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“She’s my sister.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t.”

“She’s my responsibility. I let her down by not being there. I won’t do it again.”

“If it was my grandma, would you do it?”

I didn’t even have to think about the ridiculous question. “Of course.”

“Would you want me to do it?”

“No. I’d think you were the last person who should.”

His look said, there you go.

I lowered the crossbow. “Not with the axe. Use the knife and make it quick.” I knew I was making it more dangerous for August, but I just couldn’t bear her being treated like all the other biters.

August leaned his axe against the wall. Dagger in hand, he hopped over the wall. As soon as he was on the same side as her, Serena lifted her head. She looked like her, and nothing like her.

“I’m sorry,” I told her as she lunged for August. “I should’ve been there to stop you from going with him. I’ll never forgive myself for not being there.”

August sidestepped her attack, using a gravestone as an obstacle. Her answering snarl crushed my chest like a fist. She turned, ready to attack. But August was already behind her, blade slipping into her ear.

One swift motion. Done. And Serena lay lifeless.

My breath came in ragged pants, even though I hadn’t lifted a finger.

We buried her as deep as we could manage with bare hands beneath a blossom tree, marking her grave with a makeshift cross made of branches on which I etched her name.

Back in the tunnels, I cried. August surprised me by holding me instead of telling me to man up. I wasn’t sure I would have been so supportive had the tables been turned.

Much later, he sat beside me on the mattress, his hand warm on my thigh. “I’ve worked it out,” he said.

I pushed myself upright. “Worked what out?”

“How we get to him?”

“I’m listening.”

August only got halfway through his plan before I was shaking my head. “No. Absolutely not. This is my fight, not yours.”

He let out a weary sigh. “Think about it, would you? I’m the one who can infiltrate the castle.” August’s lips curved into a smile. “This is what I do. Let me bring him to you. Then you can do whatever you want with him.”

“How?” For the next few minutes, he laid out a plan. The problem was that it was full of holes.

“I’ll work it out.”

“You’ll work it out,” I echoed with a mocking edge to my voice.

Unfazed, August held my gaze. “The best plans are those that stay flexible. I’ll meet him, figure out what he wants, convince him I have it, and then lure him here.”

“And if Madeleine’s there?”

“Then I adapt. I make changes accordingly.”

I shook my head again. “There are too many moving parts. Too many ifs, buts and maybes. I can’t let you do that for me.”

August crossed his arms over his chest and looked amused. “I hate to break it to you, but you don’t get to let me. I’m doing this because it’s the only way. Be grateful I shared the plan. I’m not used to having to do that.” He pulled his T-shirt over his head, my gaze drawn to the smooth, candle-illuminated skin. “Unless you’ve got a better plan. If so, I’m all ears.”