Twelve wanted to howl in horror. Hadn’t she followed Seven’s footprints to the sleds herself, seen that the last tracks were facing the wrong way, that Seven had been barefoot? Her prints at the goblin campsite had been booted again, but few in number and so shallow. Too shallow really, for someone of Seven’s size and weight. Suddenly Twelve was certain that it hadn’t been Seven wearing those boots, but another goblin.

Which meant it had all been a trick.

“She was never in the sleds,” Twelve gasped.

“No,” Victory said, her pleasure evident. She cracked the joints in her fingers, one by one. “The finest plan I’ve ever come up with. There was a hairy moment when that ugly Guardian tried to refuse to go after her, but I’m nothing if not persuasive.”

Twelve felt sick, remembering how furious she’d been at Dog for not wanting to leave the lodge. He’d been right all along. With a lurch, Twelve thought of him, Five, and Six, outside the walls, oblivious to the danger they were in. Whatever happened, she promised herself she’d say nothing that would give them away.

“She’s alive, then?” Twelve asked. “Seven is here?” Hope blossomed inside her in spite of herself.

“Yes,” Victory smirked. “Morgren used his magic to erase their trail back from the sleds, brought her to one of the other tunnels. They waited there until I had . . . disabled the Hunters, then they emerged. This will be our base for now. Seven will remain alive for as long as our master believes she’s useful.”

“Master?” Twelve whispered, a clammy coldness creeping over her. There was a fanatical light in Victory’s eye that was terrifying.

“Yes,” Victory said. “He’ll like you, Twelve. You’re just like me—filled with darkness. I saw it as soon as you arrived.”

Nausea roiled in Twelve’s stomach. She shook her head. “No,” she whispered, “I’m not. I’m nothing like you.”

Victory laughed then. A full-bellied, happy sound at odds with the grim situation. “Liar,” she snorted. “You have the same rage burning inside you, and the same fierce lust to use it. Tell me that when you practice in battle class you aren’t imagining using your axes to really hurt someone. Why do you think none of the others wanted to partner with you? They see it too.”

Twelve shook her head mutely and a cloud crossed Victory’s face. “You don’t ever have to hide that side of yourself from me, Twelve,” she said, leaning forward, suddenly earnest. “With me, you can give in to it, be the greatest version of yourself you can be.”

“No.”

“Yes. I meant what I said in Silver’s study. You have so much talent with those axes, more than I had at your age, and I do not say that lightly. With me, you’ll be unstoppable.”