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W hen I returned to my room, there was a soft tap on the door. Claire had come to check on me. Naturally, she was concerned that the Ashlora lord would take advantage of his status and force his will upon me.

I confessed I had worried the same and was originally suspicious of Lord Embers’ motives, but thankfully, he was entirely respectful.

Apparently, the sense of ease coaxed from the evening still hung about me as I recalled the events.

Even more, I surprised myself by confiding in Claire about how I had forgotten my human vulnerability when he kissed my hand at the evening’s end.

While thinking about it, I failed to hide the flush in my cheeks, to which Claire replied, “I am happy you enjoyed the evening, you deserve a little happiness. I’ve had too few encounters with Lord Embers to judge if his actions are genuine, but please be careful.”

“You are a good friend, Claire, and if the roles were reversed, I am sure I would say the same to you. But I don’t expect I’ll have much reason to be alone in Lord Embers’ company again.

And I have already seen the error in allowing him to get close …

he is an Ashlora after all, it would be reckless.

” The words didn’t have the sting I was hoping for. Claire didn’t seem convinced either.

I kept the thought to myself, but in truth, I wished I could get to know Devrix under different circumstances. Unfortunately, that was not my reality.

The next morning, Jesmine stood waiting by the chair as I entered the lab, her expression sour. “I hear that Lord Embers was the one to claim the winning night, after all. Tell me, was he as charming as so many praise him to be?”

There was something in Jesmine’s behavior toward me that had changed since our interaction in the dungeon. Something other than my misjudgment that landed me in that cell, but I had yet to pinpoint what it was. It was as if she felt a threat, though I couldn’t imagine how she thought that.

Regardless, I knew I had to watch my words carefully. Keeping a neutral tone, I replied, “He had the manners of a lord, as expected, my lady.” I figured she would take that in whatever way best suited her. I lowered into the chair.

My attention fixed on her hands as they moved closer, painfully aware of the weapons they truly were.

“Hmmm,” she mused. “I’ve no doubt you were fawning over the attention.

” She ripped off my bandage, then pulled out the blade to open my arm.

“I suppose I can’t hold it against him, even I enjoy the entertainment of the lesser beings at times.

Although, it’s a shame Lord Turner was stripped of his winnings.

” With a trance-like focus, she watched my blood dance up into the drawing vial, her thoughts elsewhere, plotting her next move.

Then her eyes shifted up to meet mine, “With all that time in Lord Embers’ chambers, I assume you had an opportunity to look for more notes of interest.”

My heart kicked. “I … I thought you had what you needed with the last notes I brought you?” I stammered.

“Why would I want breadcrumbs when I could have so much more?” She straightened her back.

“Are you really that incompetent? Time is running out. If an opportunity is presented to you, I expect you to reach for it. Try. Harder.” She pressed the cork into the vial and flicked her wrist at me. “Now. Get out.”

My arm was still bleeding as I left the lab.

With every day that passed, tensions rose, and allies shifted.

Jesmine never hid her callousness, but her moods were ever-changing.

Jarrett was still a mystery, he showed concern but also wore a mask of indifference at times I thought he would show compassion.

Claire was my rock, and the only one I completely trusted.

And then there was Arden, who had told me he stood up for me about being on the third floor, only to hear that he may have embellished the details of our interaction.

I’d been planning to seek him out, needing answers to the comments made, but instead was surprised to find him waiting near my door the next evening.

He offered an apple as I approached. I quickly thanked him before beginning. “What exactly did you tell Jesmine happened prior to me falling into the dungeon?”

His ears flushed crimson. “I told her you were assisting me when I returned from the wilds with an injured leg.” He stood upright, hand fidgeting with the end of his belt.

“It’s just … I don’t know.” I sighed, not sure what I wanted to hear from him. His blue eyes avoided me. Something about his demeanor was off. … The fragments came together. Of course. Why didn ’ t I see it before? “You’ve been intimate with her, haven’t you?”

His mouth moved wordlessly. At last, he uttered, “It doesn’t mean anything.” His throat bobbed, but it was his next comment that really threw me. “Just as you were with Lord Embers.”

A bewildered laugh escaped my throat. “I wasn’t with Lord Embers,” I retorted. “I was presented as a prize for those filthy Ashlora men. Against my will, I might add.” I steadied my breath. “I don’t get the impression that’s what is between you and Jesmine. Am I wrong?”

“No,” he said, looking away. “It’s not the same.”

“I can’t be in the middle of this, Arden.

” I handed his apple back. “You know our situations are different. Like you said, Jesmine is unpredictable, and I don’t want her attention on me any more than necessary.

If she has some attachment to you, that’s not going to turn out well for me, especially when I don’t know how you are portraying things between us to her. ”

He stiffened. I’d hit my mark, and while I felt bad about the sharpness of my words, they held true.

When Arden had moved to kiss me in the supply room I was taken aback, but if there had been a hint of me that returned those feelings I wouldn’t have fled, thus losing myself among the labyrinth of halls. I didn’t know the story he told, but he was hiding something.

I held my composure, tone firm. “Goodnight Arden,” I said before closing the door between us.

My stomach growled at the rejection of the apple.

The Ashlora partygoers filtered out quickly. For the days following, Claire and I kept busy picking up the messes they had left behind and closing up the extra guest rooms.

Both of us were worn thin from the long days of cleaning and decided to eat together in my room. She sat beside me on my bed. “Claire, do you remember how you were brought here?” I asked as we forced down another of Ms. Salty’s inedible meals.

Her chewing slowed. “Hmm. I was sick so a lot of my memory is foggy. … I’m not sure what was real and what was a hallucination. I remember I could barely walk, and the man tied a rope around my waist as I was taken through the Shadow Wilds.” She shrugged, then took another bite of dinner.

