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I reached up, curling my fingers around Grady’s sleeve, wishing I hadn’t sheathed theluneablade. I wasn’t sure what I’d do with it. Then again, I hadn’t expected being able to use it before, but I didn’t dare breathe too deeply or make any other movement. Not even as the air turned frigid around us.
“Please don’t hide from me.” Lord Samriel’s voice was drawing closer. “We want to help you.”
We?
Through the gap in the curtain I saw ani’mereland on one of the bookcases, its back to us as it stretched out its massive wings. Its head twisted from side to side in the quiet.
Then I heard a soft, trembling voice call out, “You . . . you promise?”
Theni’mere’s head swiveled to the right as I jerked forward. Grady’s arms tightened around me.
“Don’t,” he whispered in my ear.
Heart sinking, I shuddered. I told her to hide— not to come out. Why hadn’t she listened? I wanted to scream at her, but I couldn’t. I knew that, but my entire body strained against Grady’s hold.
“Of course. I promise,” Lord Samriel assured, his voice so syrupy it dripped poisonous sugar. “Come on— ah, there you are.”
No. No. No.
Theni’mereshook out its wings, a cruel, bloody smile twisting its lips.
“That’s not her,” another voice answered, one both Grady and I recognized. Hymel. What was he doing here, with them? Hymel was a bastard, but he couldn’t be involved in this.
There was a heavy sigh and then Lord Samriel said, “Kill it.”
It.
Killit.
Allyson. Her. Not it.Her.
“Stop,” another voice intruded, one that was colder, flatter.
Theni’merelistened, tucking its wing back as it strained from where it was perched on the bookcase.
“You said it was here.” The unknown male spoke again. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive,” Hymel answered, and my stomach hollowed. I had never heard him sound so scared. “I saw her run with Allyson. She has to be in here, Your Highness.”
I suddenly understood why Hymel sounded so afraid, because that man he spoke to was a prince. Was it Prince Rainer? But why would he be here when his Court burned?
Grady stiffened behind me. They were . . . they were talking about me. My thoughts raced, a mess of confusion and fear.
“Then we shall see,” the Prince said.
Suddenly, Allyson’s scream ripped through the air, high-pitched and terrifying. I jerked forward, knees nearly collapsing. Grady held on, keeping me standing.
“Shush now,” the Prince ordered, that voice of his almost gentle if not for the iciness, and Allyson’s screams ended in a soft sob.
Then there was . . . there was just the sound of my heart pounding.
“I’m going to give this lovely creature a chance,” the Prince said, and through the curtains, I could see theni’meretwist its head back and forth. “And I’m going to giveyoua choice.” There was a pause. “Lis.”
I went rigid against Grady, heart pounding. I could barely get enough air into my lungs.
“Come to me, and she will not be harmed,” the Prince said. “Don’t?”
There was a crack. A deafening, sickening snap.
