Page 7

It looks like the truth.

And the truth is, I was always for sale. That’s the nature of a Lady from an Elite family with debts to pay. And now I’ve been sold to a brutal pack master of Monster Isle.

Curling my fingers into fists, I decide to survive. I decide that my heart will keep beating until I find my sister and bring her to safety… or until a monster rips it out.

Even if he uses his teeth.

My new pack master towers over me. He’s a Viking right out of the history books I used to read. Except the history books can’t replicate the intimidating effect he has as I try to keep my focus forward, but I’m very aware of his massive hand resting low on my back.

“This way,” he softly ushers me. It’s like he’s trying to talk to a skittish deer, but his voice is growly and rough like a leather strap he has decided to wrap around my throat.

And squeeze.

My muscles go rigid under the impact of his presence, but he doesn’t push me forward. Instead, he leaves his hand there until his warmth invades the thin layer of my dress I’ve been wearing for so long that it hangs about me in tatters.

A shadow behind the train catches my eye, making me narrow my gaze.

There’s nothing there, but I know magic when I see it.

“Are you hurt?” Godric asks when I still haven’t moved.

“Just my leg,” I say automatically as I reach down and take an opportunity to pop off the cork of one of my vials and dip my finger into the magical liquid. This tonic will let me see through mirages.

I’m adept at popping the little corks on and off in one fluid motion; it would look to anyone else as if I were simply rubbing my leg, but with the droplet now on my finger, I swipe it over my right eye.

My vision distorts as the tonic does its work, allowing me to finally see…

Who is that?

A hooded figure fades in and out of dark shadows, existing behind an invisibility veil that works very similarly to the magic I use to keep my vials hidden.

“You can clean up and rest once we’re inside,” Godric says as he leans in closer, as if trying to follow my gaze, but he won’t be able to see what I see.

I think.

Only a handful of people in the entire world have this type of magic at their fingertips. I stole these from my brother’s stash, and my brother is a Rinhold.

Meaning whoever is in that hood either trades with a member of the Rinhold family…

Or is a member of the Rinhold family.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I dare to hope against hope.

Has my sister been waiting for me to arrive?

I’m supposed to save her. Does she intend to save me instead?

The hooded figure watches me from the shadow of one of the train cars. I can’t make out any features, and the magic surrounding the spectator is too strong to even distinguish if it’s male or female.

The droplet of magic in my eye fades, having used up all its energy to help me see through the veil. I curl my fingers into fists and suppress a curse on my tongue.

It has to be her.

Right?

Godric gently nudges me forward.

“Inside,” he says, more sternly this time.