Chapters (46)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
“Why did you come this far in?” she asked.
“To rescue you. Martin and I have been coming out here against Palace orders.”
That got through to her. Her face twisted briefly before she schooled her features again. “I’m sorry,” she said. “About Martin.”
Tristam gave up any attempt at self-control. He strained against the ropes, hardly noticing the resulting pain through his injured arm. “You owe me more than that. Were you working for James this entire time? Gaining my sympathy for Palace secrets? You played me for a fool.” Kyra held some berries to his lips and he turned his head. “How do I know these aren’t poisoned?”
“Don’t be stupid,” she snapped. “Starving yourself won’t help anyone.”
Tristam accepted the berries. He was so hungry he couldn’t have held out long anyway.
“I in’t working for James,” she said finally.
“Then what are you doing here?”
She looked away. “It’s complicated.”
“Of course it is.”
She flinched at his caustic tone.
“At least tell me what they’re going to do with me,” said Tristam.
Kyra glanced briefly behind her, meeting the cat’s eye, then nodded. “James has been trying to get rid of you and Malikel for a while now. He’s meeting with the Riders soon. They’ll turn you over, in exchange for some favors from the Guild.”
He crumpled against his ropes. “How long do I have?”
“One day, maybe two. I’m talking to Leyus, trying to change his mind.”
“I appreciate your efforts on my behalf.”
She ignored his sarcasm and dug into the pouch again. “I may not be able to come back for a while. Here are some berries for later.” He felt her press something into his hands.
She turned and left, walking quickly past the demon cat without looking back. Instead of helping him, she had left him with more questions, and a handful of berries that he couldn’t even lift to his mouth. He looked at them, entertaining some vague hope that Kyra had slipped him something to help him escape. But no, they were just regular bush berries, some already bleeding black juice into his palm.
His guard padded over, eyeing the gift suspiciously.