is pounding, so full it’s fit to burst.
My father lied.
My mother isn’t a monster.
She’s a prisoner.
I have to get her out.
But what if we’re caught?
It doesn’t matter.
I have to try.
“You will not spend one more night in this room,” I promise her.
“What can you do against him? I’ll not put you in danger. So long as he doesn’t know that you know, you’re safe. Get away from here. From him. Don’t worry about me.”
My aching heart soothes at her words. They remind me of a conversation, or rather an interrogation, between Riden and me.
There are different kinds of fathers. Those who love unconditionally, those who love on condition, and those who never love at all.
My mother doesn’t know me, but she is putting my life before hers. Is that what it should have been like between me and my father?
I scan the room quickly, looking for anything that will help us secret her away. There isn’t much. An unmade bed with a feathered mattress. A chaise. Paintings on the walls. Some books on a shelf.
She must have gone mad in here.
I grab one of the blankets from the bed and wrap her in it, taking care to brush all of her hair away from her face and tuck it out of sight under the blanket. I am known for my red hair. If anyone were to see her, it would arouse the wrong kind of curiosity.
“She needs to keep her hair covered,” I say to Riden.
He nods, and in one motion, he sweeps her off her feet and holds her easily in his arms.
We’ll need to set sail right away. It’s fortunate we just restocked all the supplies after our last voyage. Where can we go where the pirate king won’t find us? Land? I can’t give up the sea. I’d go mad.
“Alosa,” Riden says.
“Yes?”
“Look at me.”
I do.
“We’ll get her out of here. She’ll be safe. Then we can plan our next move.”
It hits me then just how remarkable Riden is being about all of this. Didn’t he tell me my father was despicable? That I was a fool for following him? That he didn’t truly love me?
But now, when it’s all proved correct, he’s not menacing or condescending.
He’s still helping me.
He’s holding my mother so carefully, and the sight gives me the strength to do what I need to do.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 7
SORINDA DOESN’T SAY A word when Riden and I exit my father’s study. She doesn’t even look surprised.
But Athella—
“Who’s that, Captain?”
“No time. Sorinda, take Athella and go retrieve Draxen from the dungeons. We’re leaving the keep, but tell no one. You must be discreet.”
“Have I ever been anything else?” Sorinda asks. Without waiting for an answer, she grabs Athella’s arm and leads her away.
“We need to be quick,” I tell Riden, “but not suspicious. Walk beside me. Don’t speak if we’re stopped. Let me handle everything.”
He looks at me for a moment, surprise written across his face.
“What?”
“Thank you, for my brother.”
“It’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing. It’s everything to me.”
His gratitude is overwhelming my already bursting heart. “In that case, you’re welcome. Now let’s go.”
“Lead the way.”
We walk at a brisk pace. We haven’t taken more than a couple of steps when Riden whispers my name.
“What?”
“When we’re out of here, when we’re safely away from the king’s keep, I want to talk to you about something.”
“And what’s that?”
“Alosa?” A new voice comes down the tunnel, and it’s far too close.
Tylon.
“Go on,” I whisper to Riden so quietly I might only be mouthing the words. “I’ll distract him. You keep going.”
“I don’t know where I’m going.”
“Just go.” I wave one hand frantically.
I rush back the way we came, running right past the study door and halting just before the tunnel bends. Tylon’s face appears above mine.
“Are you alone?” he asks, peering over my shoulder. Since he doesn’t reach for his sword, I assume Riden listened and kept going.
“Yes, why?”
“It sounded like you were talking to someone. What are you doing here?” He looks curiously at the study door, and my heart plummets. He cannot think I came from there. He’d rat me out to my father in a heartbeat. I need a good lie. And I need it now.
“I was looking for you,” I say hurriedly. “And rehearsing what I’d say when I found you.”
I reach for the siren in me and pull her out effortlessly. Goose bumps surface on my arms. If Tylon notices, I hope he thinks it’s a reaction to him and not from using my abilities. The