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And I make it to my feet.

Stumbling to the chains in the corner of the room, I lift them, my knees weakening beneath their weight.

The soldiers begin their climb up the stairs. Kyldare rolls his shoulders and stalks toward the tower entrance.

My heart thuds faster, my spine straightening. Almost there.

My thorns scream a warning and I close my eyes, focusing on the ground far below me.

A dark presence approaches. A presence that is somehow familiar but entirely unwelcome.

The man ties his horse a few trees over from the soldiers’ horses, sparing them a single glance.

His horse snaps his teeth in their direction, and the man murmurs something too low for me to hear. He places his hands on his hips, and I can’t help but pay attention to the roll of muscles beneath his black shirt, the width of his shoulders.

My instincts roar at me. This man is dangerous.

When he glances at my collection of bodies, one dark eyebrow shoots up. I’m not sure if it’s appreciation or horror that makes his mouth twitch.

He turns his attention to Kyldare, and it’s as if the other man feels his gaze. Kyldare stops walking and glances over his shoulder.

No. No, no,no!

“Don’t come any closer,” Kyldare orders. “We’re here on the queen’s business.”

The other man smiles, revealing straight, white teeth, and a single dimple on the right side of his mouth. It’s a compelling smile. But no one who saw it would believe he’s pleased.

“I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t serve your queen.”

Kyldare turns, stalking toward him.

No!

He’s walkingthe wrong way.

My limbs begin to tremble. One of my thorns slices toward him, but it’s slow, sluggish.

What is happening to me?

It’s as if my control over the dark power has been dampened, until I can only access the smallest trickle. Each day, I have painstakingly collected this power. And suddenly, I’m almost defenseless once more.

Footsteps sound as Kyldare’s soldiers charge up the stairs toward me.

Acid boils in my gut and my entire body trembles with fresh rage. I willnotbe victimized again.

The rage helps, and I launch into action. One of the soldiers left his overcoat here last time theyvisited, and I use it as a make-shift satchel, hauling the chains into the dusty material and wrapping it around my shoulders. If I can’t give Kyldare a taste of his own medicine, I can at least make sure he’ll never use these chains on anyone again.

My door bursts open, wood slamming into stone. The first solider steps into my room, panting as he draws his sword.

The entire tower shudders. He glances around, eyes widening as he takes in the empty bed. With a roll of his shoulders, he advances on me, and I don’t hesitate.

I launch myself toward the window and into the air.

“She’s gone,” one of the soldier’s roars behind me.

My heart leaps into my throat. Fear punches into my gut as I fall.

My thorns catch me. I sense… despair as they slice into my skin, even as they try their best not to hurt me. I send gratitude and tenderness to them as they place me on the ground behind the tower next to one of the soldier’s bodies.