I was getting nowhere in my search for a map. Claire was my closest ally—maybe she could help me. It meant revealing my plans and trusting her. As hard as that was with others, I did trust Claire.

“Did you go through the fire tree?” I asked.

“Yeah, I remember that part.” She laughed. “I thought it was going to burn me up.”

I grinned. “Same.” I continued thinking out loud, “The fire tree is the only way I know of to get away from the fortress. But the connecting tree I used is in the middle of the Shadow Wilds. It’s the same one you used from the sound of it.

... I was hoping the tree here could take me to a different location—one that wouldn’t spit me out into those haunted woods. ”

I had guessed that the various sticks would lead to different locations, but were any of them safe? I would have to keep looking into it. “Have you left the fortress at any point since you arrived?” I asked.

Her eyes widened. “You’re really going to try to break free. Aren’t you?”

I nodded. “Yes, but I still don’t know how it can be done. And I have to wait until my service as the Blood Offering is complete. The whole falling dead from a broken promise is kind of an issue.”

“That is only one of your problems,” Claire said. “Getting out of the fortress may be harder. The Keeper oversees everyone who enters and leaves. The entrances are warded, plus there is a guard at the front. Only a few can come and go without her working the door.”

“Yeah, I wondered about that.” I picked at my food. “Arden leaves all the time … but I’m not sure it’s safe to ask him.”

Her head cocked to the side. “Seems risky. But we could watch the doors. Maybe take turns cleaning near the hall, or watch from the windows and see if anyone comes or goes without Jesmine around.”

“Really? You want to help?” I asked.

“Of course! What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t? Besides, you promised to try to take me with you.” She beamed with excitement.

Claire and I took turns watching the front door.

For two days, not a single person came or went. The doorkeeper fell asleep repeatedly, only to wake himself by the sound of his own snoring.

On the third morning, the silence was interrupted by the knocking of metal on metal.

I tucked myself behind a pillar and watched.

The guard opened the slat and examined the guests on the other side.

After seeing who waited, he stepped over to a panel beside the door and pulled the closest of three ropes.

The length of the rope disappeared into a hole in the ceiling.

I assumed it rang a bell in another area of the fortress.

And my assumption was proven correct when Jesmine appeared moments later.

With the Keeper’s approval, the guard lifted a latch and opened the door. A small group of guests stepped inside, greeting Jesmine as they entered.

My eyes caught on a familiar face, and my pulse quickened. Devrix had returned.

I tried not to think about Lord Embers’ return and put my focus into our new plan.

From our watch, it became apparent that Jesmine saw to the comings and goings of every single visitor in the Fortress, with one exception—Claire had told me that Arden left that afternoon, and the guard simply nodded and let him through.

Unfortunately, Arden and I were barely on speaking terms. It would be foolish to raise his suspicion after learning how close he was with Jesmine.

There had to be some way out of the fortress without Jesmine’s consent. I needed to find it before my offering was complete.

I stood at the window of a guest chamber, staring out across the treetops, envying the leaves bathed in the fading sunlight. My spirit longed for the smell of fresh air. Soon the leaves would shift, and the air would fill with their scent. I wondered if I would get a chance to smell it.

The shuffle of feet drew my attention from the window, and an unfamiliar Ashlora servant appeared in the doorway.

“This was sent for you,” she said. “You are to change before you see Lady Jesmine.” She stepped forward, holding out a pile of folded fabric.

“She wants to see me … now?” I asked, unease built as I took the garments.

“Yeah, that’s what she said.” The woman departed, not offering to elaborate.

I unfolded the pile to find a new frock, the linen crisp, and edges sharp. It was hard to imagine that the rags I currently donned had once been so nice.

The doors were open as I approached the lab wearing the new servant’s dress. The room was quiet. A woven basket sat on a main table, looking out of place.

Jesmine entered from the back room, her gaze running down me. “Well, that certainly is an improvement,” she noted of my attire.

Making her way over to a worktable, she removed a beaker of clear liquid from a small burner, then sucked it up into a dropper. “I have a job for you this evening,” she said as she grabbed a familiar looking bottle of amber liquid. She uncorked the top.

I stood frozen, watching her as dread gathered in my veins.

“In a moment …” she paused, squeezing several drops of the clear liquid into the amber bottle.

“I will need you to take a special delivery to Lord Embers.” She re-corked the container and stepped over to the basket.

Tucking the bottle of spirits inside, she pulled the lid closed.

“A gift for my dear friend.” Her smile was wicked.

“Given your history, I thought you would be perfect for the job.” She pushed the carrier forward into my arms.

“What is it?” I asked.

“It is a solution to a problem.” Her eyes locked on me, daring me to question her further. My teeth ground together.

She waited a few breaths to make sure I understood my place.

“Tell him you are presenting a gift from me. Have him sit while you retrieve the book—it’s inside the basket.

I am sure he will be eager to look it over.

And while he is studying it, open the bottle of his favorite spirits and fix him a glass.

” She released the basket that I now cradled.

Her brow lifted in challenge. “Do you think you can follow these simple instructions?”

No, I couldn ’ t. Wouldn’t. “I am not a murderer,” I rasped.

“Oh, we don’t need to pretend. Regardless of what you claim you are, or aren’t, you are my servant and will do as you are told.” She wrapped her hand over mine, fingers burning hot as mine were trapped around the handle. “Or do you need another reminder of your place?”

“No—I mean.” I swallowed hard. “Of course not, my lady.”

“Good.” She released her grip and stepped back. “He should be in his chambers, but if you do not find him, return to me with the carrier.”