“Fifty scrublanders isn’t enough to take it,” said Rebekah. “But I can triple your numbers.”
“How?” asked Roa.
“A great many soldiers were demoted or dismissed when Safire was made commandant. Among them are several formerly high-ranking soldats. All of them are in my father’s debt, since it was he who found them new employment; thereforeevery one of them will be at our disposal.” She smiled that chillingly beautiful smile. “While you find that passage, Theo and I will figure out how best to take the palace from the inside.”
Roa looked to Theo. His face was in shadow, but the flames seemed to dance in his eyes as she spoke.
“And if I can’t find it?” Roa asked. “If no such passage exists?”
“It exists,” said Rebekah. “And if anyone can find it, it’s the girl who tricked her way onto the throne.”
Roa looked to the window, realizing this plan of hers didn’t only affect Dax. It would put others in danger too: Lirabel, Safire, everyone in the palace.
What am I doing?
She stepped back from the basin. She wanted out of this room. Out of this house.
“If that’s all, then I should be going. The king and his commandant are already suspicious.” She held out her hand. “You promised me the knife.”
“There’s just one more thing,” said Rebekah.
Something in her voice sent a chill through Roa. Essie moved closer, brushing Roa’s cheek with her wing.
“I, too, like assurances. And since I gave you one tonight, it’s only fair you give me one in return.”
Roa frowned, wondering what kind of assurance she needed. She felt Rebekah’s guards slip into the shadows behind her, keeping themselves between Roa and the door.
“Now that I’m in this, I can’t have you playing both sides,” Rebekah went on. “I need to ensure you’re loyal tome.”
Suddenly, Essie shrieked and dug her talons in deep. A heartbeat later, they were ripped away, tearing Roa’s skin.
She cried out, spinning to find Garnet gripping Essie’s body with both hands, squeezing her wings to her sides as she fought and squirmed and tried to bite.
Roa reached for Essie’s knife at her calf.
“Take your hands off her!”
When he didn’t, she lunged.
One of the other guards held out his arm, hand fisted. Roa ran straight into it, the force of it hitting her in the chest, stealing her breath and temporarily stunning her. He hauled her back, away from her sister. Roa recovered and cracked her elbow hard against his face. The man cursed and dropped her to the floor.
She heard Theo shout. Heard weapons drawn.
Roa spotted Garnet, heading toward one of the cages. Essie shrieked and struggled, trying desperately to get her wings free. The door to an empty cage hung open.
No...
Roa sprang to her feet.
Four crisscrossed swords were immediately at her throat as guards stepped in, surrounding her and blocking her path.
Roa felt the sharp bite of steel. She halted, staring helplessly at Essie—who’d gone half-wild at the sight of her sister under threat.
Garnet shoved Essie inside the cage. Slamming the door closed, he twisted the key in the lock.
“No... ,” Roa cried as Essie threw herself against her cage. Shrieking and flying, again and again, into the bars. Roa moved to go to her, and the blades constricted against her throat. Herempty hands clenched and unclenched as she watched her sister hurt herself, then exhaust herself.
Finally, Essie fell to the bottom of the cage and didn’t get up. Her white chest rose and fell quickly with the terrified beat of her tiny heart.
