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I twisted against him. The barrel swung towards the wall.

The weapon fired.

The shot tore through a panel behind me, and blue-white light flared inside it, showering us with sparks as the steady hum beneath the floor turned into a grinding whine.

“The conduit!” the pilot shouted. “We’re losing power!”

The officer let go of me and stumbled towards the cockpit. Outside the window, the horizon tilted sharply as the ship rolled and its nose dropped. I caught the counter rail while the medic fell across the aisle and Rourke crashed into the seats.

The trees below were getting bigger far too quickly.

“Brace!”

I dropped beside the counter and covered my head. Branches struck the hull before the ship hit the ground and threw me across the aisle. My left shoulder slammed into a seat frame as we tore through the trees, with metal buckling around us. Another impact ripped the cabin wall open and flung me forwards, and my head struck something hard.

Then there was nothing.

I woke coughing, with smoke burning my throat and the cabin tilted around me. My left arm gave way when I tried to get up, so I pulled myself upright with my right. Through the torn hull, I could see the ground close enough to reach.

The medic lay motionless between the broken seats. I’d taken one step towards her when Rourke shouted from behind a fallen panel. It had trapped his leg against the floor, and blood covered one side of his face.

“Get over here. Lift this.”

I stopped beside him, then crouched and slipped my good hand beneath the edge. He pushed while I lifted, and together we shifted it enough for him to pull his knee towards himself before he cried out.

“Higher!”

I looked at his hands against the metal and realised that if I freed him, he could grab me again.

So I lowered the panel and pulled my hand away.

“What are you doing?” He reached for me as I stood, but I stepped beyond his grasp. “Get back here!”

I left him struggling beneath it and climbed towards the opening.

He shouted my name behind me, but I kept going. I lowered myself through the torn hull, my right hand gripping the edge, and when my skirt caught on the metal, I pulled until the fabric tore, then dropped onto the bank below.

I stumbled towards the trees with my injured arm held tightly against my chest and kept walking until I couldn’t see the wreckage anymore.

I had no idea where I was going, no money, and nothing to my name except the clothes I wore.

I was no longer Lady Elowen.

I was a lady of nothing.

Chapter 22

Elowen

Sunlight filtered through the canopy, revealing cushions that had somehow ended up everywhere during the night. I was alone in my nest. Someone had tucked the blanket around my feet before leaving, which was lovely, though I’d have preferred at least one of them to stay. I pulled it higher beneath my chin when a soft chime sounded beside the doors. I seriously considered ignoring it, but when it came again, I dragged myself out of the nest and crossed the warm rug to the communication panel.

“A new light to you, my lady,” Livia said.

“And to you.” My voice still sounded half asleep.

“Breakfast will be served shortly. Master Alaric asked whether you'd prefer to eat in the nest or join the Masters in the family kitchen.”

“The kitchen, please.”