We grabbed what we could—the jewelry box, spare clothes, money we’d hidden. Our hands shook as we stuffed it all in canvas bags.
A distant door opened downstairs.
Rheya froze, her eyes locked on mine.
We both held our breaths as footsteps echoed. Toomany for only Henrik and Taryn. Voices rose underneath us. Powerful. Controlled. The kind used to giving orders and being obeyed.
Runecloaks, Rheya mouthed.
5
NOT YET FREE
We should’ve escaped yesterday. Now we wouldn’t leave with our lives.
I froze at the head of the staircase.
A fae stood in the foyer, his armor gleaming like teeth. Another Runecloak lingered beyond the threshold, helmet tucked under his arm. But it was the third figure that made my blood freeze—the executioner, just inside the doorway.
No one moved.
Henrik seemed frozen. Even Taryn kept her mouth shut, her usual arrogance dimmed by the presence of death standing in their home. That crimson mist coiling around his shoulders. The gauntlets stained with gods knew how many executions. Everyone knew what he was, and no one wanted to be the first to draw his attention.
“Lord Henrik, Lady Taryn.” The soldier finally broke the silence. “Forgive the intrusion.”
“Captain.” Henrik’s voice came out steady, but his body tensed. “To what do we owe this…visit?”
“There was trouble in the merchant quarter,” the captain said quickly. “We’re speaking with all households.”
“I see.” Henrik balled his fists. “And the Crown’s executioner personally investigates incidents now?”
The executioner tilted his head slightly.
“Orders from above, my lord,” the captain said carefully. “Given the unusual nature of the offense.”
Henrik crossed his arms. “What sort of offense?”
“A disturbance two nights ago.”
“Rather vague, Captain.”
The soldier shuffled his feet. “There was some strange activity at the market today. A servant girl acting suspiciously, running from the Arathi steward.”
Henrik’s eyebrows rose. “And this concerns us how?”
“We’re simply being thorough, my lord. Your household staff might have seen something useful.”
Henrik glanced at Taryn. “Our girls rarely leave the house.”
“Even so, my lord. A few questions, and we’ll be on our way.”
“Very well.” He turned to the stairs. “Aelie! Get your sister and come downstairs.”
Rheya gripped my arm, and I dug in my heels.
“Run, and they’ll hunt us.”
“What are we supposed to do?” she hissed.
