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She collapsed against him, sobbing. “I was so frightened. They took me from the palace and Papa tried to stop them but -“ Her voice broke off as she began to cry harder.

“It’s alright, little one,” Rook said, cradling her to him. “I’m here, it’s alright.”

Sheer panic gripped me. I looked at Theron’s leering smile and shook my head.

“Please do not do this,” I said, barely able to get the words out.

“Let me fight with her.” Rook’s voice boomed against the walls as Nesryn continued to wail in his arms. “Please, Sire, you say I am your friend, let me fight alongside the Princess.”

Theron considered this for a moment as he regarded Rook from narrowed eyes. “Why?” He asked with a shrug.

“Because Nesryn is not her responsibility, she is mine,” Rook said. “There is nothing Elara can gain from winning this trial.”

“Elara?” Theron raised his eyebrows. “It’s Elara now, is it? How very interesting. In any case, the princess shall enter the pit alone, and shall fight to save your sister and prove herself worthy of your trust.”

Rook’s eyes flashed to me. “She does not need to prove anything. She has my trust, and my faith. Unreservedly.”

“Well that is sweet.” Theron smiled widely at me.

“Do not do this!” Rook’s voice was filled with pain. “I beg of you, she is a child.”

“I am your King!” Theron’s cat eyes flashed with rage. “You are in no position to ask anything of me, and certainly in no position to question me. Your sister will go into the Pit and the wielder of Arankos will go in and show us once again just what a fine warrior she is.”

“Your Majesty,please.“ Rook appeared on the verge of tears.

Theron stormed towards me, seizing me by my hair as I cried out. He kicked my knees out from under me, standing behind me as I crashed to the floor. I heard the scrape of metal and suddenly there was a blade to my throat.

Rook’s eyes widened, and Nesryn covered her face with her hands as she shrieked.

“NO!” Rook cried.

“I ask you one last time,” Theron snarled, “do you trust her?”

“I do! I do!” Rook held out a hand. “Please -“

“If you do not trust her I may as well kill her right now.” Theron pressed the blade harder against my neck, biting into my skin.

“Please don’t!” Rook released Nesryn and took a step towards us, his hands up in surrender. “Please, Sire, I trust her. I swear it.”

“Do you believe she can save your sister?”

“Yes!” Rook’s gaze was pleading, and I gasped as Theron pulled my head back harder. “Please, Sire, don’t hurt her. I trust her, I do.”

My head was tilted back so far I could see Theron’s face. He stared down at me, his eyes wide and wild.

“If you’re going to kill me,” I rasped, “you should just get it over with.”

Rook cried out, and I heard him fall to his knees. “No!”

Theron’s gaze was positively triumphant as it settled back on Rook. “It is truly heartwarming to see just how much you mean to each other.” He shoved me away from him, and I barely caught myself before my head connected with the floor. “You will go into the Pit tomorrow and you will attempt to save the last remaining Princess of Isambard.” He snapped his fingers, and the guards dragged a screaming Nesryn from the room.

“It’s alright, little one!” Rook called after her, his shoulders heaving. “Don’t be afraid. It’s alright!” He turned back to look at Theron, and his eyes dimmed from blue to positively black. His hands were clawed at his sides.

Theron regarded him with amusement. “And what do you want to do now, Rook?”

Rook stalked across the chamber, and for a moment I panicked, thinking he was about to hit Theron, or worse. Instead he stopped short, his face like thunder, and dropped to his knees beside me. He tilted my head back, inspecting the graze the dagger had left behind on my throat,

“I’m alright,” I assured him, “it’s just a scratch.”