They were the last to reach the Graces’ chambers. Serina entered the circular room, hung with cream damask and velvet, and was immediately, uncomfortably aware of her dirty clothes, her bloody face and hands. This was a place of beauty, and she’d brought ugliness and grief inside. Women spread from the central room out through the arches and into sitting rooms and dining areas. They slumped onto soft settees and across the thick carpets warming the marble floor. They frightened the Graces, who emerged from their bedrooms in silken white nightdresses, their eyes wide.

Several white-clad men hurried past Serina and out the door. At least the Graces’ attendants weren’t putting up a fight.

A small reprieve. They needed to take advantage of it.

Serina helped Anika down onto a velvet chaise, checked to make sure she was still conscious and alert, and then made her way through the tightly packed rooms looking for Nomi.

She found her on a balcony. Nomi was staring out at the canal, where bobbing lanterns illuminated wide-bottomed boats shuttling soldiers to the palazzo. There wasn’t a clear view the way the building was situated, and the Graces’ chambers mostly faced the ocean. But here, on this balcony, part of the city and the canal were visible. Yet even this restricted view illuminated more soldiers than Serina cared to count.

“Malachi thought he might need to take his soldiers through the tunnels,” Nomi said. “I don’t know what it means that these men are coming in boats.”

“We will hope they are Malachi’s until they attack,” Serina said. “We’ll be ready, either way.” It was a lie to make her sister feel better. There were too many soldiers. If they attacked, the women of Mount Ruin would fall. “But, Nomi, you must prepare yourself… Even if they are Malachi’s men… Malachi might not be our ally anymore.”

Her sister turned. She was still wearing the heavy dark cloak she’d appeared in down on the patio. Here, with the torches lit, Serina could clearly see the blood that stained Nomi’s hands, the bruises that encircled her throat.

“What do you mean?” Nomi asked.

Serina gave a painful shrug. “Just that, if it is him, he has all the power. We’ve nothing to bargain with. We are a ragged force, too small now to be a threat, except perhaps to his legitimacy. He will have to decide what message to send to Viridia, as its ruler. And rebellions must be quashed.”

Nomi shook her head. “Malachi won’t do that, Serina. He…” Her voice petered out. A shadow passed across her face. She didn’t think he would, but Serina could tell she wasn’t sure.

“You… Asa…” Serina paused. “Are you all right?”

“I don’t know,” Nomi replied. “I didn’t—it didn’t happen like I thought.”