brick and into another one. My head thumped back against the wall at my back. How long had I been here? How much longer did I have to go?
Geoffrey hadn't returned, but I wasn’t left alone. Other guards must’ve been assigned to me because they came in random intervals I could never time. Some dropped off buckets of water, and some had chucked crusts of bread at me. Others had just slid the metal covering over the window at the top of the door, far higher than I could reach, and spat at me before walking away. Time was growing shorter and shorter.
Even as my stomach grumbled and growled for food, I found myself curling in against it—cradling it and wondering … had my mother been this afraid before she died? Had she known that I was safe when she was taken into the realm of the Gods? Had my father?
My hands tingled as I lifted my head and stared at the black marks against the stone. My fingers twitched, little sparks coming to life, but a split second later they dispersed. Magic wasn’t as easy as I had expected it to be. Roan had made it seem so simple. When he got mad, flames had just erupted without any actual effort on his part. These last few days, I’d tried repeatedly to conjure the feeling of magic I’d experienced before. The only time I managed to make anything tangible was when I thought of Tyr. The anger pressed forward and shot out of my fingertips, leaving scorch marks on the walls of my cell, puny though they were. That, too, left me feeling exhausted, and I had to conserve my energy if I was going to try and escape this place. I was sure the guys had a plan, but unfortunately, with them out there and me in here, there was no real way for us to communicate or for them to let me know what it was that they were planning. As each day passed, my panic and fear only grew.
Each time I tried to summon my magic on purpose, it felt like I was simply trying to move something with my mind. Could Fae do that? I wondered. If they could, I hadn’t figured out how to do that either.
There was no doubt that I had magic—Groffet’s exercise had proven that weeks ago. But useable magic? Whatever magic I did have, wasn’t enough to aid in any kind of escape attempt. My frustration mounted. What good was it being Fae if I couldn't do anything? I couldn't rescue myself. I couldn't protect myself from Tyr. I couldn't even get Roan's mother to like me and I was going to be her daughter-in-law—that is if I found a way out of my current situation. I wondered if I could, if that would impress her. Probably not.
I closed my eyes and resolved to try conjuring another bright orb of light and fire. Just as I decided that I was ready to try it once more, the lock on my cell door clanged as a key was inserted. I jerked my head to the side and shoved my hand under my butt to stifle any lingering brightness as the door opened.
A guard appeared, followed by two more. My heart pounded as they looked down on me. The first stepped forward and gestured for me to stand. “You’re being allowed to bathe before your execution tomorrow as a courtesy to the executioner. If you fight or try to escape, we are authorized to beat you into submission and bathe you ourselves.” He gave me a dark look. “You will not like our method of bathing."
I had no doubt he was right. I nodded even as my stomach twisted into a knot and his words hit me a second time. Tomorrow? I was going to be executed tomorrow? Shock and horror wrapped around my heart, squeezing the organ in my chest so tightly that I feared it would burst.
A second guard strode forward, slipping a keyring from the belt at his hip. “Up,” he commanded as he approached.
I stood and locked my knees to prevent myself from falling over as painful prickles assaulted my limbs. I’d been lying down for too long and my legs had gone numb.
The third guard remained silent, but I could feel his beady eyes watching my every movement. I wondered if they would try to fabricate an escape attempt on my part simply to be given the