Emmeline
He extended his hand. I took a deep breath, feeling my future change irrevocably, and shook it. His armored gauntlet was as cold and hard as the man wearing it, and my stomach grew heavy.You only have to work with him for one heist, I told myself.Then you’ll never have to see his cruelly gorgeous face again.
“Come with me.”
He set off through the undergrowth, and I scrambled after him. I’d lost my bearings when I’d fallen from the tree (or maybe when I’d hit the ground), but he led me straight back to the ravine. The pegasus waited near its edge, its feathers shining in the sunlight, silky white mane iridescent.
Valen swung himself up into the saddle with practiced ease. Then he reached down to help me up.
I didn’t move. “Where are we going?”
“To the Moonlit Court. Where else?”
“Now?”
“I don’t like wasting time.”
I backed up. This was too fast. I couldn’t—
“Emmeline? Emmeline!”
Maman’s voice carried over the rush of the river below. Valen turned his head, seeking the source of the sound.
“My mother,” I said. “I have to say goodbye to her. She’ll worry herself sick if I just disappear. Please.”
He looked down at me impassively from his mount, and I thought I’d have better luck pleading with a hungry dragon.
“Make it quick,” he said.
He hauled me up so that I sat in front of him, his metal-encased arms wrapped around me as he held the reins. The pegasus had a musky, earthy scent that mingled with the clean smell of ozone. Its powerful hooves pounded as it thundered toward the ravine’s edge. My jaw clenched, a silent scream trapped in my throat, as we plunged into the abyss.
With a powerfulwhoosh, its mighty wings extended, catching the wind with a breathtaking rush. Then we soared. Vibrant magic tingled against my skin, and the wind felt clear and invigorating. It was brilliant and terrifying, but I couldn’t savor the experience. I had to find my mother.
In less than a minute, we spotted her in a clearing below. The pegasus landed, the wind from its wings nearly blowing the scarf off her head. She clutched a hand to her chest as I batted Valen’s arms away, jumped down, and ran to her.
Her face had turned ashen, a deathly pallor I hadn’t seen since she’d lain ill in bed.
“It’ll be all right,” I said quickly. “I made a deal with him.”
“Emmeline.” Her voice rasped like a death croak. “No. You can’t trust—”
“I know.”
I kept my voice low and resisted the urge to look over my shoulder. Valen could hear us; it couldn’t be helped.
“I don’t have any better options,” I said.
She clutched me as if she could physically stop me from going. Then her eyes caught on Valen.
“Please!” She threw herself between us. “Please. She’s innocent. I’m the thief you seek.”
“Maman, don’t—”
She jabbed a bony elbow into my ribs when I tried to pull her back.
“I stole Tullus’s fortune,” she said. “I’m the shapeshifter you’re looking for, and I’ll surrender. Just promise you’ll leave my daughter in peace.”
He looked down callously from atop his steed, saying nothing.
