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“I promise you something, my little songbird.” Those eyes leered down his straight nose. This close I could make out the faintest freckles on his soft brown skin. Reluctantly, my lungs filled with the odd scent of him, salt and leather and something sweet, like the sugared glazes in the hall. Bloodsinger pressed his lips to the side of my cheek. My fists clenched as he whispered, “You will be a pleasure to break.”
The next moments blurred. The sea king stole a tallow candle off a sconce and dragged me toward the window. My screams, at long last, drew pounding footsteps up the winding tower steps. Guards shouted commands. They called my name.
“It’s sea fo—” My words cut off when Bloodsinger’s rough palm covered my mouth.
“I could do with a bit more subtlety.” He shook his head, as though disappointed and paused at the window.
Moonlight shone through diaphanous paint on the glass. A painting from last turn when I’d stroked long brambles of red roses and tall, green waves.
Almost tenderly, Bloodsinger undid the latch and nudged the window open. I’d half expected him to grin as he shattered the first part of my world.
He tipped the candle to the lower slats of the roof. Something glistened over the surface, but at the touch of the spark, a running flame spread over the top of the wooden slats.
“No!” I struggled until he shoved me through the window.
Erik Bloodsinger took hold of the scarf binding my wrists. A wink was all he gave before he took off across one of the thick beams, the opposite direction as the blaze devouring my entire world.
CHAPTER9
The Songbird
Ten paces more and the hells shattered through our peace. The flames at our backs reached for the velvet night. The glow cast its cruel, crimson dance across the courtyard. From the shadows, dozens and dozens of ghostly figures stepped into the light.
Sea fae charged into the fort.
Horns blasted from the watch towers, and Rave warriors spilled out to meet them. Tears burned behind my eyes. I refused to let them fall. I needed to stay alert, stay clear, and snatch my chance to break Bloodsinger’s fingers, take an eye, snap his wrist, at the soonest possible moment.
I winced when screams from within the great hall took me from behind. Nearly everyone I loved was in there.
Bloodsinger heaved me forward at the edge of the tower roof. His strong arm curled around my waist. “Hold tight, love.”
Without warning, he spilled us over the edge. My scream was muffled beneath the squall of shattered glass, the roar of casks bursting into flames. The ground struck, too soft, too scratchy. Bloodsinger had landed us into the back of a feed wagon that hadn’t been there earlier. I choked on straw and stale oats, and had little time to catch my breath before the cart lurched forward.
A woman’s holler of utter delight rose from the driver’s bench. Hooded, she clapped reins against an old, frail mule. The beast protested, but quickened its pace.
“Damn creature! You be on land, so run!”
The cart bumbled through the courtyard. I tried to reach for the rail, ready to toss myself over it, but I was ripped back.
Bloodsinger gripped my ankle. “No foolish ideas, Songbird.”
“No,” I snapped. “Only wise ones.”
With a grunt, I hiked up one knee, and slammed it into the side of his leg with every piece of might I could muster at this angle.
“Godsdammit.” He gripped his leg, jaw taut in pain, but righted swiftly. The red in his eyes flashed with violence. Bloodsinger scrambled over the straw, knowing what I planned before I’d even made a move to do it.
He was swift, but not swift enough.
I staggered to the rail of the cart, closed my eyes, and leapt off the edge. Sloppy and unskilled, all I could do was pray my head didn’t catch beneath the wheels. I landed on the cobbled courtyard, facedown, my bound wrists jabbed against my heart.
Move.Move. I scrambled to my feet, sprinting ahead without a look over my shoulder. Chaos had overtaken the fort. Banquet tables were overturned. Flames licked along the walls of the tower. Ladies stumbled amidst their full gowns. The glitter of masks sparkled like golden starlight in the hedges.
The crew of Bloodsinger was everywhere. Like locusts over crops, their blades sliced at our Rave. Hells, I needed a weapon. I was no warrior, but I could bleeding well hold my own. My thoughts turned to Rorik and the other littles. No mistake, they were guarded, but if the Rave were pulled out here to fight, the young ones needed to be led to safety.
I ducked my head and sprinted along the edges of the yard. As I ran, my gaze scanned faces, desperate to find Alek, Mira, or the twins. Theyhadto be safe. I couldn’t accept anything less.
The longhouse gates where Rorik and his playmates had feasted and played all evening were twenty paces away, untouched by flames, but I saw no Rave. No sign of anyone. Blood throbbed in my head; I hastened every step, ignoring the aches of muscles and joints.
