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Dark smoke engulfed me, but it didn’t smell or taste of log fires; it was smoke magic. Kit’s fire around my neck was my only light until that too was extinguished. Utter blackness disoriented me and locked me in place. It was thick as soup and pressed into me on every side, but I refused to meet the ground as it seemed to demand. Instead, I tucked my dagger back by my thigh and gripped my amulet. Life, Death, Rebirth. Its dim whisper of a glow grounded me. I had no idea if it would work, but it was my only hope.

I would not die that night. Not at the hands of some magic… not when I was out of the city at long last.

The smoke shuddered as the magic in the amulet pushed it back, allowing my feet to stagger forward. Above me, a small crack appeared and let the world beyond in. Two men were arguing, but their words were muffled.

Facing the crack in the darkness, I made myself take a calming breath and took another step. But the dark magic shifted, and it took hold of my neck in the same way Kit’s fire had. And then the thin strip of black magic tightened its grip menacingly.

No… Air… My chest contracted with sharp, biting pain.

It loosened a fraction, and I gasped in as much air as possible before the ghost cord tightened again. My throat was raw and rasping, black dots dancing in my vision. He was going to kill me. In utter terror, I scraped at my neck, desperately trying to break free, desperate to stay alive, but there was nothing to pull apart. This could not be my day to die. My shoulder heated its warning. My hands became frantic and dug further into my neck in a futile attempt to claw some air back into my lungs. Overwhelming panic gripped me as sharp pain shot around my neck—whether from the smoke or my own nails, I couldn’t tell.

There was one sharp tug on my oesophagus and I retched.

I crashed onto my knees.

There was no air.

Heat blazed through my shoulder. Danger! And my mind fuzzed at the edges.

My eyelids closed just as the grip on my neck receded, as if it had done its job in making me submit.

Men were shouting now, and phoenixes screeched above me. One louder than the rest. My palms gripped the cool, coarse sand as I tried to keep myself from face-planting. My eyes were open, but I still couldn’t see. And then the smoke began to dissipate.

“Enough!” called Kit from beside me, and a gloved hand reached through the ink clouds and grabbed me.

Another shriek, and then the shadows subsided. A moment later, the night was back to its normal star-lit peril.

“Stay down, or that wild Ash will come for you too.”

“What…” My throat was too ragged to talk. I had no idea what had just happened.

We waited like that. Me on my hands and knees, trying to catch my breath, and Kit standing over me, watching. Until his bones locked and his eyes glazed; he was talking to his phoenix.

Blood coated my fingers and trickled over my collarbone, and it beaded down my chest. The sharp sting was a reminder of where I was and who I was at the mercy of. As I strained to stand, my throat burned from the inside out. But I wouldn’t remain on the ground. I wouldn’t remain lower than a Rider who had no integrity or honour. Rage got me on my feet.

Kit stepped towards me with his hand outstretched, but I glared at him. “What was that?”

“My Rider…friend wants his revenge, but I had to remind him of how useful you are. I’m sure he’ll seek his punishment another way at another time. You’re lucky that your little pin weakened him, or you’d be dead already.”

I opened my mouth to bite back at him, but all that came out was a wheezing cough. I’d stab Kit with my pin as soon as I got close enough.

“You’ll travel in that.” He pointed behind me to where a huge enchanted birdcage rested on the dark sand. It hadn’t been there before. “You can’t be trusted to ride near a bird or a Rider.”

“No.” There was no way he would get me into one of those again.

“Come on. They brought you in with the cage, didn’t they? You know it’s safe.” I yanked and strained at my binding, to which he responded with searing heat. Rage flickered between us, but Kit just gave me a small, one-shouldered shrug. He was clearly used to looks of hatred.

“I’ll ride to the Ruckus on my own. No need for you to trouble yourself.” I dug my heels into the sand, but more fire magic wove around my waist and pulled me forward.

Memories of freezing winds. Chapped lips. Cramping legs. Weeping eyes. The young women and the children’s screams all came flooding back. The hell of the cages and what they meant for us stung my eyes the closer I got.

Without a word, Kit dragged me over to the domed cage. It had a solid base and bars on the sides. He unlocked it and opened the door.

“In.” His voice was rough and sharp now.

“Make me.”

He sighed. “You’re an insane amount of trouble. But then you’re heading for the Ruckus, so you’ll be right at home.” Then he wrapped me in flames and pushed me inside.