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I let out a long, slow breath, forcing the emotions into a box at the back of my mind, where they wouldn't cause any more problems.

"Interesting …" Frexin's voice sounded behind me, and my stomach sank.

I turned to face her, shoulders and body tight.

"What do you want from me?" I snapped. "I know you're done with bonding people to thatthing. So, what is this all about?"

She looked between me and Liam for a moment with a curious expression, then shrugged.

"I told you, it is not athing." She waved her hand in a shooing motion. "He's … my old friend. But you are correct. I don't need your skills for that anymore. Instead, my dear, I need you to work for me once more — similar to how it wasbefore."

I froze. "What work?"

"Relic hunting for me, of course." Her lips curled into a smirk.

I staggered as the urge to vomit rose in me, barely managing to breathe through the revulsion.

"No," I hissed. "I can't. I won't!"

Hadn't I done enough already?

Frexin frowned. "I think you will, Kaiya. You know the deal."

The hairs on my skin stood on end. "Please. I really can't. Throw me in a cell for the rest of my life. Kill me. Anything but this. No more dangerous relics! Please!"

Frexin frowned and made a tsking sound before gesturing to someone behind me.

Holden dragged forward the blue-eyed prisoner who'd saved me and helped wrestle back the guards a few minutes earlier.

"Why must you always be so stubborn?" Frexin tsked. "I hate doing these things to you, Kaiya, but how else am I to teach you to obey? I told you what would happen if you didn't do as I asked, and I always follow through on my promises."

She grabbed the man by the hair and turned him to face me.

"If I need you to find me a weapon," she said, pulling a dagger from her belt. "You will find me a weapon."

Panic filled me as Lady Frexin's lastlessonplayed out in my mind — that same blade cutting off the hand of a woman working the laundry shift with me.

"No, please!" I screamed, bile rising in my throat, as the man stared at me — blue eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Wait!"

"The deal," Frexin dragged out. "Was that you do what I say without any resistance or delay —"

"No, please! I'm sorry! I'll do it!" I shrieked, falling to my knees in front of her. "I'll do it!"

She continued as though I hadn't even spoken — dragging the dagger across the man's throat in a quick, smooth motion.

"Nooo!" I screamed.

"Do what I say," she continued as she released the man. "…or people die."

Blood spilled from his neck as the poor man tried to stop it, eyes wide with fear as he dropped to his knees.

"No, no, no, no," I pleaded, reaching out to press my hands over his, trying to hold back the red seeping between his fingers.

He stared at me, choking and gasping as the blood continued to pour.

"Help!" I screamed. "Someone — please!" I searched the faces surrounding me — Tye and the rest of the hard-eyed guards, Frexin, the horrified villagers — even Liam, though he was at least trying, struggling against those who held him.

No one came.