With shaking hands, we undress each other. His doublet is quickly on the floor, followed by my gown. Shivering in my chemise, I guide him toward the bed. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I just need to be touching more of him. Finn is more than responsive, tracing kisses down my neck as my fingers roam over him before dropping to my corset. I tug on the laces.
His whisper tickles my ear again. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes.”
And I am.
Finn starts, “Do you want…”
But he doesn’t finish before we’re interrupted by a distantboom.
Finn and I freeze as we hear another explosion—this one close enough to rattle the floor.
Then the screaming starts.
inn is dressing before I can react.
“Stay here!” he commands. He reaches for his sword in the same moment that a scream fills the hallway. It’s a voice I recognize, and I leap up.
“That’sDaisy!”
Another scream sounds, then a distant crash strong enough to make the floor shake. Finn blocks my path, and the terror in his eyes mirrors mine. “You need tohide!”
“No!” I howl, trying to shove past him. “I can’t leave her!”
Finn seizes my wrists, shouting, “Lyria,wait!” but I break his grip and tear into the hall.
A nightmare awaits. Flickering amber light floods the scene. I see people fleeing in every direction, their shadows long andmacabre. I smell smoke and blood. Ahead, a huge chunk of the staircase has been blasted away, leaving nothing but singed rubble.
I stumble forward.
Daisy’s screams are coming from the chamber down the hall from Finn’s. I can only assume that is Damien’s room. Tearing toward it, I see the door flung open. A body is crumpled across the threshold, a Verdish guard. Running toward the doorway, I barely register his form before something swings at my head.
The sword misses me by a kiss. I lurch back as it slams into the doorframe, shattering wood and sending splinters flying in every direction.
I wheel to face my attacker. The person is male, but his face is mostly concealed by a dark green cloak. He roars as he swings for another strike.
Something yanks my arm. Finn throws me behind him, then swings to block the attacker’s next swipe. Steel crashes against steel. Finn drives forward—he strikes once, twice, then cuts down his assailant with an overhead blow that slams into his neck.
The hooded figure crumples.
When Finn turns, he’s unrecognizable. I’ve never seen this much hate in his eyes. The boy in the cottage is gone.Thisis the son of Verdinae, the descendant of Dornik pillagers, the agent of the Frumentari, the man who’s been taught to end life for as long as I’ve been taught to save it.
“Are you hurt?” he demands, his eyes desperately scanning my body for any injuries.
“No.” I’m shaking, but I manage to hold my footing.
“Are you sure?”
He reaches for me, but his wild eyes focus on something behind me, and then I’m shoved behind him again withoutwarning. I keep from falling, but just barely, as he lunges forward to meet the next threat.
Soldiers. Two more. Plus countless others behind them. They’re pouring up the carpeted stairs, some hooded in dark robes like my first attacker. I don’t have time to worry about figuring out who they are. Right now, there are only two goals, which are simple:Keep Finn alive. Help Daisy.The world narrows to those objectives.
Finn takes down the second soldier in the time it takes me to consider. My Talent is screaming for use and the heat is hellish,almost unbearable, but with so many onlookers, I don’t dare reveal myself.
He handles the third one next, but he’s tiring.
And there are more. So many more. My eye snags on an assailant as they seize a fleeing courtier and cut her throat.
