Every choice from here would echo in blood and fire.

Marcus's cousin woke the next morning with no memory of her kidnapping beyond the initial attack. The healers called it a blessing. I called it convenient for whoever had taken her.

"She's safe," I told Marcus when he came to check on her. "That's what matters."

"Is it?" He looked older than yesterday. Worn down by everything that had happened. "My cousin was used as bait to trap you. To make me think you'd orchestrated her kidnapping. And ...