“You will summon the Phoenix, Annora,” he says, his words sharper than a blade pressed against my throat. “Or your sister will not eat today.”
Icy dread curls around my chest. “I will try to summon the Phoenix, but you must let her go first.”
“You willnotbe making demands of me.” He whips me around and pulls me from the room. “You will do as I say, and if you do it well, I will feed your sister.”
No. No. No!
He pushes me back into my bedchamber. “Go and get the book.”
Fire roars through me as I walk across the room, grab the book, and snap it open.
“Now,” Aleksander says, “open it and summon your Phoenix.”
I glare at him. “I don’t know how to summon it.”
“What do you mean you don’t know how? You’ve done it before.”
“I don’t know how I did it before,” I try to explain. “It just happened.”
Aleksander slams his hand down on the table next to me, making me jump. “That’s not good enough, Annora. You need to figure it out.” His eyes flash, and for a moment, I think he might strike me. Instead, he turns on his heel and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
I hurry to the door, open it, and peer into the empty corridor. When I don’t spot anyone, I rush to Emerin’s door, but when I try to open it, it doesn’t give.
Desperate to reach her, to comfort her, to make sure she’s safe, I try again and again, but the door still doesn’t budge.
Please.
Help me!
I squeeze my eyes shut, needing Olah, the god of all Tarrobane, to answer my prayers. Unfortunately, nothing happens, and the door doesn’t open.
“Emerin,” I say in a shaky voice. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen to you.”
Her footsteps shuffle against the marble floor, and I can almost picture her on the other side, her hand pressed against the door. “I’m all right, Annora.”
No, she’s not.
She’s just being brave.
“I’m going to get you out of there. I promise.” If it’s the last thing I do, I will rescue Emerin.
How can Aleksander be so cruel? Starving Emerin to force me to do what he wants? It’s a level of cruelty I never thought possible. Not even from him.
Asha…
I’ll go to her. She’ll rescue Emerin.
Chapter Two
Annora
My chest achesas I make my way to Asha’s study. When I reach the door, I pause, gulp in a quick breath, then push it open.
Asha sits at her desk, her head bowed over something in her hands, and as I step closer, I recognize the sketch of her son.
“Asha,” I say in a soft voice, not wanting to startle her.
Tears glisten in her blue eyes as she glances up. “What are you doing in here, Annora?”
