“If you ever need me in the night”—he rubbed the back of his neck, staring down at the blue and green floor tiles—“take a right.”
The silence crept in as both of them thought of the things she might need him for.
“Right. Well. See you tomorrow, then.”
Dax picked up his lamp and stepped back into the passage. It was only after the wall closed and the darkness descended that Roa wondered... What would happen if she took a left?
Twenty-Seven
That night, Roa had a nightmare.
She dreamed she was locked in a dark and hollow place. There were no walls, and yet no matter where she turned, she couldn’t escape. The loneliness crushed her. The smell of blood and rot made her gag.
But she wasn’t entirely alone. Somewhere in the shadows, something was searching for her.
Where are you?it called.
Roa knew that voice. Hope bloomed within her.Essie!
Where are you? Where are you?
I... I don’t know!
Roa felt her sister pause. Felt her turn. Hunting for her.
I’m trapped,said Roa.In the dark.
I’m coming.Her sister’s voice seemed to sharpen.I’ll find you. I always find you.
But Essie’s voice never came any closer. And as Roa tried desperately to close the distance between them, Essie only ever seemed to get farther and farther away.
Soon, Roa could no longer hear her. Just as she was about to give up, the dying echo of Essie’s voice reached her ears:This time when I find you, sister, nothing will ever break us again.
Roa woke with a start, shivering and covered in a sheen of cold sweat. She tried to shake off the nightmare, but it clung like a shadow.
She’d thought it was about Essie. But then, at the end, that echo... it seemed like somethingelse.
Someone banged on her door, scattering her thoughts. “My queen?”
Roa looked to find the sun high in the sky. She sat up... and groaned. Her whole body ached and it took her several heartbeats to remember why: she’d spent half the night dueling with Dax.
Roa fell back into the pillows, thinking of last night. Of a wounded Dax, gleaming with sweat.
The wound slowed him down, she knew. But even taking it into account, Dax was a worse swordsman than she’d thought.He favors his left and leaves both sides exposed when he lunges. He hadn’t even come close to beating her.
If it was true that people tried to train him with a sword, either they hadn’t tried very hard, orhehadn’t. It was pathetic how terrible he was—especially since his enemies would be crawling through the palace in two nights’ time.
Once that happened, Roa needed to be careful. She didn’t trust Rebekah. And she could no longer afford to trust Theo. It was up to her to keep Dax safe from their men long enough to make the exchange.
Before any of that could happen, though, Roa needed to find the way out and report to Rebekah before midnight tonight—in exchange for Essie’s freedom.
Roa chafed at that. She was at Rebekah’s mercy. But soon this would be over.
“My queen.” Celeste’s voice came again from the other side of the door. “You’re late for the security meeting!”
Roa got up. She was tired and sore—out of practice and out of shape. Putting her hands on her hips, she stretched her back, shoulders, and neck. As she dressed, donning a scrublander dress of finely spun pink linen, she glanced quickly at the hidden door Dax had shown her last night.
She was tempted to feign illness and skip the meeting to explore the hidden passage. But if security measures were being discussed, Roa needed to be privy to them in case they interfered with her plans.
