Page 111 of Stars May Burn

I turned to Meena, who was already concentrating on the tracking device. She pointed to the floor and pushed the rug aside with one booted foot, revealing a trapdoor. Without speaking, I bent down and pulled on the metal ring. Stone steps descended into complete darkness. Dread started to gnaw at my stomach. What had they done to her?

“Sophie?”

No reply.

My small kryalcomy lamp was out of charge. I fumbled in my bag for an oil lamp; Meena already had her flint box ready, lighting the wick with one strike. I sheathed my sword and took out a dagger, in case I had to fight in the close quarters of the staircase.

Everything was eerily quiet. My patience frayed, and I took the steps two at a time, my normal caution gone with the frantic need to find Sophie. At the bottom was a plain but thick locked door. I withdrew as much strength from my device as I could before crashing my shoulder into the door. It splintered on impact, wood shards digging into my arm and back. My back jarred in shock, and everything hurt, but the pain was good. Feeling anything except the rising sense of panic centered me.

After another push, the door tore from its hinges and fell in a mangled pile of boards.

A whimper sounded from within the dark room. The tiny noise was enough for me to recognize Sophie. My heart broke.

I held up the lamp and strode in, my boots crunching on broken glass. What had happened in here?

“Sophie? Sophie, where are you? It’s Kasten.”

A sob echoed from the furthest corner, and I broke into a sprint, falling on the glass in front of her hunched figure. She shielded her eyes from the pathetic light of the oil lantern. She had blood on her face and both eyes were blackened and swollen. Fury so potent I could taste it raged inside me. Who could hurt somebody as innocent and as good as her?

“Kasten?” Her split lips broke into a strange smile as she squinted at me.

I swallowed down a rising tightness in my throat and wrapped my arms around her as firmly as I dared without causing her more pain. Her head fell forward and rested against my chest. I needed to touch her, to surround her, to know she couldn’t leave me again. “Sophie, I’m here. I’m sorry it took me so long. You’re safe now.”

I sat back to inspect her, my hands not leaving her sides. Her whole body was trembling as she reached out and touched my cheek as if she didn’t believe I was real. “I did it, Kasten. I didn’t tell him anything.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

She attempted to sit up higher, and I supported her as best as I could. “Father asked about your kryalcomy. The king said he had to use me to find out about it or face ruination. But I didn’t tell him. I didn’t tell him anything.”

My heart shattered. She had been through all this because of me? To protect me?

I tried to keep my tone even as I wrapped my cloak around her. “Is that why he beat you and locked you in here? To force you to tell him?”

She nodded, her eyes wide. “But I didn’t, Kasten. I didn’t tell him anything. I promise.”

My throat constricted, and I pulled her in close. “You were so brave, Sophie. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. I came as fast as I could, but if I’d been more prepared… I’m sorry I wasn’t faster.”

She shook her head as it nestled against my shoulder. “Thank you for coming.”

“Of course, I came. I will always come for you.” I pressed my face into her hair, breathing her scent. A crashing sense of relief started to suck the adrenaline from me, bringing tears to my eyes. I was so very tired. I drew in strength from one of my remaining reserves. Now was not the time for weakness. Not until Sophie was safe at home with dozens of guards. This was all my fault, and I would make it up to her. I would never let anything harm her again, no matter who I had to defeat.

I clenched my jaw and swallowed hard to hide my tears from her, before wrapping my arms around her back and under her knees and picking her up. I wasn’t going to let Sir Halfield get away with this. Or the king.

“Where does it hurt? I’ll take you to the physician.”

“Everywhere,” she mumbled. Her fingers dug into my arms as if afraid I would drop her and leave her here in the endless darkness.

Guilt sat heavy in my chest. “I’m so sorry,” I repeated as I pushed past a silent Meena to climb the stairs. The guard looked distraught, but now was not the time to address her feelings.

“Stay sharp,” I reminded her, and she nodded.

As we entered the brighter light of the pantry, I could see the extent of her bruises, and I struggled to stay calm as she curled into a ball away from the light.

The person who had done this was only a few feet away and completely at my mercy…

“Kasten?” she mumbled.

“Yes?” I whispered, not trusting myself to talk at normal volume.

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