I want to kick myself for not considering it sooner. Heston has been on the Day Realm council for centuries, and he’s a valuable asset because of his ability to find anyone as long as he possesses an object that belongs to them. He could’ve had his pick of anything from my room.

Pressing a finger to his lips, Keryth signals for silence as he tightens my corsets and secures my dress. I latch my bag, making sure the blanket is secured safely inside.

The voices are louder now. They bounce off the cave walls, and they think they’ve got us trapped.

I shoot Keryth a panicked look and motion for him to use some wind power to blow them out.

He shakes his head and whispers, “It won’t be enough. They can hang on to jagged pieces on the wall. We need something bigger.”

“Fire?”

“And wind. You project the flames and I’ll force them through the tunnel.”

“I don’t want to destroy the forest.”

“You won’t. Remember, there’s a waterfall at the opening. It will put out the flames.”

Nodding, I agree. I face my palms forward and watch Keryth for the countdown. He ticks it off on his fingers.

Three… Two… One.

Blast.

The flames are so hot they’re blue as they shoot from my hands. Keryth’s right behind me to make sure they don’t go in the wrong direction. My hair whips around my face as his gust pushes our powers through our only way out.

Screams reverberate off the walls. One sounds like my father, but that couldn’t be. He hasn’t stepped out of Hailene since we buried Mother in the cemetery in Dawn and Dusk. It’s almost like he stays at the castle, waiting for her to come back.

Keryth and I continue with the torch for at least ten seconds after the shouts quieted.

Whoever’s after us might be burned but not incapacitated. If they were able to run away fast enough, they shouldn’t be injured too badly.

Which means we need to get out of here. Now.

“Can you fly?” Keryth takes my hand as we sprint toward the exit.

I let my wings unfold, wincing at the twinge of pain. “Probably, but I’ll slow us down for sure.”

“Then I’ll carry you. Be ready to jump into my arms once we reach the ledge.”

The rock around us is charred and steaming, but I don’t see any fire beyond the waterfall. When we get to the opening, we turn right, ready to take off.

But an iron net comes flying at us.