The corridor was quiet except for the soft pad of Caelira’s steps.

She kept her gaze down, one hand pressed to her ribs as if she could steady herself against the faint ache still lingering from the night before. The castle’s air was brisk, cool against her overheated skin, and she thought..foolishly..that she might make it back to her chamber without incident.

A shadow moved ahead. Then another.

By the time she looked up, Eleara was standing in the middle of the passage, flanked by two of ...