The biggest problem was, of course, I didn’t want her to be beholden to the king like the rest of us. Although it would make her life easier as a Shade, that fire in her eyes would eventually die out. And she would become just another soldier.
Suddenly, a knock at my door.
I didn’t move. Just stared at the glass in my hand, the warmth long gone, untouched.
The door creaked open.
She stood there—fists clenched, chin high, eyes bright with something fierce and fire-forged.
“Elira,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Leo and Slade?”
“Something came up.” Her voice was tight. “I need your help.”
I leaned back, studied her. “What do you need?”
“A pass,” she said. “Out of the Tower.”
My fingers curled around the glass. “To where?”
“Nowhere dangerous,” she rushed. “Just a few hours. I’ll stay within the city perimeter. I’ll check in. This isn’t a game, Thorne—I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”
I set the glass down. Slowly. Deliberately.
“Why?”
She hesitated.
“I can’t tell you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why not?”
“Because I can’t,” she said, more firmly this time. “Please, Thorne. For once, don’t fight me. Let me go. I swear to the gods I’ll come back.”
I almost laughed. Couldn’t help it.
“And I assume,” I said dryly, “you plan to go alone.”
“Ineedto.”
“So let me get this straight. You want me to hand a free pass to the girl who’s spent the last three months declaring how much she hates it here? No destination. No escort. No explanation.”
“Thorne—”
“No,” I said, the word cutting the air between us like a blade.
She blinked. “What?”
“I said no.”
She stepped closer. “You don’t even know why I’m asking.”
“I don’t care why.”
Her jaw tightened. “Are you serious right now?”
“As a heart attack,” I said, rising from my chair. “You’ve barely been here three months. Second years don’t even get passes until the end of theyear.”
“I’m not trying to escape!” she snapped. “If I was, why the hell would I come toyou?”
