Eireen had come running, taken one look at Rahel’s blubbering face, her shaking finger pointing at Sera, and before Leo could move or think, the Misarro had grabbed Sera, pinning her arms down and dragging her out of the room, Rahel still shrieking, “She hurt me, she’s cursed, she hurt me!”

But that was days ago. Leo paced his cabin, everything floral patterned and crusted in diamonds. They’d locked him up, Rahel no longer trusting him though she visited him daily. It had taken all of his considerable skill at flirting to get her to promise that Sera was not being mistreated but just held prisoner like him until they reached Ithilia and the Renalt could sort out what to do with her.

Leo’s nerves had been gnawing a hole in his stomach. Just then there was the click of a lock and Rahel swooped into the room.

“Ithilia! Leo, do you see? We’re almost home,” she sang, like the two of them were on an adventure together.

He peered out his window and was shocked when he saw land in the distance. At least he would finally get to see Sera again and know for certain that she was all right. But he shuddered at the thought of facing the Triumvirate. “I’m eager to see it,” Leo lied.

Rahel beamed. “There are so many ships coming to it now. Mother didn’t even want me to go to Arbaz at all, she said it was too dangerous, but won’t she be pleased when I bring her a Byrne! And that . . . thing.” She shivered.

Leo’s jaw clenched. “I do hope Sera is feeling all right,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “You wouldn’t want her to be unwell in front of your mother.”

Rahel pouted. “She’s fine. I promised you, didn’t I? I’m a princess; princesses keep promises.”

Leo was wholly unreassured by that statement.

Suddenly, there was a massive bang and the whole ship shook. Rahel shrieked and rushed to cling to him as Leo grabbed on to a golden chaise to steady himself.

“What’s happening?” she cried as the ship shook again. The smell of gunpowder filled the air and then there was a great groaning creak followed by a thunderous crash. Leo ignored Rahel’s nails digging into his arm, ignored the pounding of footsteps and shouts from above, because Sera was somewhere on this ship and he didn’t know where and he couldn’t do a damn thing to help her. Whoever had attacked the Gilded Lily was not likely to be a friend to a half Kaolin man and a girl who looked like a goddess.