She twisted and snarled and braced her feet on the floor, pulling. But there were too many of them, and her hands were tied. They just gripped harder, biting into her flesh, grinding against bone, lifting her with ease. They carried her into the corridor.

Chest heaving, FitzRoy stared after her, finally unbending.

But he was soon gone from her sight, leaving just her useless struggle against half a dozen men.

When had he become such an enemy that he’d leave her to this? That he’d help cause this?

A wordless cry of rage tore from her, echoing through the stone hall.

When Evered died, she’d lost everything. Or at least she’d thought she had. Perry and FitzRoy had been there … the ship had been there … And thanks to her gift, she’d proven herself and earned a place there. A home.

Now …

It had never been love between them, but she’d cared for him in her own way. And just like Papa, just like Evered, now he’d let her down.

And Knigh had, too. He hated her, and that was her doing, her choice. That she could deal with. But this? This was beyond merely letting her down.

Well, damn the lot of them. She’d escape. Somehow. She had to.

The daylight seared her eyes when they carried her out, but dark clouds threatened to the south.

She could use those.

Come closer. Faster.

With a little agitation from her, the clouds built, charged, darkened into a burgeoning storm.

Lightning crackled along its leading edge, and a peal of thunder shook the air moments later.

She went limp in the guards’ hold—resisting their grip was a waste of energy. She had a better way to use it.

Limbs slack, she let her awareness drift upwards. Their fingers on her, the cold air on her face, their voices—it all faded.

The sky thrummed. Perfect. The clouds—her clouds blew closer on an unnaturally sudden wind.

Her muscles seared as she drew it closer, closer, churned the electricity within to an overwhelming level, ready to discharge at her command.

Then she was screaming. Burning.

No more sky, no more storm, no more wind at her call. Just white-hot pain on her hands and hairline.

Twitching, she gasped a harsh breath and opened her eyes. Her stomach roiled, churning as hard as the storm she’d built.

To the right, black bands criss-crossed her view over the city. To the left, a grey stone wall stretched away.

The cage rocked as the door crashed shut.

An iron cage.

The unmistakable clunk of a key turning in a lock tolled through her.

Hunching in her coat to keep from touching the bars, she turned.