Page 21

“Alessia, Alessia,” she weeps, voice breaking, fever-bright eyes wide with terror. “I told you not to fight them. You won’t be able to—”

“Arlo has money. He’s going to buy you both back,” I whisper, searching her face for some spark. She turns to Arlo with sad eyes, watching him with his sister. Sable’s lip quivers, and I clutch her face in my hands. “We’ll get you both back.”

Arlo lets Angie go as he spots Sable, relief washing over him. “Thank goodness you’re both okay.” He reaches through the bars for her hand and squeezes.

Sable’s eyes remain on me as Angie moves into her side with a heartbreaking sob. I watch the two of them for a moment because something feels wrong. Sable is keeping something from me.

“Are you warm enough?” I ask Angie, watching her tiny body shiver inside her mother’s oversized sweater. She opens her mouth, but the cold shakes her so hard her whole skull rattles. She clamps her jaw shut, lips quivering.

With shaky fingers, I unbutton my new cloak, but Arlo nudges me aside and threads his through the bars instead. Sable quickly helps wrap it around Angie, but a stranger from the back of the cage pounces on the jacket and tries to snatch it.

“Hey!” Arlo screams and hits the bars with both palms just as Sable’s magic pulses between them and the stranger. It’s a quick shimmer, like the way you can see heat change the air just above an open flame. She shoves him with both hands, and he flies back, knocking into others who all stagger and shout.

“Don’t touch her!” Sable’s small, sickly body suddenly looks bigger and stronger next to Angie as she glares.

The man is twice her size, staring up at her from the ground with a strange expression, but as I glance around, it’s obvious no one else noticed what happened.

Sable tucks the cloak around Angie again and helps her button it. “Shh, you’re going to be okay.”

A sharp CRACK interrupts the moment, a cane smacking the cage. The warden shoves between us, a hulking figure with a lined, pockmarked face and yellowed eyes. His black coat hangs open, revealing a gun on one hip and a dagger on the other. He’s the same warden from years ago when Sable and I were sold to Crawly. He bares his teeth, jabbing his gnarly cane in our direction.

“Hands off the merchandise. No coin, no touching!” he barks. His breath reeks of cheap spirits and rotten teeth. His eyes, like oily marbles, sweep over us.

Arlo goes rigid, shoulders hiking toward his ears. He thrusts his coin purse forward. “We have money. I want to buy these two.”

“That one’s already spoken for.” He nods toward Angie. “Mr. Kade bought her. She signed the contract herself.”

I gasp, staring at Angie in shock. Her voice is so small, I almost miss it. “He said I had to sign it. I—”

“She is nine years old!” Arlo snarls, grabbing the man by the scruff of his neck, his coin bag slipping from his grip. “Do you know what Kade will do with her? He’s notorious for trafficking.”

“What they do with them is none of my concern. He’s already paid my commission.” The man shrugs, shoving Arlo, and two goons grab both his arms, hauling him back.

“How much?” Arlo demands, thrashing in their grip.

“He paid twelve silver coins for my commission, and three every quarter after that to the Crown until her debt is paid.”

“What debt? She was born into the damn system!” Arlo argues.

“Aren’t we all?” The warden rolls his eyes. “I’m just going by the paperwork. I don’t create the rules. Take it up with her previous caretaker!”

Arlo curses. “Fine, I’ll give you fifteen up front and three to the Crown every quarter!” Arlo shrugs off the two goons and snatches up the coin bag.

“Mr. Kade is a respected businessman and always pays on time. Exactly how do you expect to come up with three coins a quarter?” he asks, eyeing Arlo’s tattered work boots and worn clothes.

“I’ll manage the payments fine. Twenty-four coins! That’s double! Twenty-four silver coins now, but only two a quarter to the Crown until her debt is paid!” Arlo snaps. The warden’s eyes widen, his brows rising almost to his hairline as he considers Arlo.

Sable presses one trembling hand to her mouth, and I can tell she’s fighting back tears. “Shh, shh, it’s okay. He still has coins left,” I whisper.

Sable silently pulls the price plate from her wrist, her eyes trained on the ground as she hands it to me. My stomach instantly sinks. Twenty-two silver coins is her minimum upfront. My mouth opens and closes. She is only seventeen, and this is a higher commission than what Crawly paid years ago. She should have less debt to the Crown, not more.

“Fine, I’ll accept. Now pay up before I change my mind,” the warden snaps. Arlo is quick to count the coins.

“I have eight silver coins left. I’d like to buy the contract for that one as well,” Arlo says confidently. I hold my breath as I pass Arlo my sister’s plate, and his jaw drops.

“Not a chance, kid. Eight doesn’t even scratch the surface for that one.” The warden flips through a handful of papers and pulls one to the top. Angie’s contract. He scribbles something and hands it to Arlo to sign.

“Three thousand silver coins still outstanding?” Arlo snarls, crinkling the paper in his hand.