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But there was little else that could explain it, and when Xilya found the files on the human, Sarah, from the refugee facility's database, he knew then how they were meant to serve.

Knowing that was enough to drive him to complete the ship in a record amount of time. The thought of them touching Aly drove him into a violent rage that never left him.

When the ship was finally done, they left Lethe Maws for good, stopping only once to trade some of their ionx capsules in the shadow market for the shrouding suits they wore now. Disguising themselves as traders with more ionx than any found on Nihl made it easier to gain access instead of having to sneak inside. First Night was near, and, when it came, Ryziel would find his uncle and cut him down. It had taken all his will not to do so when seeing him in the room just now, but Xilya warned that he needed to wait for the sun to be gone, when he had all his strength.

Once his uncle was dead, he would go to his brother, and they would talk, and Korzien would give Aly back to him unharmed, once he understood what she meant to him. And he would make things right, and Aly wouldn't be afraid.

He would make things right.

"I could sneak out and find Korzien now. Try to get him alone..."

"I wouldn't risk it," Xilya said.

"I could explain everything."

"Things may have changed. Your brother may not be the same person now."

Ryziel stopped pacing to stare at her. "He's always been on my side."

Xilya stared back. "Perhaps, until now."

"He's never harmed anyone."

"That you saw."

Ryziel growled. "Once my brother has full rule over the House, things can change. He won't let the humans suffer."

"But he won't let them leave, won't let them out of the house, won't let them live their own lives."

Can anyone be happy living a life someone else chose for them?

Aly's words cut through him like a blade slicing across his heart.

"That is suffering," Xilya said when he said nothing. "And unless he is being told to keep the humans here by your uncle, I would prepare yourself for a hard truth. And while you come to terms with it, I will prepare myself to fight." She slumped down on the bed, tail flicking beside her. "For now, though, we must wait."

Chapter Thirty-five

As soon as Aly woke on the final morning, a knock came at her door, and several servants rushed into her room. Against her will, they bathed and dressed her then forced her into a red slip of a dress with a simple shawl and hood, which she was made to cover herself with. She ate little of the food they offered then was ordered to follow the guards that waited outside. They led her to Korzien's sitting room, where she saw her crewmates already waiting. All except one.

"Where is Jamie?" she asked as she hunkered down beside them.

Kate shook her head, and Cilia cursed under her breath.

"She should be coming," said Kate. "Maybe she is giving them a hard time."

They waited, but when the guards returned, they came back alone. Korzien stepped into the room not long after, wearing a white coat with intricate gold markings along its edges. He looked displeased.

"Your little friend has chosen to run off and hide," he said icily. "It is tragic for her, truly tragic. But once she is found, everything can be set right. For now, the rest of you can wait in here." Without warning, he gripped Aly's arm tight and dragged her up. "I will allow you to leave only so you can finish my portrait. I will expect it to be finished before night comes." He pulled her away and flung her out into the hall. Aly stumbled then righted herself, not daring to look back at him, though it wouldn't have mattered if she did because he had already gone. She didn't want to leave the others, but with Korzien already in a bad mood, she didn't care to make it worse in fear that he might lash out at her or the others. She marched into her private room close by and sat down at the canvas. She picked up her brush, dipped it in paint and worked to finish the portrait, hating it more and more.

She didn't know how long she sat there, too dazed, to numb to care. Her thoughts turned to Jamie, and a pang of fear settled in her chest. If they found her, Aly didn't want to think about what they were going to do. Jamie wouldn't get far. Wherever she hid now, Aly hoped she stayed there until night. Then, maybe, she might have a chance.

The sun slowly began to set as Aly placed the last stroke of color on Korzien's face. She went to set her brush down, her hand shaking, the blisters forming between her fingers starting to sting, when she heard the rush of feet and a screaming cry. Without thinking, she shot up from her seat and rushed out of the room, just in time to see a group of guards walk into the sitting room nearby. An eruption of howling cries went out, and Aly rushed down the hall and into the sitting room. She stopped dead at the entrance, frozen.

Kate and Cilia huddled around a body where guards had dropped it on the ground. Sarah sat far in a corner, clutching her baby tight as it wailed. The body she called it at first because she couldn't identify it. Until it turned its head, and she knew it had to be Jamie. Only her face was deformed, eyes shut tight, lips swollen and blue, blood gushing from her nose, staining her face and neck. She was limp on the ground, but she was alive, from the slow rise and fall of her chest.

Kate and Cilia clung to her, howling with rage and fear, and the guards stood silent around them.

Aly didn't move, didn't react, until she was pushed aside by Zyr, who gave her a dirty look before gazing down at the girls on the floor.