I have so many questions, and there are so many things I don’t understand. Frustrated tears prick at the edge of my vision, but I refuse to let them fall. Instead, I focus on my sisters. I can’t cry, not right now. I need to get them away from the king.
Gathering my frustration and anger, I shove the feelings into a little box deep inside myself. It isn’t empty—I’ve already stowed my grief about Kadyn’s death inside it. That, along with my best friend’s murder, are events I cannot focus on at this moment.
If I hadn’t crammed my grief into the box, I wouldn’t have been able to move, let alone run from the king’s soldiers. Before we left, even though our pursuers were coming, I took the time to say goodbye to Kadyn. Drawing his eyes shut, I pressed a kiss to his palm before laying his hands flat on his chest.
May you find peace with your brother, my friend, I had whispered, blinking back tears.I’m so sorry.
This was never how I wanted our friendship to end. Kadyn had become a true friend, and even though I’d only known him for a short while, I will miss him dearly.
At another time, in another place, we could’ve buried him properly. But we hadn’t had the time—the soldiers had been on their way.
I’d stood, pushing my grief down, down, down.
Ready, Wren?Gabriel had asked.
What an unusual question. Of course I hadn’t been ready for this. Who could be?
If my sisters hadn’t been here, I might’ve broken right then. Shattered into a million pieces. Been destroyed. But they needed me to be strong. With them in mind, I’d nodded. Gabriel had taken off, leading us through the tunnels.
I’m keeping my eye on Gabriel, making sure he isn’t touching, talking to, or even looking at my sisters. Even though he is guiding us through this maze, I can’t forget everything that has transpired between us.
One would think that between my exhaustion and the running, I wouldn’t have time to think about anything else, but that’s not true. My mind has been spinning ever since we left Kadyn behind.
Even though I’ve pushed down my heartbreak and I’m trying to ignore the events of earlier, I can’t forget about them altogether. Tonight confirmed a suspicion I already had: I amdangerous. Hazardous to be around. Not only that, but people who become friends with me die.
Twice now, I’ve watched someone I’m close to meet their end. Both times, I’ve been the one left behind, unable to bury my friend and properly mourn them.
I don’t think I can watch anyone else I care about get hurt.
Violet yelps, the sound yanking me out of my thoughts. And just in time, too. She’s careening forward, her foot having hit a rock.
I reach out, grabbing her pinwheeling arms and steadying her before she can slam into the ground.
Violet glances over her shoulder, smiling faintly at me. “Thank you, Birdie. It’s just so dark.”
We didn’t bring a torch. Gabriel said the light could tip off the soldiers as to where we were headed, and even though I hated doing it, I agreed with him. My Mark’s glow is our sole source of illumination.
“Of course, Vi.” I smile tightly. “Keep going, you’re doing great.”
She nods, returning her attention to the front and running to catch up with Gabriel and Marie.
Pride warms my chest as I watch my sisters. In the past few hours, the twins have already proven that they’re much stronger than I used to think they were. They’ve dealt with this whole situation remarkably well, considering their night has gone in a dark, deadly direction.
Drawing strength from the twins’ resilience, I keep running. It’s all I can do.
Giving up is not an option. If I do, who will look after my sisters? They’re in this mess because of me.
As we turn a corner and run down yet another dark tunnel, I make a vow—I will defend my sisters until my last breath. Judging by the events of the past day, I probably don’t have longto live, but I will not abandon them. I will fight for them with everything I have, because they’re my family.
I lose track of how long we run. It’s hard to tell time when everything looks the same—stone, stone, and more stone—and the sounds of the soldiers chasing us never seem to grow any quieter.
They’re on our tails, eager to catch us and bring us to the king.
The corridor splits into a fork, and the passage on the left is significantly darker than the one on the right.
“This way,” Gabriel grunts, leading us down the darker corridor.
Because of course we’re going to keep running down the creepy-looking tunnel. Why not? I would groan my displeasure, but staying upright is taking every ounce of concentration I possess.
