She’d almost given in and gone to bed by the time the knock came at her door. By the way the sky had begun to lighten, she knew it was close to dawn. Her hands trembled as she tugged the door open, a teasing grin on her lips.
‘You sure know how to keep someone wait—’
The words died as she took in Josie’s grave face. Theprincess shouldered past her, glancing down the hall before snapping the door closed.
‘They took him,’ she rumbled. Aya’s heart began to pound as she scanned her friend. ‘They took Will. I overheard Peter talking to some guards and—’
‘On what charge?’ Aya was already in motion, her hands reaching for a knife she could tuck beneath her dress. Josie tensed, her eyes flicking to the blade in Aya’s hand.
‘Espionage,’ she whispered. Aya froze. Josie shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, Aya. I had no idea they would …’ Her friend trailed off, her face pleading.
Aya closed her eyes for a heartbeat, willing her blood to thaw as she leashed the rage that was whirling inside her.
‘Where is he?’
‘The first level of the dungeons. There are rooms there for questioning.’
Aya sheathed the knife at her thigh. ‘Can you show me?’
Josie nodded. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered as Aya reached for the door.
Aya’s jaw locked, her eyes fixed on the dark hall. ‘It’s not your fault.’
72
They’d muted his power. Will had discovered it as soon as those guards seized him in the hallway – as soon as the Anima got his hands on him and slowed his heart. He’d woken up some time later in a large room that looked like one of the iron workshops back home. There were tables and tools and only two small windows that looked out over the sea. But Will was familiar with spaces like these. He knew they weren’t for welding. Not iron, at least.
They must have slipped him that godsforsaken tonic at some point. Perhaps in his food, or a drink …
He could still feel sensations – like the tension in the guards standing by the door. But he couldn’t manipulate them. It was as if they’d ripped apart his shield, leaving him open and vulnerable.
Will leaned his head back against the iron chair they’d chained him to and let out a shaky breath. The waiting was the worst part.
Where is she?
Surely they’d gone after Aya too? He tried to stifle the fear that threatened to choke him. If they harmed her, if they so much astouchedher …
He closed his eyes against the thought.
A commotion in the hallway had him lifting his head, his eyes trained on the door. There were raised voices, and footsteps, and—
His heart stopped. He’d recognize that icy tone anywhere.
Not her. Please gods not her.
The door swung open, and a guard shoved Aya into the room, her knife glinting in his hand. She still wore her gown, and other than a few whips of hair that had fallen around her face, nothing else seemed out of place. They hadn’t even bothered to cuff her.
She was at his side in an instant, her hands skimming his face, his shoulders, his arms. ‘Are you hurt?’
Will tugged against the chains. ‘What are you doing here?’
She stepped behind him, her hands running over the thick iron. ‘The hells type of question is that?’
‘You need to get out of here.’
‘Hold still. I’m going to have to freeze these off you.’
‘That won’t be necessary,’ a deep voice cut in.
