*Absolutely Not*

Onyx looked enraged. "You're going to force him to give you information? Do you know how incredibly insane that is?"

"Do you know how incredibly dangerous you are to being short a tongue?" Phoenix stood her ground as the man glared at her with fury.

"Phoenix! He will kill you! He is not just a fat ass who orders others around! He has skills! He has experience with killing!"

"Then it's a good thing he won't be there!" she snarled.

"And how do expect to get passed the other Ironshades?"

"They won't be there either."

Ecthrois peered curiously at her. "You're talking about the one night a year when Ironshades leave the compound to terrorize the island. How do you know about that?"

"A very good resource."

"Advandth?"

She shook her head. "No. I wouldn't ask her of that."

"Then who?"

She met Ecthrois's gaze. "Someone with knowledge."

Ecthrois said nothing to that. He suspected, somehow, that he knew who she was talking about, but he wouldn't say aloud. If she didn't, then he shouldn't. Not because he thought she was being kind, but because he thought there was more to the story.

"You know none of us can back you up on this?" Onyx said, more calm now.

"Ironshades will be out all night. I would only need an hour."

"Neclord doesn't stay out as long," Ecthrois warned. "He likes to stay close."

"An hour is all I need."

"There will be traps," Onyx added. "Everywhere. We don't leave the place empty without precautions."

"His office window?"

"Same."

She pursed her lips. "Anything I should look for?"

"Everything." Both men said together.

After food, Onyx and Devdan left to make reports to their Boss. Advandth still slept, and Aurora was talking to Rokr. Elliot was in the basement, wanting to be alone with his thoughts, so Phoenix wasn't surprised when Ecthrois sat at the table across from her and said, "Your deal with Advandth. It was to save Onyx's father."

She nodded, having no reason to deny. She didn't think he would eat Advandth out.

"And you did, along with the boy."

"Elliot."

"Why?"

She looked at him. "Because I owe him my life."

"Why haven't you said anything to him?" he asked without a pause.

"Because I don't know if he'll live long. Because I'm not sure he deserves my kindness. Because I don't want to be betrayed if I do."

Ecthrois didn't question her. Just said, "He can't do it again, Phoenix. It doesn't matter what you've done or who you've killed. Onyx can't."

"How am I to trust that?"

"What about the fact that he was going crazy since you left? How about the fact that he kept your sister safe after she got Elliot taken?"

"What about the fact that he had the chance to turn around that night and walk me away? He almost did, Ecthrois. But he decided I had to die."

"That's not his fault."

She laughed. "Ironic! You and his father and Advandth said the same thing!"

"It's my fault."

She stared at him, shocked. "How?"

"Because I told Neclord Onyx wasn't doing his job. Because I made Neclord angry at Onyx enough to make him give Onyx shit about you in order to speed up the process."

Phoenix didn't move. She didn't look away from the man. She didn't even breathe.

Ecthrois sighed. "Addie had shown us the information she got on you. It was then that I realized you were innocent."

"Would that have mattered, though? Had you known in the beginning, would it have mattered?"

Ecthrois shrugged. "Probably not."

"Then why the change of heart?"

"Because I saw how much he loved you."

She snorted. "Onyx doesn't love anyone! Least of all me! I'm the reason his father was tortured in the first place, the reason Neclord made him into what he is today!"

"Unless you have magic like Neclord said, you aren't to blame." Ecthrois shook his head. "His father made a choice. He knew the consequences."

"But because he chose to save my life, Onyx didn't have a father for most of his life."

Ecthrois sighed. "Phoenix, I don't care what you believe. But Onyx does love you, or at least cares for you. He beat Tariel for information about you, about the night you disappeared, then slit his throat."

"I don't care."

"He almost killed me for ratting him out and hastening his decision to bring you in, because he wanted the truth before he did anything. But Neclord forced his hand."

Phoenix sat back and crossed her arms. "So, what do you want me to do since you've told me this?"

"Punish me. Not him."

"Why should I give you what you want?"

Ecthrois shrugged. "Because he is my friend. He's had my back. He has given Advandth some freedom. He's given Dev someone to look up to." He met her eyes. "Because he's cared more for us than we have for him. Even when I aggravated him, when I said horrible things about you and he wanted to kill me, he has not done much more than punch me. He brought us together, Phoenix. The four of us, he did that. He gave us friends."

Phoenix stared at Ecthrois for a long time, thinking about his words and seeing their truths. She didn't like Ecthrois. Didn't trust him. But she trust what he told her now. There was no denying how much the three of them looked up to Onyx. She said, "If I find out that you do that to him again, I will find you and Jill you in front of Neclord." She leaned forward, narrowing her gaze. "And if you ever hurt Advandth like how did that night Onyx took my sister home, I'll skin you alive."

"And what about you?"

"I don't care about me."

Ecthrois gave a smirk, knowing and calculating. "So, you do care about him?"

"I do, but only about if he's being manipulated to kill me."

Ecthrois chuckled. "We both know you lie." He stood and stretched. "But your secret is safe with me."

"Where is Advandth?" Neclord asked Onyx. Dev had just been asked to leave and waited for Onyx outside. They had given their report on how there was no sign of Phoenix and how they covered the whole island.

"Healing," he said without emotion.

"Where?"

"Death."

Neclord raised his brows. "You went there and risked everything?"

"She's my sister. I need her."

"And if I told you she betrayed me?"

"Advandth wouldn't dare," Onys said without hesitation. "She isn't Brave enough to go against you, not when she knows the whole of Ironshade can easily hunt her down."

Neclord stared at him, looking for something that signaled Onyx was playing him. But there wasn't a thing. The man's face held no expression. He sighed. "Phoenix is likely back to her old hiding spots, and won't come out for a while. Keep an eye out, but make this target your next priority."

Onyx felt relief at Neclord's relaxation on Phoenix's capture, relief at him believing she was hiding. That he suspected nothing.

The Boss slid over a photo, a face circled in red. Onyx looked down and saw an unfamiliar one. It was a girl, maybe Phoenix's age. She had blonde hair and hazel eyes. "Who is she?"

"I don't know. Find out."

Onyx took the photo and committed the face to memory.

The next day, Phoenix asked Elliot to grab a few things from town, saying there were more people than normal. When Ecthrois offered to go with, but Elliot refused outright. When Phoenix suggested Devdan, Elliot still didn't seem comfortable, but agreed. Devdan wasn't so threatening as Ecthrois and would likely make a nice friend.

After they left, Phoenix confident Dev could keep Elliot safe, she asked Aurora to keep herself busy by doing whatever for the next hour. Then, Phoenix gathered Ecthrois and Onyx into Advandth's room and shut the door.

Advandth, still very sore and out of it, looked better than the day before. She are a little and didn't seem ready to break down. Phoenix sat beside her and room the girl's hand. "Addie, I am only letting you in on this conversation because you have useful information. Not because you are going to be a part of anything going on."

Advandth nodded. "As long as you all are careful."

Phoenix smiled. "No promises." She turned to the two men and turned business like.