the daemons. Arland is at the back of the cave; we lock eyes.
    I gasp.
    Crimson soaks through his pants. Open wounds are carved on his chest. Dirt and blood make him barely recognizable. Brit is next to him. Both of them are alive, but I can’t imagine they will be for much longer. Every advance my feet make seems to take too long. Concern for anything lurking disappears and my pace picks up.
    I drop my sword by Arland’s feet and work to untie the ropes around his hands.
    He lifts his head.
    “Thank God you’re alive.”
    Stop
. Griandor’s voice booms in my head again.
    It takes monumental effort to make my fingers obey his command.
    Pick up your sword and untie your mother first
, he instructs.
    Arland’s forehead creases, and he squints as I back away from him.
    My heart aches. I want to help him, hug him, kiss him, but I set aside the look of confusion on his face then turn for my mom. Each step feels like I’m carrying ten pounds of lead in my boots.
    Even in the dim light with a gag secured in Mom’s mouth by rope, I see relief on her face. With my focus off Arland and Brit, I see a look of relief on everyone’s face.
    I rip through the bindings around Mom’s feet, face, and then hands. She opens and closes her mouth a few times, rubbing her red wrists.
    I glance over my shoulder at Arland.
Why can’t I untie him? Why am I being punished even more
?
    “How did you know?” Mom asks, removing the ropes from Gavin next to her.
    “Know what, Mom?”
    She points toward Arland and Brit. “That those two are shifters.”
    “Excuse me? Arland said shifters only imitate animals.”
    “Apparently