. . . the lid of a car trunk slams down. Ash is driving down a long gravel road, headlights spearing the fog. Marsh reeds whisper in the night wind. A splash and a bundle wrapped in chains sinks into black water.
They were coming to murder her.
Cathrynne’s eyes snapped open in the darkness.
Well, of course they were. She wouldn’t give them the sweven and they couldn’t let her go. Even cyphers had rights. Kidnapping and torture would bring trouble with the High Council.
A sick thrill of terror went through her. She stood, hunching awkwardly under the low ceiling. The door swung open. Light flooded in.
It was her usual tormenters: Berti, Kane, and Ash, who had taken out her piercings. Kane had also removed his silver bridge. There was a gap where his gleaming front teeth used to be.
“Turn around,” Berti ordered.
“Listen,” she said, licking cracked lips, “I changed my mind. You can have the sweven. Of my own free will.”
Berti’s expression didn’t change. “Then give it to me now.”
And you’ll kill me the moment it’s done.
She shook her head. “I’ll give it to Markus.”
“You have no leverage to dictate terms.” Berti’s gray eyes were pitiless. “Last chance. Give me the sweven.”
“I swear I’ll give it to Markus?—”
Berti gestured to Ash and Kane. As the red-haired witch and her huge partner stooped to enter the cell, Cathrynne saw their hands around her throat. Saw the life drain from her eyes.
Blood trickled from her nose to her lip, but she barely felt it.
“Wait!” she cried. “I can be of value!”
Berti looked bored of it all. “How?”
Cathrynne swallowed hard, beyond terror now. Secrets meant nothing anymore.
“Ash killed Durian Padulski,” she said in a rush. “I don’t think she meant to. It was an accident. She was trying to stop him from running, but her spell hit him too hard. It stopped his heart. He was dead before he fell into the river.”
Ash looked stunned. “How could you possibly?—”
“Shut up,” Berti said. She was watching Cathrynne intently.
“You’re here to kill me,” Cathrynne said. “Strangulation so it’s cleaner. No blood. Then you’ll drive my body to the marshes and let the tides take it.”
The silence stretched, broken only by the sound of Kane’s uneven breathing.
“We’ll bring her to Markus,” Berti said after a long moment.
Cathrynne started shaking. She thought her knees might give out and braced a hand against the wall. The three of them backed away to give her room as she crouched down and stepped out of the cell.
No one touched her. It was like she suddenly had a contagious disease. She walked with Ash in front and Berti and Kane behind. Just standing upright was a gift. She had no idea how long they had kept her in the cell, but when the cramped darkness gave way to wide, carpeted halls, tears blurred her vision.
They took her back to the bedchamber where she’d first been held, which now seemed like a palace.
“Sit,” Berti commanded.
Cathrynne obeyed, moving stiffly to the bed and perching on the edge.
Ash and Kane watched her from their old post by the door. Berti left without another word. After a few minutes, she returned with Markus. He wore black tie like he was on his way to a party, not a silver hair out of place. He paused when he saw her, pity and disgust on his face. Never had she loathed him so much.
