My jaw tightened, but I said nothing as he turned on his heel and marched down the hall. Kiva closed the door and leaned back against it, letting out a breath.

“I’m going to mix the acid.” I crossed to the dining table where we’d set out our supplies. Kiva had had the foresight to swipe a pair of leather gloves from the training grounds, and though they made my fingers a little stiffer overlaid on my fingerless gloves, they were at least a barrier between my skin and the acid.

Kiva moved to the chair beside me to watch while I carefully measured out ingredients and mixed them together. Minutes later, I poured a muddy green liquid hissing into a glass vial.

“Hopefully, it’s strong enough to eat through iron,” I said.

“Oh good. I always love it when plans rest on hopefullys.”

I gave her a flat look. “Fine. Do you have anything iron we can test it on?”

Kiva pulled out one of her earrings and offered it to me. I grabbed one of our glass dinner bowls and dropped the earring inside.

Uncorking the vial, I carefully let a single drop out and shoved the cork back in. The liquid struck the iron and sizzled, and we watched as the earring slowly dissolved into nothing.

“It takes a little bit,” Kiva observed.

“I’ll pour more on the padlock, but we’ll have to make sure no one comes around for a few seconds.” I set the bowl aside. “The real problem is there’s no way to cover up someone’s been there. We have to make sure Razel doesn’t suspect us.”

Kiva’s face lit up, and she dashed into her bedroom, returning a moment later with Auma’s scarf. I resisted asking what Auma had been doing in her bedroom.

“She knows this belongs to Auma,” Kiva said. “They’ll be suspicious if they find it near the door, and if they’re still looking for her, this will make them think she’s still here and give her more time to get out of Illucia.”

“Perfect.” I took the scarf and wrapped the vial in it, then tucked them both in the pouch on my belt. I’d be wearing my flying leathers tonight. The plan relied on not running into anyone, but I wanted to be prepared if we did.

* * *

Later that evening, I went looking for Ericen, intent on finishing our conversation from earlier, but he wasn’t in the training grounds or his room. Finally, I found a servant who’d seen the prince near the northernmost tower. I followed her directions to a flight of spiraling stairs.

The air grew colder the higher I rose, a light mist filtering down the staircase, which opened to a small circular platform overlooking the city. Wind buffeted me the moment I stepped out, fluttering loose strands of hair around my face.