"What have you found?"
"Nothing useful." The admission tasted like ash. "We've mapped the guard rotations, identified the high-security zones. But Hewes is a ghost. No one sees him. No one talks about him."
Her brow furrowed. "Someone has to be bringing him food. Water. Supplies."
"That's what we thought. But the servants who work the secure wings are rotated constantly. Different people every day."
"What about Persico's inner circle?"
"If they know something, but they're not talking. Roone's tried to get close to a few of them, but they're paranoid. Loyal." I ran my free hand through my hair, frustration coiling tight in my gut. "We've been at this for weeks, and we're no closer than when we started."
She was quiet for a moment, her eyes distant, thinking.
"I know him," she said finally. "Hewes wouldn't just hide away. He's a control freak. He'd want to know his plans are moving forward." Her hand tightened on mine, and the trembling started to subside. "I worked for him. I know how he thinks. I know his patterns. He's holed up somewhere in Persico's compound, and I can help you find him."
"It's dangerous—"
"I don't care." Her voice was stronger now. Steadier. "I'm already in danger. We both are. But if we find him—we can end this."
I studied her face, searching for any sign of hesitation. Any hint that she was agreeing out of fear rather than conviction.
But all I saw was resolve.
"It won't be easy," I said quietly. "And if something goes wrong—"
"Then we go down fighting." She shifted closer, her shoulder pressing against mine, her warmth seeping into my skin. "I'm not going to sit here and wait for Persico to decide my fate. I'm not going to let Hewes win. And I'm not going to let you carry this alone."
The rage that had been burning in my chest since I left Persico's throne room started to shift. Started to transform into something else.
Purpose.
Direction.
Hope.
"Okay," I said. My voice was thick. "Okay. We do this together."
She nodded, and I saw the fear still there in her eyes, but I also saw the steel beneath it.
"Tell me everything you know about Hewes," I said. "Every detail. Every pattern. Every place he might hide. We'll start there and work our way through until we find him."
"And then?"
"And then we kill him." The words came out flat. Final. "We end him and get out of Fange City."
She took a shaky breath, and I felt her lean into me—just slightly, just enough that I knew she was drawing strength from the contact.
"Together," she said softly.
"Together," I agreed.
Chapter 11
Merrilee
I spent my time between fights mapping the compound.
The guards had stopped watching me so closely—weeks of compliance had earned me what passed for freedom in a place like this.
