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Scrambling to her feet, Dagmara ignored the dizziness that threatened to pull her down. She hiked up her dress, charging for the escape. She turned the handle and flew through the door. She battled a canopy of vines concealing the entrance before she burst into the night.

Rain immediately soaked her, streaming down her face and chest. Screaming could be heard in the distance, and muted explosions shook the ground from the attack by the Celesta. A lightning bolt flashed overhead, barely illuminating the forest that laid beyond the exit to the passageway.

She had to get to Magda before Sabien did, but what about Claude? Would he ever forgive her?

Sabien’s arm latched around her waist, yanking her off her feet. She screamed before he slammed her against the rock wall concealing the door. Her breath was instantly stripped from her as her back collided against the wet stone. The Ilusaurian captain was relentless, using his forearm against her throat to pin her in place as she gasped for air. Her head was spinning, and she could feel her heartbeat racing at an all-time high. She tried to kick free, but her attempts were futile. Without her potions and explosives, she had no leverage against his brute strength. She was weak. He was a guardian.

Sabien raised his free hand, summoning the raindrops to him. They transformed in a magical blue hue, congealing together into a dagger made of ice.

He drove the dagger into her stomach.

The immediate surge of pain was overwhelming, taking over every ounce of her senses. She gasped and gripped his arm before he could yank the dagger free and expedite her death.

“It hurts, doesn’t it? Being stabbed?” Sabien growled. “It’s not so fun when these roles are reversed.”

“Sabien…” Dagmara gasped.

Thunder rolled through the air. Water poured from the sky and Sabien basked in it. A smile creased his cheeks as he closed his eyes, feeling the rain cascade down his face. He let out a breath as the water brushed over his skin, immediately healing the wound she had punctured in his arm from the sharp point of the crown.

Then he looked at her, his eyes icy blue.

“I could heal you. You can join me. Think how easy it would be for you to walk right up to Magdalena. What is one more life when you’ve taken many before?” Sabien shifted closer, and Dagmara let out a shriek of pain as the dagger shifted inside her. His lips were inches from hers. “Or I can let you die.”

“Just let me go,” Dagmara said, her voice barely audible.

“That wasn’t one of the options,” said Sabien. “I need to know where Magdalena is.”

“She’s hiding in Azurem.”

“You forget I can tell when you’re lying.”

Within a flash, he withdrew the dagger of ice and plunged it into her side.

She screamed, blood pouring from the first wound. The pain was unbearable. Her mind began to fall numb.

“Tell me where she is, and all the pain will stop,” Sabien said, his baritone voice hauntingly melodic.

Dagmara assumed she was strong enough to bring her secrets to the grave, but in this moment, she was breaking. Her mind flashed to her mother. Was this the fear her mom felt when she was tortured to death? This was the moment she was afraid of. This was the scenario she desperately wanted to avoid. If Dagmara died, who would be left to take care of Teos?

“Heal me first,” Dagmara choked.

“You’re not in the place to make demands.”

“How do I know you won’t kill me anyway?”

“You’re the princess’s best friend. I plan to use you to lure her to her death. That is, if you cooperate now and tell me where she is.”

Dagmara knew that exposing Magda’s location would be like killing Magdalena herself. She would never take the life of her best friend, regardless if Magda’s life was connected to keeping the First Prince entombed. But dying by Sabien’s iceblade now wouldn’t help her save her friend. Dying now meant the end of everything Dagmara had worked for. She would never return to Azurem to see Teos. She would never see Claude again.

Claude. She had been so wrong. She blamed him for murders he had no part of. She had hurt the man she loved, and for what?

Tears welled in her eyes. With Claude on her mind, Dagmara knew she wasn’t ready to die.

Dagmara choked. “She’s in Flaustra.”

“Where?” asked Sabien.

“I don’t know!” Tears streamed down her face, dripping off her chin with the rain. “Truly. She never sent me a message when she arrived.”