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I turned and wrapped my arms around Kaden’s neck, giving him a kiss that I hoped would tell him we’d survive. At worst, I had no regrets, about anything.

I pulled back sooner than I wanted because there was no time. Our friends, our people, were fighting with everything they had and counting on us. Every second lost could mean failure.

I turned to the stairs.

“Are you sure?” he said. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

“Yes, I do. It has to be me. I don’t know why, but I’m positive he won’t kill me, if only to gloat for a while. I have to be a distraction.”

“We will survive this.” I went to walk away, and he pulled me back for one last kiss.

I nodded. He let me go, and I climbed up the stairs.

There was such chaos inside that no one paid attention to another soldier walking past. I glided into the main hall, and still no one was watching.

My plan was to get to the upstairs and then draw all attention to myself up there.

Then I heard the squeaking noise. A mouse darted in front of me. It stopped, stood up on its hind legs, and looked at me, as if it were waiting.

Mouse man! I took a step in his direction, and he continued scampering.

He led me right to where Herrick was in the back office. It wasn’t upstairs, but it was far enough away that Kaden would be able to do what he had to do. I hoped, anyway.

Herrick was leaned over the desk with several other soldiers, some I recognized from my time at his home but some not.

I walked up to the desk and then dropped the hood on my cloak.

The soldier to his left noticed me first, and cleared his throat.

He cleared it again and said, “Herrick.”

Herrick looked up, and instead of appearing alarmed, he smiled.

That was the first thing that made my gut clench. Something with our plan was wrong.

The guard to his left stepped outside. A few seconds later, I heard the stampede of boots running in the room and filling the space behind me. At least part of the plan had worked.

“How are you feeling?” Herrick smiled at me.

My palms grew sweaty. We’d walked into a trap. He’d known we were going to come in through the pool. A well of nausea filled me as I tried to do a mental inventory of my senses.

Herrick was watching me, smiling, waiting as if he knew exactly what I was doing.

Did I feel weak? No.

Had it affected Kaden? I waited, hoping I’d hear a blast as he opened up the fortress. No blast, not yet. Could it have only gotten him?

Screw it. Whatever Herrick had done, he’d be glad to tell me.

“Go ahead. You might as well gloat,” I said. “What did you do?”

His smile grew wider. “I’m sure you know by now.”

Except I didn’t. Had not even a clue. Maybe our plan hadn't gone wrong, but his had?

“The pool,” I said, throwing out a random guess.

“Poisoned.”