“You’re plotting against the king.” Kael raked his fingers through his hair. “Aren’t you?”

What did I say? Damn them all if they threaten her, I told him without looking away.

“Lyra will not survive, Kael,” Emi said. “But more than that, if Damir uses so many soul bones, Dravenmoor will be ready for war as much as Stonegate.”

“Godsdammit. Then what do we do?” Kael finally asked the question for which I had no answer.

I shook my head and rounded the corner to the corridor that would lead to Lyra’s chamber.

There was a frenzy in my blood, something desperate and chaotic. I’d been controlled and collected most of my life. Now I could scarcely form a thought beyond finding some way to get Lyra free of these walls.

Free of it all.

Emi went on in a tone laced with bitterness. “Someone let the ravagers in, and I would gamble on my life that it was for Lyra more than disrupting the vows.”

“Then enemies are already here,” Kael insisted.

“Closer than you think,” another voice answered. Yrsa stepped from one of the alcove windows, head shrouded in a dark cloak.

Emi rushed to her side and took her hand. “I was coming for you. They’ve…your father and Damir have moved your vows to tomorrow.”

Yrsa dropped her gaze to their entangled hands. “My mother told me it was a possibility.”

I knew this night was trying for them, for Thane, for most in Stonegate, but I could not waste time.

I pounded a fist against the wall, drawing the princess’s attention. What have you learned?

The princess knew of our familial bond. She cared for Emi and in turn, during the lonely months spent in her own kingdom, she’d practiced enough she was nearly fluent in my hand speak.

“I’m not certain. Just talk of enemies in the gates,” Yrsa said, voice low. She took hold of my hand. “We ought to be wary, the lot of us.”

When she stepped back, the princess returned my glare with a gentle smile.

Darkwin and Emi insisted the princess return to the protection of her guards. I turned and unraveled the crushed strip of parchment Yrsa had deftly placed in my hand.

I read the name she’d written in the center. A name of whom she believed to be responsible for opening the gates. It was an accusation she would not want to make openly, but knew if she told me, the Death Bringer would make good on such a reputation.

My blood burned in my veins. Darker edges of my soul sliced to the surface like jagged bits of stone. I was going to do horrid things.

Vicious things.

I could hardly stand the wait.

44

Lyra

Corridors were quiet, and I could not shake the feeling that something had gone on since dawn came.