Chapter 65. Devil’s Disease

JULIAN

“That’s right,” Zik said, watching me with a skeptical eye. “I didn’t actually believe you’d survive that stab to your chest, though Kent seemed convinced you would.” His gaze was sharp, studying me as if trying to make sense of it all. “And you don’t look like you’re in any pain, considering how deep that wound was. Just what in the world are you?”

I laughed it off, deflecting his question. “You were at the game?”

“We both were,” Kent answered, stepping in with a mischievous grin. “You made me a lot of money.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “How so?”

He smirked, his eyes reflecting a maturity that hadn’t been there before. “I bet against you. I knew you wouldn’t go through with killing the general.”

I couldn’t argue with him on that. He was right; I’d never be able to kill a friend—at least, not until after Festus. I shifted my gaze, trying to bury that memory, and took in the stable around me.

The place was surprisingly neat for a st