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‘What is it?’ I asked, already unbuttoning the blouse. But then his hand shot out and stilled mine.

‘Wait.’

He turned his head, his eyes darting again, but this time between me and the second, neatly folded outfit Jade had brought and laid aside for me.

‘On second thought, if you can stand it, leave it on,’ he sent.

‘Well, of course I can, but didn’t you say—’

‘We can use them.’ He released me and turned on his heel, striding over to the folded clothes and picking them up. ‘Come on.’

He reached for my hand, then led me toward that painting that would allow us entry into the walls—the extra clothes tucked under his elbow. ‘We can use her own tools against her. Lead her on a trail she doesn’t believe we know we’re leaving.’

‘How?’ I asked as we stepped into the dark of the hidden passage.

‘If she wants to follow the clothes, let her do so. We’ll place them where we want her to go.’ Then he looked at me, frowning thoughtfully. ‘Follow me. But don’t leave the passages unless I explicitly tell you to do so,’ he sent as he led me through the dark.

‘I’m happy to follow instructions, but if you could explain—’

‘We’re laying a trail. But we’re also going to get you clothing that’s safe… at least, I hope it is. I’ll have to… to check.’ He glanced back at me in the dark, grimacing. I gathered he referred to something that would require his use of the Cruor power.

I was so busy considering what this power meant, and how we could possibly avoid it, that I didn’t pay attention to the turns in the passageways, so when Voski drew me to a halt, I was surprised to recognize the panel in front of him. He gestured for quiet, though we’d already been remaining silent, then leaned into the first of the peepholes on either side of the doorway into Breckon’s chambers.

‘Voski… are you sure?’

‘You stay here.’

‘But—’

‘We can’t trust anything any of them have given you,’ he said. ‘I have a bag for you in my chambers. They’re aware of it. It’s still a risk. But my hope is that the servants have merely checked the clothes, not added anything to them. It certainly couldn’t be worse for you to wear those. But for now, stay here. I’m going to place these in your former chamber—is there anything you want from there?’

I sucked in. ‘My blade! It’s in a book.’ I showed him the cover in his mind and he nodded once, then checked the peepholes again, before sliding the release on the hidden passage panel and slipping into the empty chamber. I stood in the doorway watching as he crept across the bedroom, then was lost from sight when he slipped past the central fireplace and through the door at its side that led into the suite where I’d been housed when we arrived.

I could hear nothing. It was unnerving, because while I knew he was there, there was no sign of where, or how long until he’d return. And there was a chance Breckon might come back—or one of the servants if he’d sent them to retrieve something.

Gripping my skirts, I prayed the Creator would avert eyes from this chamber, and Voski would find the book.

Relief washed through me when he appeared, turning his back to close the chamber door before hurrying to me and into the dark little hallway.

Moments later the panel was closed once more, and we trotted through the walls again.

‘We’ll have to take our time to ensure we get out without being seen, but once this is done, we’ll go meet the dragons and get away from here for the night. With any luck, Mother only monitors those charms for our continued presence nearby rather than attempting to keep eyes on us. The movement will perk her interest, but as long as her sense is that we’re close, hopefully she won’t come to double-check too soon.’

The thought of seeing Koa and getting out of this awful place made my heart dance. Voski felt it and shot a small smile at me over his shoulder. But we didn’t stop moving, and his route was winding in the maze of tunnels and passages through the walls.

We’d been walking fifteen or twenty minutes—up and down, around many corners, sometimes I swear we doubled back—before he slowed again, stopping for a fine line of light in the wall.

‘My chamber should be empty, because I’m the only one using it. But it’s attached to my mother’s suite, and there are no passages into it. We’ll have to cross the hallway. But you need to come with me because you need to change clothing. I want to leave those there so she senses you near. Remain silent. I’ll unlock the door, check the chamber, then return for you. You don’t move or open this panel until you hear me knock and you’ve checked that it’s me.’

I nodded. He leaned down and kissed me, checked the peepholes one more time, then opened the panel and was gone.

Several minutes passed. I stood, impatient, and growing worried when he didn’t reappear quickly. Though, of course, he had to avoid any eyes in the hallways—and I had no doubt he’d uncover every crack and corner of the room before taking me to it.

My heart warmed at the thought. No matter what was happening, or who we faced, I felt safe under his protection. So, when the knock finally came, and I was able to make out his dark profile outside, I quickly opened the panel and slipped out, giving him my hand to draw me across the corridor and into the room in a blink.

The chamber was a servant’s room, though it had been designed for a high-ranking lady’s maid, because it had a vaulted ceiling, and a tall window at its end. The moment I was inside, I paused to get my bearings, though the space wasn’t large. But Voski turned to lock the door, then listened to make certain no one followed.

Then finally, he blew out a breath and hurried over to the dresser next to the bed. “Strip. Quickly. I’ll hide those clothes under the mattress so it takes them some time to figure out where her senses lead.”