She startled awake from the sound of voices in the hall. Shooting out of the bed, her face blanched. The sun was about to dip beyond the horizon. She would be shifting soon, and she needed to get in that cage before the castle had a very large problem.
Knocks sounded from the door, and she stilled.
“Who is it?”
“Me,” Bron said, and he didn’t bother getting her permission before he charged inside. “She’s late.”
Iskra knew he meant the real Esi. Iskra fumbled with her shoes before she headed to the balcony. She didn’t have time to dawdle.
She was climbing down the sheets when Bron started coming down with her.
“What are you doing?” she hissed quietly, careful not to cause a raucous.
“Finding her.”
“I’m sure she’s heading this way,” she reassured him. “Go back inside.”
He didn’t listen to her, and Iskra’s stomach tightened. She needed to lose him before things went awry.
They were walking through an arched tunnel that led off the grounds when Iskra almost bumped into Esi. They both yelped in shock, but Esi recovered much faster than Iskra, who was breathing heavily from stress.
“Where were you?” Iskra seethed. “You should have been at the castle almost an hour ago.”
Esi laughed. “Relax.”
Iskra wanted to throttle the woman, but Bron stepped in before the tension could turn to violence. “We should head back before someone decides to knock on your door.”
“Yes, please go,” Iskra begged. She needed to leave.Now.
“What is all this worrying about?”
Iskra could smell alcohol on Esi’s breath.
“You need to freshen up, too,” Iskra warned, but Esi just giggled.
They were all so distracted by the conversation, they didn’t hear the footsteps approaching them.
“And you need to get back to the shop before we cause a fright.”
Iskra’s heart stopped at Kryth’s voice, more commanding and brutal in this form than the one he used as minister. When she turned to him, he held a cage.Hercage.
“Why do you act like she’s a prisoner?” Esi asked brazenly. Her drunkenness was making her bold, and it would only get Iskra in trouble.
“She is mine,” Kryth replied with such a lack of emotion, it made Iskra feel like she was nothing but a leaf in the wind.
“We should go,” Iskra said to Kryth.
He shook his head. “We don’t have time.”
“Time for what?” Bron’s voice was hard, his body going into defense mode. “And why do you have that cage?”
“Turn around,” Iskra begged again, her voice wavering. “Please, go.”
No amount of pleading would matter. She could feel a tingle starting at her burn mark; the scales wanted to claw their way out. Kryth opened the cage door, and she reached out.
“What’s happening?” Esi hiccupped, but her tone was no longer loose and bright—it bubbled with concern.
“Our Iskra has had a great honor bestowed upon her,” Kryth explained. “She will fight in the Undertaking.”
