Torrent yowls and tousles Braizen’s hair. “And a new friend, I see?”

The small woman smiles widely and bows. “Nuri. Nuri Idunn. A pleasure to meet you, Stoneman.”

Lorna descends from the carriage holding a delicate glass bottle. “Anyone care for some wine?” She’s smiling.

Torrent yanks it from her and pulls the cork with his teeth while eyeing this Nuri woman as if she’s the fine meal he means to devour with the drink. She seems to like this. A little too much.

Braizen chuckles and then looks at the dead men. His expression changes.

“Where is she?”

Torrent growls at Nuri, ignoring him.

“Torrent, where is she?!”

At that, Torrent pulls himself away. He glances around and catches sight of me, hiding behind some shrubs. He points.

“She’s over there. Idalia, come out.”

Braizen shoots him a suspicious look. He holds his arms to his sides and curls his fingers into fists, his signal to approach.

I don’t want to obey. However, I also fear that at any moment, the shrubs will come to life and strip the skin from my body. I step back onto the trail.

As I reach the group, Lorna plants herself in front of me. “That’s close enough, Verdanian.”

I laugh straight into her beautiful eyes. “I don’t plan to touch him. Only obeying orders like the rest of you.”

She frowns. Freckles dot her dirty, exhausted face. It’s a shame she’s always scowling because she’s quite pretty. She jerks her head at the dead guards and scoffs.

“It seems Torrent did a lot of protecting this afternoon. An awful lot of effort to keep you safe. The least you can do to show gratitude is to keep your mouth shut.”

My hands flare with heat, but I’m now attuned to the signal and realize the angry flickers aren’t in response to her sneers.

Danger is moving in. It’s coming for Lorna.

Grabbing her waist, I throw her to the ground. Looking up, I see a rogue guard towering above us on the carriage roof. He leaps at Lorna, but I drive my short blade up and into his chest. I grunt as he collapses on me. The knife hilt buries itself in my stomach, and I gag in pain.

It’s Braizen, his eyes blazing with wild disbelief, who throws the man from me. He reaches out his hand to help me up, but I lie still.

“Boss, she can’t,” Torrent reminds him, almost gently.

Braizen shakes his head and pulls away his hand.

Lorna breathes heavily on the ground next to me.

“Why…why did you do that?”

“What,” I groan, lifting myself to my knees. “Save you?” I cough and wince from the pain that’s now spreading to my back. “I wish I could tell you.”

Torrent bounds over and pulls me up the rest of the way. He drapes one huge bicep around my neck.

“Believe it or not, you’re not the first Baellilean she saved today.” He beams down at me and winks.