“I ask everyone here to bear witness to my sister’s testimony,” Akeylah began, “which she had delivered to me this morning.” Nobles at the back of the hall elbowed forward to hear while Akeylah unfolded the parchment. “She writes: ‘I, Lady D’Andros Florencia, daughter of King Andros, being of sound mind and body, do hereby renounce my claim on the throne, and all rights, inheritance, and positions that come with it. I beg the forgiveness and understanding of my fellow courtiers. I do this not for pride or for protection, but because I believe it to be the best decision for Kolonya and the Reaches…’”

As she read, Akeylah noticed motion from the corner of her eye. She glanced up to see Danton storming out of the hall, his expression thunderous.

Inwardly, she winced in sympathy, though she couldn’t do anything to help. Could only keep reading the speech Ren had penned. It was well written—it offered apology without admitting to any charges. She walked a thin line between placating the heir and avoiding knotting her own noose.

Akeylah prayed this would be enough to stay Rozalind’s hand, at least for now. After all, Ren had given her what she wanted. One less person between Rozalind and the throne.

When Akeylah finished, she didn’t stay for the evening meal. She retreated to bed, exhausted from the day, emotions taking their toll.

How could you do this to me? she wanted to shout, to scream at Rozalind. How could you kiss me so sweetly while holding a knife to my back?

So far, no word from any of the Talons. Somehow, that didn’t surprise Akeylah. Given everything else Rozalind had done, of course she’d be adept at hiding, too. Akeylah just prayed she and Ren could stop Rozalind before it was too late. Before more people met her father’s and Countess Yasmin’s fates.

Back in her father’s chambers, where Akeylah had taken up temporary residence at Captain Lindle’s insistence—“it’s the easiest suite to secure, my lady”—she collapsed straight into bed, too tired even to pick at the dinner tray some servant or another had brought.

She woke somewhere in the wee hours of the morning, staring up at her ceiling, unsure why she suddenly felt wide awake, heart racing.

Then she heard it again. A faint patter against her window. Or, well. Father’s window. The one that opened onto the back fields. The room was on the third story, at least twenty or thirty feet above the grass, and yet…

Tap.

Her muscles tensed. She rolled out of bed into a crouch and glanced from the window to the doors. Should she alert the guards?

Then again, if it was Ren, she didn’t want to inadvertently trap her sister.

Tap.