Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“And please tell me there’s a way to remove it without having to
melt off my skin,” Sophie added.
That was the only way to remove aromark. The process didn’t hurt,
thanks to numbing balms and elixirs. But it was still one of the
freakiest things she’d ever endured.
“Pink means it’s ethreium,” Ro told her, “which is another enzyme
for tracking. We don’t use it as often, because it’s weaker. But it’s also
odorless. That’s why I didn’t detect it.” Her eyes dropped to her feet as
she added, “Sorry about that.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” Sophie promised.
“I kinda do. I trained with some of the ogres who’ve defected, and
one of them . . . This is the kind of trick he’d pull. I should’ve realized
he wouldn’t have betrayed my father unless he was all in. Cad always
wanted to be a leader.”
“Cad?” Sophie repeated.
Ro nodded. “His full name is Cadfael. He was a Mercadir, and he
always resented that the title didn’t give him any actual power. I’m
sure that’s why he defected—taking his chance to prove he should be
in charge without having to openly challenge my father in a spar.”
“Sounds like you knew him well,” Alden noted.
“Like I said, we trained together. And since we had similar
strengths, we were often paired up.” She reached for her forehead,
trailing a claw across her tattoos—then seemed to realize everyone
was watching her. “I’ll have no problem killing him, if that’s what
you’re worried about. A traitor’s a traitor. And with Cad . . . I almost
hope I face him before this is all over.”
“Can you think of anything else he might help them plan?” Grady
asked.