Iryana stumbled out of the warehouse, the cold air slamming into her.
Her head tilted back.
The perfectly round, bloated moon hung above her. Mocking her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The full moon was a harbinger of death.
The fear seemed to burn the alcohol right out of her body. It hit her like an avalanche, burying her. Her family was about to be in far more danger than they knew, than they would be prepared for. And here she was, twirling around with the enemy in a pretty dress.
Her heart was racing; her breath caught in her throat. She could picture Hadima lying between the trees, bleeding out from gashes across her chest. Her cousins’ bodies thrashing as dakii tore into them.
No.She had to warn them, send them home before it was too late. Her whole body trembled.
What if she was too late?
Then she froze.
If she went to warn them, her cousins would know. It wouldn’t be between her and Hadima anymore. They would know what she was trying to do, they wouldhope, and they would never forgiveher if she failed.
That fear cut right through her, and it was almost enough to keep her from going.
But she knew she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if Hadima and her cousins were dead and she could have warned them. How could she go on knowing that Misha had lost her older sister? Who would take care of her?
The warehouse was a roar of merriment and dancing as she left it behind. It felt like she was in a daze as she hurried to the empty barracks to grab her armor and weapons. She only stumbled and dropped her bow once.
Before she knew it, she was sneaking through the fortress, climbing the western tower, and heading toward the wall walk. Drunk as she was, she still knew the routines of the guards well enough to avoid them. She moved as quickly as she dared; there was not a lot of time.
When her feet hit the final landing of the tower, a hand grabbed her shoulder.
Iryana jumped and pulled away, squinting into the shadows.
She couldn’t let anyone stop her. There was no point in being metal-forged if her family was dead.
“What are you doing?” the shadow accused, and she recognized Pyetar’s voice.
“Nothing,” she spat, but instantly regretted it. She needed a better excuse.
Pyetar came closer, and she could just make out his face as he asked, “Why the hell would you leave the fortress? Did you not hear how many dakii are nearby?”
“I heard.”
“Then where are you going?”
Iryana didn’t answer. She didn’t think he would believe any of her lies anyway.
“You were reading something. Is that why you’re leaving?”
He was watching her?
When she didn’t answer again, Pyetar growled. “Iryana, don’t be an idiot.”
She was panting, her mind spinning. She needed to get away from him.
“Are you going to physically keep me from leaving?” she finally asked, her voice a bit too shrill from her panic.
Pyetar looked away. He didn’t answer.
