Selene’s pulse leapt. “They’re ready.”
For what, exactly, she didn’t know. It didn’t matter. Only that she was their target.
A low, rumbling growl vibrated atop her shoulder through the dronsian’s underbelly.
Petrina scanned the rooftops. “They’ve been coming and going from the three ships with Flaming Sphinxes on them.”
Selene retreated into the alley’s shadow and put her back to the wall. “Why are you helping me?”
Petrina’s expression sharpened like drawn steel. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve warned you, and now I leave you to deal with it.”
The Eye turned sharply to exit the backside of the alley?—
She froze.
A man in a violet sash appeared and unsheathed his cutlass.
The dronsian fluttered his wings and growled. Vague thoughts cameover her, tripping over themselves in meaning. One said to flee. Another to fight.
Selene didn’t have much of a choice. In the end, she would have to fight.
“Find Augustus,” she told the dronsian. “Go.”
The beast gave a low whimper, but leapt from her shoulder with a snap of his wings. He vanished into the sun like a shot arrow.
Petrina pulled Selene into the market street. “Come on.”
Selene followed, Augustus’s cruel remarks buzzing in the back of her head.“Could you even take a life if it came to it?”
She didn’t know.
Something told her she was about to find out.
Only a step ahead, Petrina wound through the swelling crowds, stalls, and crates. Merchants shouted the usual greetings, and Oskar’s voice filled her head.“Act natural, but never take your eyes off the target. Be aware of everything all at once.”
She’d dismissed the suggestion with a laugh at the time. Impossible to noticeeverything.
And yet, she returned the greetings and still found herselftooaware of every shadow. Every shift. She felt the violet sashes closing like a noose, and no attempt at misdirection helped.
They reached a busy intersection. Petrina turned one way.
Selene pulled her another. “Not that way. Follow me.”
“Suddenly, you know what you’re doing?” the Eye asked.
“The Blades keep to areas where the City Guard was most active.”
Petrina didn’t argue. They needed help.
They turned a corner?—
A pirate slammed into them and shoved them both backward.
Selene stumbled.
Petrina whirled and drew a pair of blades in a blink.
The pirate brought a cutlass down on her crossed steel.
