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"Told ya. Can't get out of this one," Holden whispered behind me. I glanced back to see him wearing a grin from ear to ear.

Fuck. He was right.

"Lady Frexin," I said, attempting to keep my face and voice calm, despite my racing heart. "A lot happened after Korym and Holden left, and I think you will want to know what we —"

"Yes," Frexin interrupted. "I've heard all about it."

She glanced at Tye, who didn't respond.

My stomach turned.

Tye?!

We'd tried to be quiet, but his hearing must be even better than I thought.

Of course he'd told her.

Had I really thought it would be any other way?He'd warned me himself, for gods' sake!

She studied me, long nails tapping on the metal arms of her chair. "It was a very interesting tale, indeed. You three finding that woman and helping her in exchange for information — workingsohard to complete the mission you initially ruined."

Her gaze slid to Korym and Holden behind me, and she paused, as if to think.

"Your results speak for themselves, Agent Maderoth. I gave you a job, and you got it done … just as you always do."

Holy hells.My mind spun. Tye had told her everything — not just the disobedience …

I searched the large man's face for some hint as to why, but he continued staring at that wall as though it held the answers to life.

"But she disobeyed orders!" Holden snapped, stepping forward. "She's going to be punished, right?"

Frexin gave him a cold glare, and he withered on the spot.

"As I was saying," Frexin continued, returning her attention to me. "While I do not tolerate disobedience, in this case, I thinkImay have made the mistake. Yes, yes — it is rare, but it does happen." Her lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. "You are not a soldier, dear, and you never were. But yesterday I used you like one — putting you under the command of those two buffoons anddemanding you act like them. Of course you rebelled!" She shook her head. "It went against your nature."

Lacing her fingers together, she leaned in. "I may not lovehowyou work, but youalwaysget me what I need, be it relics, Forest Gods, or a bit of information." She smiled. "You, Kaiya, are my prized hunting wyvren, and it was my mistake to treat you as anything different. So" — she sat back and lifted her chin — "in thisoneinstance, I am going to let your disobedience slide without punishment."

My jaw dropped.

No punishment?!

She'd killed the man on the ship because I was part of an escape team, but she was forgiving my sabotaging of her mission … because I was herprized hunting wyvren?

This made no sense …

Holden whispered to Korym behind my back. "We can't let her get away with …"

But Frexin was already talking, her voice drowning out the man's complaints.

"Do not think for a second that our agreement has changed since your lastlesson,though," she said, expression hardening."This mission's success or failure rests on you. And if youdofail … say by getting distracted with helping your little dragon rider friends — well, you won'tgetanother chance. I'll be forced to become harsher in my lessons."

I looked into those cold eyes, swallowing the fear threatening to overwhelm me.

"Now," she said. "Are we all on the same page?"

"Yes, my lady," I managed, voice shaking.

"Good." She nodded and clasped her hands together before turning to Tye. "If I understood the intel correctly, the best path forward is to wait for another attack on the fort. That will weaken the beast and trigger its need to feed, which we will be ready for — with a trap and live bait. Does that sound right?"