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M areleau had never seen anything so large or imposing as the black dragon that had passed over the keep moments before. She’d thought the white dragon had been terrifying, but this new one was positively monstrous. Her heart beat a frantic rhythm as she and Helena stood beside the window, alternating between peering out it for any sign of the beast and hiding out of view. There was no sign of either dragon now, just the pillar of smoke in the distance. Mareleau could only pray to the seven gods that Ridine wouldn’t soon share the same fate as whatever now burned.

Noah began to whimper in her arms. He was probably hungry, but she couldn’t nurse him now. Not when dragons were swarming the sky. She shushed and rocked him, though how could she calm him when she couldn’t even calm herself?

The floor rumbled beneath her feet. Or was that the ceiling?

“Oh, gods.” Helena clutched her hand to her chest. “What the hell is happening? How is this possible? How are these creatures…”

The room rumbled again, and there was a distinct tapping that sounded above the ceiling.

Devils below…was one of the dragons on top of the keep?

A shadow darkened the window, and Mareleau leaped back. There was certainly something above the roof. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Maybe we should get away from the windows?—”

“Mare!” Larylis’ voice had her jumping out of her skin, but as she whirled to find him charging into her room, her nerves settled by at least half.

She heaved a sob as she ran to him, letting him fold her and Noah into a hug.

“What’s happening out there?” Helena asked.

“There are two dragons?—”

Larylis’ voice was cut off by a screech that pierced the air, the sound far too close and loud for comfort. It was coming from directly above her room. Human shouts followed, though these were more distant.

“The archers must have attacked,” Larylis said, then gently loosened Mareleau from his embrace. Placing a hand at her back instead, he ushered her toward the door. “Come, we need to get you?—”

Another screech, then a wall-rattling thud. Mareleau looked over her shoulder just in time to see something long, white, and scaled—a dragon’s tail—slam against her bedroom wall from outside. The windows shattered from the impact, sending shards of glass surging into the room. Mareleau uttered a cry, ducking her head just as Larylis angled her behind him. Helena clung to her daughter’s side, either shielding her or simply cowering.

Together they rushed from the bedroom, heads low to avoid shards of glass to their faces, and entered the sitting room. Thankfully, they’d already been near the door when the windows had shattered, so most of the splinters hadn’t reached them. Mareleau’s breaths came out in jagged sobs. Her feet didn’t stop moving. She was desperate to be out of her suite, out of the keep. There were fewer windows in the sitting room but that didn’t mean they were safe.

Was anywhere in Ridine safe when there were two dragons?

They left the suite and entered the hall. It was empty, as all the guests had been at the wedding, yet screams could be heard deeper in the castle. Perhaps from servants.

Larylis led Mareleau down the hall at a swift pace, Helena marching at their side, keeping as close to her daughter as she could. They halted at the next intersection. Larylis looked down one way, then another. Mareleau caught sight of the row of windows that lined one of the halls. Her heart climbed into her throat at the view. Upon one of the battlements the black dragon perched. Shouts rang out, probably from soldiers or archers, and a lick of red flame shot into the sky.

Larylis ushered her down the opposite end of the hall instead. “Seven devils,” he said under his breath. “Where do I take you? Where might they be unable to sense you?”

“Sense me?” she echoed.

Larylis said nothing, simply stared ahead, brow furrowed as he frantically guided their party toward the stairs that led out of the keep. That was when Mareleau realized something she hadn’t considered until then.

The dragons were here for her .

Or perhaps it was Noah.

Either way, this…all of this…

Was her fault.

She rooted her feet in place, her lungs constricting. Noah let out a wail that shattered her heart and clashed against her ever-growing fear.

“Mare,” Larylis said, whirling to face her, “we have to keep going. I’ll take you somewhere safe.”

“Where? Where can you take me that will keep us safe from dragons?”

“I…I don’t know. They may only be attacking because they were provoked by the archers, and I doubt they’re here to hurt you. Not if what Cora learned in El’Ara is true. If I can at least take you somewhere the dragons can’t sense you…” His expression fell, shoulders drooping.

That told her enough to realize where his mind had gone. She voiced it. “The dungeon.”

Helena gasped. “You can’t take her to the dungeon.”

Larylis rubbed his brow. His voice came out laced with fatigue and regret. “Just until the dragons leave. If they’ll leave. It’s the deepest level of Ridine. I’ll stay too, I’ll?—”

“Yes.” The word flew from her lips even as it sank her heart. The last place she wanted to be was in a godsdamned dungeon. But if it kept her and Noah safe…if it kept Ridine safe, her friends safe, and everyone else who was here…

She lifted her chin, portraying a queenly aura she didn’t feel. “It must be done.”

Larylis’ expression grew even more tortured. He opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, a figure bounded up the stairs. Mareleau’s eyes grew wide at the sight of Cora, her hair spilling from its updo, the delicate lace at the hem of her ivory gown torn and stained, even though she had half of it gathered in her arms to assist her climb. Their eyes met, and Cora’s countenance turned apprehensive. Still, she rushed straight for Mareleau.

“I’m sorry,” Cora said, voice strained as she reached for Mareleau. Mareleau froze, expecting an embrace. But her friend wasn’t here to comfort or hug her.

A sharp pain erupted from the sides of her neck. Then came the weight of something resting against her clavicle.

Cora took a step back, eyes glazed with tears. “I’m so, so sorry, Mare.”

Mareleau shifted Noah’s weight to one arm and lifted her free hand to her neck. Her fingers met a smooth, hard surface. She realized then what this was.

Cora had collared her.