Ana vented a contented sigh against the side of the cell as Cassandra’s hands moved over her joints.
“So, what’re you in for, then?” the old woman rasped.
Cassandra tried not to squeal with excitement. This was the first personal question Ana had ever asked her.
“You’re going to laugh.”
“Try me.” Ana’s eyes remained closed.
“I was arrested in the colonies,” Cassandra said, not clarifying that she used to be human. She’d let Ana draw her own conclusions. “I used to hunt through people’s memories, looking for things to steal and sell. Then I’d re-distribute thedrachasto the poor. They called me the Savior Sister.”
Ana grunted. “’Course they fucking did. And you ate it up, didn’t you? Martyr.”
Cassandra chuckled. “Why, what are you in for? Being a crotchety old bitch?”
Ana’s wheezing laughter caused several humans in the neighboring cells to stir. “You’re not far off.” Her laughter died in her chest and her eyes danced with long-simmering anger. “I killed a Deathstalker. Down in Primarvia. Bastard had been following me for months. He tried to feed from me and wasn’t he surprised when I poked him in the chest with a Typhon dagger. I was arrested the next day, then thrown in here. Ironic, really, since as soon as I arrived, I became the favorite meal of the Koenig and his Brethren.” She ran a hand through her tangled hair, down her filthy dress. “They’ve since lost interest, praise Anaemos.”
“How long have you been in here?” Cassandra asked, her heart in her throat.
Ana’s rheumy eyes locked on Cassandra’s. “Fifty-seven years. Since the day after my eighteenth birthday. Longer’n anyone else.”
Cassandra choked back her horror, her sorrow.
Ana hobbled over to her bedroll, wrapping herself up in her threadbare blankets. “And Stygios willing, I won’t make it to fifty-eight.”
Cassandra didn’t know what else to say. And she didn’t think Ana would be pleased to hear what shewantedto say. That she shouldn’t lose hope. That there was always something to live for.
She pushed the tub of salve through the bars. “Rub a pea-sized amount into each ankle morning and night. You should start to feel more permanent relief in a day or two.”
Ana didn’t answer as Cassandra brushed up from the floor, swiping away a useless tear.
Fifty-sevenyears.
She would get Ana out. She would getallof them out.
And then make sure no human was ever treated this way again.
She took some small comfort knowing that Tristan was still out there fighting for that dream. And though his absence hadn’t become any easier to bear—nor had the thought of him fated to Ione—if that’s what it took to change this world, then her scarred heart mattered little in the grand scheme of things.
She opened the door to the Kennel, distracted by her thoughts of revenge and revolution.
The Brethren was on her before she had a chance to run.
He grabbed her upper arms and slammed her against the door. The rough metal pulled at her feathers as she tried to fight back, use some of that new Fae strength she’d been honing with Ronin, Mireille, and Silas. But it was late, it had been a long day, and she’d been taken by surprise.
She recognized him: a Windrider with dark brown wings and shoulder-length blond hair. One of the Koenig’s crueler Brethren. A feat in itself. He often had the youngest human females trembling in his lap when Cassandra had seen him around the city.
His rancid breath was hot against her cheek as he crowded her further against the door. “What are you doing in here, challenger?”
Cassandra snarled back, fear dissipating as she remembered he couldn’t harm her, not really. Not thanks to the protection of her blood vow. “What does it look like?”
“These humans arenotto be cared for without the Koenig’s permission.”
She gave him a smarmy smile. “And what are you going to do about it? You can’t hurt me. Only the Koenig will have that privilege during my appeal.”
His vicious smile caused her own to falter. “You should have listened more carefully to the words of that vow. NoFaewithin Tartarus can harm you.”
He heaved her up over his shoulder, and her stomach dropped when he didn’t turn up the main avenue that led to the castle.
