Page 104 of Stealing Tink

“Then…” Acel sighs. “Then she remains in Irethden.” The relief in his voice is palpable, and I ache for the man who would settle for just being in proximity to the woman he loves for the rest of his life.

“Oh, no. Not that,” says the Sister, her laugh cruel. “By the end of the year, there will be no Princess of Irethden.”

The lock in the safe clicks, and it seems so loud compared to the silence in the room next to us, I’m astonished no one hears it.

It’s Phoenix who speaks next. “You say it as if you enjoy his pain. I thought you were supposed to be a romantic.”

“My dear,” says the Sister. “Their ending is romantic.”

I can’t help but think of the screams I heard at the end of the play.

Oh, no.

Another click, and the safe door swings open. Inside is a wooden box, but before I can look at it, Acel says, “I came all this way…”

Which is the code phrase we’d come up with beforehand for “she’s noticed you.”

She must have heard the click. My heart pounds, and I shove the box into my belt purse. There was supposed to be a tapestry in here as well, one that I’m supposed to grab for Acel, but the closet is packed with clutter, no tapestry in sight.

A moment later, the closet door swings open. I whirl around and come face-to-face with the woman of my nightmares.

Shadows swarm her, just like they do her Sister, and for a single moment, I’m back on that dreadful island, and I’m clutching my throat because I’m screaming but no sound is coming out.

“Acel, run!” screams Phoenix.

Footsteps pound from inside the Sister’s room.

The Sister stares down at me, and in her sickeningly sweet voice says, “Have you killed him yet?”

A moment later, the floorboards break out from underneath me, the Nomad’s grip tight on a crowbar. The next, I’m in the Nomad’s arms, and he’s carrying me, running.

Phoenix, I try to sign.

But then above us, something explodes.

Fire races through the playhouse, and so do we.

Confusion swarms my head, but all I can hear is the Eldest Sister’s voice ringing in my head.

Have you killed him yet?

CHAPTER 47

I watch from a distance as a plume of smoke billows out across the city. The Nomad and I are on the rooftop of an inn where he purchased us a room beforehand as a rendezvous point. Acel and Phoenix were supposed to meet us in the room. Which is why we’re on the roof instead, the Nomad had explained. So we can see them coming. Or anyone else they might have brought with them.

I’d thought the precaution unnecessary. I don’t know what exploded above us, but it was enough to collapse half of the playhouse. Thankfully, the Nomad had paid off the playhouse worker who brought Acel and Phoenix to the Sister to get all of the workers out of that half of the building.

He’d arranged it beforehand without telling me, although, apparently Phoenix knew.

Still, Acel didn’t. And I’m doubtful Phoenix or Acel survived.

My stomach twists itself into knots. I’d be lying if I said most of those knots weren’t for Acel. Though it also makes me sick, thinking of Phoenix dead.

The Nomad and I wait on the rooftop anyway. The jewelry box is still clutched in my hand.

“Your knuckles are white,” says the Nomad.

I turn my attention to them, noticing for the first time not only the color, but the aching in my joints from keeping my fingers locked in the same position for so long.