Deep in thought alongside Dev, Thisbe ladled broth into the glass vials, then brought them into the throne room and stacked them with the supply of others. When she heard a clattering of bones, she went to the door to see who had delivered them.

Rohan was standing just outside the kitchen, staring straight at her. Bones that were distinctly not from dragons littered the floor around his feet. The corner of his mouth twitched into a sly half grin. “Hello, pria,” he whispered.

A Team Effort

Thisbe’s heart thudded in her chest, and she almost dropped the vial of broth she was holding. “Rohan?” she said softly, then strained to look behind him to make sure no guards were nearby. She checked Dev, too, and he was ignoring them. “Are you . . . ? I mean . . . are you, like, yourself right now?”

Rohan grinned. “Right now and always,” he said, keeping his voice low too. He frowned at Dev’s back. “Maybe we can talk tonight? Once you figure out how to be a beast, that is, and break through the wall again.”

Thisbe stared. She couldn’t believe it. Tears of joy and relief popped to the surface and streamed down her cheeks.

Rohan’s face melted. He went to her, and despite the risk, they embraced. Thisbe felt the sobs come, and she tried to do it quietly without getting any snot on Rohan’s shirt, but she was having a hard time. He held her and whispered, “Shhh. I’ll explain everything later.”

Thisbe sucked in a breath and steadied herself. “It was so awful seeing you like that.”

“I know. I felt the same way when I saw you and Drock coming. I thought the Revinir’s mind control had gotten the best of you after all. It was only that night on her back when I saw you lift your head and look at me that I realized you were faking too. You’re very talented.”

Thisbe eked out a smile. “I know,” she said, and the two laughed quietly.

Dev turned at the sound, and Thisbe and Rohan immediately went into their roles.

“Make broth,” Rohan said in a monotone voice, indicating the bones he’d brought.

Thisbe stifled a giggle at how stiff he sounded. She could feel a tidal wave of laughter at her throat, threatening to spill. Thankfully, Rohan kept it together, and soon footsteps in the hallway sobered them both up quickly.

“Hurry,” Rohan whispered. “Get them into the pot before someone sees what they are.”

Thisbe had been so preoccupied with everything else that she hadn’t noticed what the bones were. She studied them, and with a sickening feeling, she realized soon enough. “Ancestor,” said Thisbe, frowning. “I thought . . .”

Rohan put a finger to his lips and turned away, slipping out of the kitchen as the soldiers entered.