Leopold ignored them all. His eyes, still latched onto Safi, were dark with rage. “What,” he repeated, “have you done?”

“I told them we were leaving.”

“And when Henrick realizes?” He stepped in close, nostrils flared. Jaw set. “You have consigned us to death, Safiya.”

“No.” She lifted her right wrist and peeled back her sleeve. “I have the chain he uses to control them.”

Leopold’s focus shifted. His ire did not. For several long breaths, he stared at the chain, glittering and pale in the darkness. His left cheek bounced. “He will have others like it.”

“And we will be far away before he gets them.”

“He will still know where we’ve gone, and he will still control these Hell-Bards like the puppets they are.”

Lev shifted uneasily. Caden stood stiff as stone. Zander stared at his toes.

“And I”—Safi dipped her chin to stare at Leopold from the tops of her eyes—“will control the Hell-Bards right back.” Her wrist remained high; the chain remained shining. “I tested it earlier,” she lied. “I can use the chain exactly as Henrick does. If he tries to hurt them, I will stop it.”

“But he will still know where we are!” Leopold roared.

Safi recoiled. She had never heard him shout before.

“Henrick will be able to follow us every step of the way! I just gave up my entire future as imperial heir, and for what? So you could help three Hell-Bards who can never be saved. As soon as Henrick realizes what has happened, he will send every resource after us. He will take control of these Hell-Bards, and”—he pitched his voice higher, smashing down on Safi’s attempted protests—“who do you think will use the chain better? You, who stole it today, or he, who has been wielding it for decades?

“This is not a battle we can win, which is why we fled without fighting it. Or why we were supposed to flee, until you ruined everything.”

He spun toward Caden before Safi could reply. Not that she had any suitable words. She’d never seen Leopold’s temper fray. Even the cold, lethal prince still possessed poise. This Leopold was wild with anger.

“We will take your horses, Captain, and part ways immediately. Return to the palace. Lie for as long as you can.” Leopold hefted his pack onto the back of the nearest horse, a dappled gelding.

Caden, however, stood unmoving. He looked at Safi. Then at Leopold. Then back to Safi, his expression pinched and pale. And in that moment, Safi realized that she was the person with the highest rank here. She was Empress; Leopold was only the heir.

She was also the one with the golden chain. Though she would never use it against the Hell-Bards, in this moment, she had all the power. Her words were law. Her orders could not be disobeyed.