Kyra was sitting at her table when they walked in. Under Ilona’s expert care, the color had returned to her cheeks, and her dark eyes were alert. She didn’t look like an assassin. She looked like a young girl—a pretty one at that, with her small stature and delicate features. She started to say a greeting but stopped when the head councilman walked in.

“This is the prisoner?” asked Willem.

Kyra looked away. Her expression grew stony.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Willem gave her an evaluating look. “She’s small, for all the trouble she’s caused.”

Kyra didn’t respond or remove her eyes from the floor. But Tristam had spent enough time with her to see the slight stiffening of her posture, the way she curled slightly more into herself. He cut in before the councilman could continue.

“Kyra, we came to ask something of you. It’s dangerous, but you might appreciate the opportunity to go outside.”

She took a cautious glance up at the mention of “outside.”

Willem gave Tristam an expectant look, and Tristam cleared his throat. “As you know, I spent some time in the forest tracking down the Demon Riders. I did find them once, but they nearly killed me. The Council thinks you may have better luck than I.”

“Better luck tracking them down?” She spoke quietly, her eyes flickering occasionally to Willem.

“I can help you track them down. What we need is someone who can observe them without getting caught. I’ve seen you move. If anyone could spy on them undetected, it’d be you.”

“I see.” He could see her trying to figure out if there was more to the story. “Do you have a plan?”

“We’d have to clear the specifics with the Council, but you’d probably spend a few days with me in the forest. We can ride out under cover of night, and we’ll find a place where the tracks are thick. Then, we just wait.”

“You want me to watch them, not fight them?”

“We want to know where they live and how many there are. What their plans are and if they have any weaknesses.”

She pursed her lips and eyed him cautiously. “I can’t stay quiet if I’m dragging chains.”

And here it went. He took a breath. “You won’t be chained.”

Her eyebrows flew up at this. “The Council will let me run free in the forest?”

He didn’t answer, resentment locking his jaw tight. Willem broke in. “Your last few doses of antidote will be withheld for now. Ilona will give you the rest after you complete this task.”

Tristam saw the exact moment when it sank in, when her expression changed from wary consideration to cold understanding. “I see.” Her voice took on an edge. “I don’t really have a choice.”