Page 150 of The Cost of Blood and Bonds

She’s crouched in the corner, eyes wide, still in the same dress from the ball.

“What.” I stumble back. “You’re supposed to be—Rye said he put you in the trials. He told Father⁠—”

The color drains from her face.

“The trials?” Her voice is barely a whisper.

I freeze. The look on her face isn’t anger or hurt. It’s horror. Pure, unfiltered horror.

“Hayes.” Her voice is urgent with a firmness underneath. “Slow down. Tell me exactly what happened. From the beginning.”

“After I found you at Father’s chambers, I panicked. I put you in the dungeon and went to find Rye. But Father found out before I could fix it. He wanted you dead…tonight. So Rye ran and got you out. He told Father he’d sent you into the trials.” I pause. “Father ordered him to make sure you don’t survive.”

She doesn’t move. Neither do I.

“Clearly he didn’t actually put you in,” I say, looking at her standing here in Rosie’s house. “The only way out of the trials is through the coliseum. There’s no other exit.” I shake my head, a knot loosening in my chest. “Of course, Rye wouldn’t put you in the trials. He hid you here instead.”

Gem’s jaw locks, her shoulders squaring, and she shifts her weight forward like she’s already decided.

“I have to go to the Weeping Woods,” she says.

“What? Gem, didn’t you hear me? Father wants you dead⁠—”

“Exactly.” She’s pulling off her ball shoes. “Rosie. I need clothes. Knives. Whatever you have.”

My heart is slamming in my chest.

“Gemma, you can’t go into the trials—” Rosie starts.

But Gem’s not listening. She’s already moving, pulling on boots, not looking up.

“No. Stop.” I step in front of her. “You can’t just walk into the trials. People die in there, Gem. Trained nobles with guards die in there.”

“Hayes.” Her hand closes on my arm. “If you are my friend. If you were ever my friend, you won’t stand in my way.”

The words land like a fist. If I was ever her friend. As if I didn’t just prove tonight exactly what kind of friend I am.

“Please,” she whispers.

I stare at her, and I can’t make sense of it. She should want to get as far from me and this castle as possible. Instead, she’s looking at me like I’m the only thing standing between her and survival.

“Then I’m taking you there.” The decision lands before I’ve finished making it. “I know the guard rotations. I know the best route to avoid the ball. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it smart.”

I watch surprise move across her face, then gratitude, warm and real.

“Hayes—”

I can tell she’s about to thank me, and it’s unbearable. I caused this. Every single piece of it. The guilt rises up in me, thick and suffocating, threatening to pull me under.

“Stop.” I shake my head. “Not after what I did.”

Rosie is already in motion, pulling a pack that’s already full, shoving clothes and knives in from places that make me wonder what else I missed. They move around each other like they’ve done this before, like they’ve planned for this.

“Ready?” Gem says, shouldering the pack.

I nod, open the door, and check the path.

“Stay close. Stay quiet. And for the love of everything, don’t get caught.”