Corem’s back straightens and his hands move to his cheeks, wiping away tears.

‘Rose?’ He faces me, forcing a smile that only succeeds in highlighting the weariness and despair in his eyes. ‘Thank you. Yes, the cloaks came. Three of the sisters.’

Three being one of the holy numbers, the cloaks always came in threes if they could.

‘And?’ I don’t know why I say the word expectantly. Like I’m hoping he will tell me Evelina’s fever will pass, that the priestesses wove their tendrils of magic around her body and lifted the sickness straight from her soul. Because I already know that isn’t what he will say. Our wretched souls don’t get the same treatment as those at the High Hold.

‘Tomorrow, they will take her.’ His voice breaks. ‘Cleanse her body for the burning.’

‘There is nothing more that can be done?’ I try to hide the shock that shoots through me. ‘You do not wish to wait longer? Wait until…?’ Until she dies. The words don’t leave my lips because they don’t have to. We both know death is all that’s left for Evelina.

Corem shakes his head. ‘They said it is best for her to be in the temple when she passes. Her soul will be in less pain that way.’ His bottom lip trembles. ‘I don’t want her to be in pain anymore.’

He’s not the first person I’ve heard say such a thing, and yet, for my mother’s sake, I pray it isn’t true. She died in the home that we shared in the fifth ring after our fall from grace, our hands clasping hers as she drew her last breath. We even burned her together. Dinah was the only priestess with us. The only adult who stayed. My father had already left, choosing drink over duty before the pyre was even lit.

With effort, I quash my rising vitriol towards the man I once held in such high esteem.

‘Here.’ I stretch out my hand to offer him the vial of tonic, trying to shake away the weight of the past. ‘It will bring her some peace as she sleeps.’

Corem hesitates. ‘I cannot pay you what it is worth.’

‘I do not ask for payment,’ I say softly.

He falters a moment longer, then takes it. ‘Thank you.’ He pockets the vial before he stands and walks across the room to retrieve a bowl. ‘Here. The cloaks brought these. Take a couple. For you and Acacia. It’s all I can offer.’

Bread rolls. My stomach growls even more loudly than it did when Kay mentioned food earlier. Every part of my body wants me to reach out and grab them, but I pause, staring at the basket. If I take two, there’ll be just one left, meaning he and Evelina will have to share. I’m not even sure she can eat, but if she can, I will not rob her of her last meal.

‘Thank you, but I will just take one for Acacia. I’ve eaten already,’ I lie.

Relief flashes across his face.

I want to offer to stay with him until morning, until the priestesses come, or offer to return when they take the body. But I already know he’ll refuse.

Instead, I cross to Evelina, brushing her dark, sweat-soaked hair back from her forehead. ‘Acacia sends her love,’ I murmur, but she does not stir. ‘As do I. Rest easy, Evelina.’

Her chest rattles as she breathes.

No, she does not have long now.

I silently nod to Corem as I leave. I already know there are no true words of comfort to offer the grieving.

I open the door and disappear into the frigid night, trying to fight the sting of tears behind my eyes. But it is a losing battle.

Because if there is one thing this life has taught me, it is that there is always time for more tears.

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Chapter 4

‘You’re very quiet,’ Kay says as we elbow our way through the market the following morning. The smell of smoke and roasted nuts is thick in the air as we weave our way through the hordes of people.

‘Death to Korvane!’ someone screams, and a jostle from the side makes me lose sight of Kay. My heart lurches, and the moment I spot her again, I grab her hand. Despite the shoving and sharp elbows – not to mention the angry tirades against our bastard of a king – the market’s usually a safe place to be. Usually. But there are always exceptions, and experience has taught me to remain vigilant.

‘You should be excited,’ Kay continues. ‘They’re announcing the Rettlings today.’

‘They are?’ I feign surprise even though my heart has been thundering since the moment I woke. Several times it crossed my mind to tell her what I’ve done, but with the possibility that my name won’t be called, there is no need for Kay to ever know I attempted to enter.

‘There are likely to be some names we recognise, don’t you think? People from the court?’ Excitement rises in her voice. ‘Perhaps some of our parents’ friends. Your friends, even.’

‘Acquaintances, Kay,’ I correct her. ‘Friends stand by you.’

Kay tuts as if my statement is unreasonable. The fact that she remembers less about our time in the High Hold means she doesn’t understand just how deep the betrayal was. We were an integral part of the court. We should have been above reproach.

‘Well, talking of acquaintances, look who’s walking this way.’ Kay gestures ahead. A group of people are bartering with raised voices for a jar of something or other, but my eyes are immediately drawn behind them to a broad figure wearing a knitted beanie hat and an ever-present grin. Warmth spreads through me at the sight of him, a subconscious echo of the magic he wields.

Next to him is his friend, Peter, who scowls at me. I ignore him with practised ease. He may be Ruben’s friend, but he’s never been mine. It’s difficult to place a finger on exactly what it is that I don’t like about Peter. Perhaps it’s the way he walks around with his sleeves rolled up, his swirling tattoo of a coil of smoke on display, as if he needs to prove his manhood by unnecessarily exposing himself to the cold. The last thing we need is more people dying of hyperthermia.

‘Hey Ruben.’ Kay beams when he finally squeezes his way across to us.

‘Kay!’ He opens his arms wide, offering a quite literally warming hug.

Rather than respond to him, Kay glances at me, as if she’s asking permission. It’s one hundred percent not necessary, but I nod anyway. A moment later, his arms are wrapped tightly around her, and I watch Kay’s body relax as his warmth seeps into her. The gentleness of Ruben’s ability to crank up his body temperature would have been laughed at in the High Hold. Sure, it would be impressive if he could convert that heat into fireballs that he could throw at the Issen and Torailian when they attack our borders, but down in the slums, his gentle warmth keeps people alive.

Korvane and his generals don’t seem to understand that battles aren’t the only thing that kills people at war. Cold does too.

As Kay steps back from Ruben’s embrace, her face flushed with heat, he looks at me, an eyebrow quirked in question. I go in next. The warmth rushes to my extremities, and the relief from the cold is welcome. I didn’t realise how freezing I was.

Unsurprisingly, Ruben pulls me in far closer than he did with Kay, then lowers his head so it’s next to the shell of my ear, his breath teasing my skin in the way he knows I like. ‘I haven’t seen you for a couple of nights,’ he whispers.

‘I’ve been busy,’ I mutter evasively. The last thing I need is for Kay to overhear our conversation, given that I told her I was spending time with Ruben when I was actually monitoring the guards at the temple.

‘Well, my bed’s been cold.’ His brown eyes look down at me as he speaks. Soft, warm brown eyes. Friendly. Straightforward. Nothing like the icy-blue gaze that held mine last night.

Not that I was thinking about that asshole again.

I laugh in response. ‘Your bed’s never cold,’ I say, trying to sound casual as I inwardly curse myself for thinking about another man’s eyes when a perfectly good pair is staring right into mine.