Eleven Books

Of chains and their sundering

Callias's eyes flashed with something that Ailsa didn't catch before it disappeared. And then he smiled that wicked grin again.

It widened as he said, "Then leave."

"What?" The word was shaky, and she wished she could snatch it back.

"Leave. We can't stay here much longer, so leave and wait for our word. We'll get back to you in a week. Look for a scroll tied with blue ribbon; on it will be your instructions."

A near-hysterical laugh of disbelief escaped her. "Okay, okay, okay. Let me get this straight. You made me wait for a week to even meet you, and after a few cryptic messages, a pathetic attempt to flatter my mount—"

"I assure you I was completely sincere, he's gorgeous—"

She pushed on. "And a death threat aimed at my family, you actually expect me to go back and act like nothing has happened?"

Callias was still smiling with infuriating arrogance. She stared him down, hoping that her fury was evident and icy rather than childish.

"You will get back to me with your instructions," she said, voice cracking once more with anger and disbelief, "tomorrow."

"It's not negotiable, Princess." He spat the title like a curse

"Don't call me that—"

"Why not?"

She didn't know. And she shoved that thought very deep down. "Tomorrow, Callias."

"Five days."

"Two."

"Three."

"Fine." Let him win this time, don't push her luck. Because he could probably kill her.

Three Skies, what was she getting herself into?

***

She had waited until Callias left the stable before leaving, the journey back to her room a little more precarious because of the overlapping guard shifts that blocked the best way to her room at around twelve-thirty. Rhiannon was nowhere to be seen—the door of the nurse's room, which was attached to hers, was open and the bed clearly empty. Where was her nurse, this late at night—oh.

Ailsa loosed a breath. There were rebels. Rhiannon was obviously one of them. And they wanted her to join them. And—and do what, exactly? Spy? If they had Rhiannon, what more could they need? It wasn't like she had access to the more sensitive secrets of the royal family. She was just a non-heir, barely worthy of her status as a princess.

But she had no choice. They would kill her whole family. Callias hadn't been bluffing about the rebels' power; she'd caught the vicious gleam in his eyes when he'd spoken of acting.

She'd wait their three days, for whatever arbitrary reason why they felt the need to stall. But she'd have to find a way out of playing their game.