She struggled to keep her back straight, head high, as the Talons marched her from the cell. At some point, they crammed her into a wagon. She held her breath. Waited for the sounds of the screaming mob to greet her. Yet all she felt was warm sun on her skin, and a muggy afternoon breeze.

The wagon rattled through the city in silence, save for the occasional distant cry of a merchant or clatter of passing hooves. Nobody shouted or taunted. Nobody remarked on the bound and hooded prisoner.

Maybe Andros wanted to do this privately. That would be more like him. Execute her with just a few witnesses. Something dignified, if you could call death that. It felt like the best option to hope for just then. Yet it didn’t calm the angry churn in her gut.

I don’t want to die.

When the Talons finally yanked the sack from her head, she blinked in confusion, eyes taking a moment to adjust to the bright sunlight.

She stood outside the city, past the portcullis. She looked from Talon to Talon, peering beneath their lowered helms. Her heart sank. No sign of Vidal’s familiar square jawline. Another goodbye she’d never get to make. It stung more than it should.

But not as much as the thought of her mother, her band, Elex… all out there somewhere, oblivious to her arrest. How long would it take before they learned of her execution? Weeks, months?

Would they mourn her, or would Elex blame her for dying, when she’d promised to win the throne instead? She didn’t even know what Andros would do with her body. She doubted he’d entomb his son’s murderer in the Necropolis. Especially not if he believed she killed Yasmin, too. But would he think to send her home to Mother?

Maybe he’d simply dump her body in the River Leath, which glittered beside her now. A traitor’s death.

“Zofi.”

She turned, startled at the sound of Akeylah’s voice. Her sister hurried across the bridge from the city, Ren at her side. An instant later, Akeylah’s arms were around her. One of the Talons cut Zofi’s bonds, and she raised her arms to hug Akeylah back, frowning in confusion.

“Give us a moment,” Ren told the Talons. All four bowed and crossed back over the river to the far side of the bridge. Though Zofi noticed the leader continued to watch warily.

She drew back from Akeylah’s embrace. “What’s going on?”

So Akeylah explained. About their father, his prognosis. A week or two to live, at most. And about Akeylah’s quick thinking, convincing the Talons to release Zofi to her band.

“I’m sorry,” Akeylah finished with a pained expression. “I couldn’t think of another way to free you. At least, not an explanation the Talons would believe.…”

“They aren’t suspicious?” Zofi glanced at Ren.