There are no guards posted. A chill goes up my spine. There was one earlier. I’m sure the king has already noticed.
“No guards,” Jory whispers.
“I know,” I say softly.
She glances at me, and her expression is tense and worried. “They’re going to keep sending people, aren’t they?”
“It certainly seems that way.”
“Do you think they got to Charlotte first?” she says. She draws a shaky breath. “She’s been so brave forme.I should’ve been in that room.”
“Most Hunters won’t go after someone who isn’t a target.”
She glances at me, her soft features barely visible in the shadows. “That Draeg soldier attacked the whole settlement.”
My mouth forms a line. There’s a part of me that wishes I’d returned from Morinstead a week earlier. Would I have learned about the Guildmaster’s treachery? Would I have suspected something?
Would I have been able to warn Jory, preventing all of this?
There’s just no way to know.
And as I consider everything we’ve been through together, I wonder if it was better this way.
We turn a corner, and a shadow shifts. Without hesitation, I shove the princess behind me, then tackle the other person into the wall. A woman gives a sharp cry, and I freeze.
“Oh!” says Jory. “Asher, it’s Charlotte!”
Fuck. I withdraw, letting the woman go. She’s so pale. She rubs at her sleeves and peers at us in the darkness. Her breath is shaking, like she’s afraid. I suppose that’s my fault.
She offers Jory a hasty curtsy. “Your Highness,” she says in surprise. She glances warily between us. “What are you doing here?”
“There’s been another attack,” Jory says. “Charlotte, I was so worried. Were you harmed?”
“No. No, I’m fine.” Charlotte looks back toward the darkened hallway. Her hands twist together, fidgeting. “There’s been another attack?”
Her tone is so hollow, and I frown. She doesn’t quite seem afraid. It’s something else, and I can’t put my finger on it.
“Yes,” says Jory.
“What of the king?” she says. She glances back a third time.
“He survived,” says Jory. “He’s checking with—”
“Jory. Wait.” I grab hold of her wrist sharply, pulling the princess behind me. Jory breaks off, sucking in a quick breath. I’m not sure why my instincts are warning me about this moment, but they are.
And then I figure it out.
Your Highness. What are you doing here?
She wasn’t surprised Jory was gone. She was surprised tofindher.
And she keeps glancing down the hallway.
Just as I put the pieces together, another shadow shifts, somewhere to my left. I move to block, but this time Charlotte tacklesme, shoving me into the wall. It’s completely unexpected, but I’m able to throw her off.
Unfortunately, it allows the real attacker to slam me into the ground. The stone floor scrapes against my branded shoulder, and someone lands on top of me. I cry out. “Jory,run.”
But she gives a sharp shriek, and I know they’ve got her. Panic grips my heart as I fight my assailant, desperately seeking a dagger. Desperately seekinganything.
