Braizen spits on the ground and stares at me. His eyes gleam with curiosity. “Is this your way of feeling included, Sparrow?”

Lorna darts him a nasty look then flashes her green eyes at me.

I roll my neck and sigh. “This is my way of telling you that the only thing worse than starving, freezing, and dying in a black mist of carnage is listening to the four of you try and come up with a plan for one more minute.”

Torrent’s lip twitches.

“Especially a plan that will require five participants,” I add with a charming grin.

Braizen’s brows shoot up. “Five?”

“Five,” I affirm.

“Tell me, Sparrow, do you suggest we search for another person to help us with our situation?”

“Yes, I suggest that. And, oh! Would you look at this! Right here in front of you, a person tied to a tree!”

“A Verdanian tied to a tree,” he shoots back.

“Then the gods have truly granted you a great favor,” I say and wink.

He shows his teeth. I hate that I like how he looks, even when he’s wearing a false smile.

“So, what does the Little Sparrow have to add to our discussion? I’m dying to hear.”

Lorna bounds forward. “Braizen, you can’t be serious…”

He holds a hand up and signals. She stops.

His eyes devour me, and a savage heat runs rampant through my veins. I work to keep my face expressionless, unmoved, despite what my body tries to convince me of otherwise. I twist my wrists in discomfort.

“I’ll be the distraction.”

“What!?” Torrent rages and stalks past Braizen. “Braze, don’t you dare humor this conniving little bitch! She’s trying to trick us!”

My mouth tenses at the word, and Braizen notices.

He turns to Torrent. “Speak like that to her again, and I’ll cut out your tongue,” he says in a low growl.

Torrent stops, almost falling back on his heels. His hazel eyes fill with confusion.

“Boss?”

He’s met with silence. “I only meant that, well… If she’s the distraction, she’ll just run away with Lannex. She’ll betray us. Why wouldn’t she?” Torrent is almost stammering.

Braizen doesn’t answer; he only turns to study me again. “How will you distract them?”

His three companions all slump in disbelief, but I don’t dare break his stare.

“I’m Princess Idalia of Verdana. I was on my way to visit Aeradian when your band…” Here I pause and let the full force of my disgusted glare sweep over them. “Your band so graciously postponed my trip. My father is well acquainted with Lannex. He loves our mountains.”

“Ha! Now that’s a lie straight from the four hells! No one enjoys those mountains!” Torrent barks.

Braizen ignores the comment; he appears perfectly content to rest his gaze on my face.

“If he sees me, it will prove enough of a distraction. But if I run...” I make my voice trail off in a question like I’m offering a solution to the world’s most brilliant puzzle. Which I am. These oafs should now be able to see how this could work.