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The woman looked to Liam, then back at me before nodding. "Yes. It's about the new monster that roams the Isle. Lady Valtru thinks it has a weakness … and I overheard what it was."

Holy hells. If we knew that, it wouldn't matter that the original mission failed. We could race back to the stronghold, and I could tell Frexin.

Maybe it would be enough to fix this mess —

"Why should we believe you?" Tye asked, voice cold but gentle. "You could be lying so we help your son."

"I'm not lying." The woman looked over her shoulder at the stronghold looming against the stormy sky, then back at us. "As I told Liam, I'm a seamstress. I design all Lady Valtru's gowns." She let out a ragged breath. "During her last fitting, I overheard them discussing the monster. I didn't know what it meant — until today."

I studied the small woman — cheeks and eyes swollen.

Tyewasright …

She could be lying andnoneof us would blame her.

But I watched as tears traced down her cheeks, and gritted my teeth.

Could we really risknothelping?

This was technically obeying Frexin's orders. The woman had information that could be the key to fixing my mistake from earlier …

And even if she didn't — could I really live with myself if we walked away? The look on that little boy's face would haunt my nightmares forever.

"I believe her," I said. "My aunt experienced similar things in her years as a seamstress. People often forgot she was there, and spilled all kinds of secrets."

It was how I'd found out about a few of the relics I'd hunted back home.

"We'll need to move quickly, though," I said, catching Liam's gaze. "He might not have much time left…"

"Fine," Tye said, stepping forward to grab the map. "But I'll lead."

Chapter 27

Kaiya

"Tye, let me see the map again." I looked up at the sky, holding out my hand.Gods.It was almost nightfall already. Between Liam's injuries and Della not being used to this kind of travel, we'd taken twice as long as I'd hoped …

He passed the parchment with a grunt. "We're almost there."

I looked down at the roughly sketched terrain and nodded. The valley Della had pointed out was just up ahead.

"Keep an eye on the mother," Tye whispered. "If the boy has turned, or something has gotten to him …"

My heart gave a painful thump, but I nodded. "I'll be ready to grab her, if needed." That was thelastthing she needed to see.

"Good."

Tye returned his focus to the road in front of us, and I looked over my shoulder at the rest of our little group.

Della and Liam had been talking for most of the trip, and he'd even gotten her to smile a few times.

I shook my head. Ever since we'd gotten to the Isle, he'd been acting more like his old self, and it was messing with my emotions …

Tye slowed to a stop. "We're here."

Ahead, the forest path gave way to a clearing surrounded by gentle hills covered in trees, and my jaw dropped at the sight of hundreds of cages filling the area.

"Holy hells —"