The mate he failed to kill

ailed before they

gh the gate at dawn with blood on

sped. "They were waiting

her before she

are the

t swallo

ptu

r her weapon. "H

teeth chattered. "They

ped what they were carrying and crowded close

ne tol

ew the

snapped, but

d betrayed

She could already see it. The captured women dragged into the underground ro

the scout shak

ackfen would lose more women, and th

dered. "And no one le

stared

t going af

ow why the soldi

ay be t

kno

ut sharper than

slow breath and lowered her voice. "But if we hand the

. Her hand stayed tight on

rned to the

te. Double t

rt. Footsteps pound

her torn sleeve. Something small was caught in the f

ck th

oyal uniform. It wa

t like the ones L

close enough to t

had given hi

s Maevra's table and pinned

e ridge," she said. "That means the amb

s face

ect someo

eached them. I won't acc

t's

nece

nd her, boots st

t wait f

wo

oads around Ashen H

re likely moved through the northern entrance, because

over the tabl

e intercep

olds children, we take them. If it holds we

ed the edge

ds the o

d

e a humor

still

re still

inder of how easily I

save the

lsin glanced between them, cl

raised

her. If either of you ignores the agreed signals, I

Nyxara bowed he

erst

raped back, and the women fi

lled the

sed around

se, her scarred

courage with a

met h

t want

a moment longer. "Then remember

o and wal

ved shortly b

bles and the fading light. Below them, two royal riders led the wagon. F

to Nyxara, her brea

the guard

op the horses and separate them from the wagon

ing this co

we're watching. Complicat

ered somet

" Nyxar

way

it for m

reaked. One of the soldiers laughed a

d her hand a

g in panic, and the lead rider shouted. Veyra and two women moved in from the left

turned a

yes w

orn

lun

ulder. Pain flashed down her arm, hot and bright. She stum

She knocked the b

ou!" Elsi

dy at the second guard's throat, and

lackfen's archers stepped out from the

unless you must

threw down

ed for a horn

uld raise it to his lips, and the

on

up bot

fell silent except for th

wagon, one hand pressed

over the back. Sh

d beneath it, pressed

. Another could ba

d at her with huge

taking

ed. She had to swallow

es

, a soldie

tu

ching the children with a strange expression. It wa

is transfer?" N

id no

own and crouc

ence for royal

t at h

ng need

od turn

ch k

gh his pain, bl

o you

ard enough to knock

xar

rabbed

obbed. For one moment, she wanted to keep h

of me,"

you put you

t her own hand.

she op

r voice was rough. "He'l

obeying. For once, there was n

n, pulled off her cloak, and wrap

ed her sleeve w

king take

rses, toward the dark roa

ile I'm

did not

omi

romi

en, the wagon rolling slow

sounded in t

r answ

ad been delaye

dy sent word that the