Lily’s stomach clenched with recognition. The sea-glass eyes, the dark, thick hair, the scar that was evidently the result of a head injury sustained years ago. This girl wasn’t just some random passer-by. She was Grace. Just a much less patient version than the one Jem had described. ‘You’re Grace Rafferty, aren’t you?’

‘How do you know that name?’ she snapped, fear flashing in her eyes.

‘You’re famous, where I’ve come from.’

Grace frowned and narrowed her eyes, Lily’s answer obviously not satisfying her. ‘Who are you?’ she pressed. ‘Where do you come from? How do you know me?’

‘My name is Lily Knight, and you are going to help me rescue Alice Blackwell.’ Lily puffed up her chest and shook her wild hair behind her shoulders, proud and fierce. Two words she never would have associated with herself a few days ago. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she had changed.

‘And why would I do that? Alice and I are happy here … happy enough anyway, for me to want to keep it that way.’ Her cheeks had reddened slightly, either through anger or something else Lily couldn’t recognise.

‘Because my friend who’s here with me, his name is Jem Rafferty, and I have a sneaking suspicion that even if you won’t help me, you’re going to want to help him.’

Grace’s shock gripped her, and she opened her mouth to retort, but her voice caught in her throat. Before Grace could regain her composure, a figure appeared at the end of the stone hallway in which they had stopped. Lily’s statement had caught her off-guard, and now the two of them had to convince this newcomer of Lily’s story, otherwise they’d be in trouble before they’d even begun.

‘Grace, what are you doing? Who is this?’

‘This is Lilian Day. She was summoned. I’m just taking her to freshen up before presenting her to the High Priestess. Is that all right with you, Blayne? Or would you like me to sign a warrant?’ she spat. Grace clearly didn’t have much patience for Blayne, or anyone else as far as Lily could tell. Lily was highly impressed by Grace’s ability to create aliases and made a mental note to thank her later, if they pulled this off.

‘Well she’s ready now, so take her in, we don’t have time for you to dawdle and enlist her as your next victim … I mean … friend, right?’ Blayne growled back, a cruel smirk tugging at her lips. The way she said ‘friend’ made Lily wonder what kind of friends Grace had a habit of making.

Lily glanced at Grace. She noticed a thin line of perspiration had appeared on her forehead and upper lip. She was stressed. Nervous. Maybe even scared? Lily gulped. In the few minutes since she’d known Grace, and from the days she’d spent hearing about her courage from Morven and Cass, she thought Grace wasn’t the kind of person who’d be easily frightened. Yet, here she was. Scared. Scared for Lily, not just for herself. Grace caught her eye, nodded slightly, and gestured for her to follow Blayne. Grace fell into step by her side. Her entire demeanour had shifted from defensive to protective. Grace walked barely an inch from Lily’s side and stood tall, her broad shoulders several inches above Lily’s own.