Page 64 of The Throne's Undoing

Terin's bed, however, was right next to the door.

He had yet to stir, his breathing still even.

Kallie's hand went to her thigh where she had strapped the dagger before the wedding, but it was gone, of course. She scanned the room for anything she could use as a weapon.

If this was an infirmary, there had to be a scalpel or something else she could use. Cabinets lined the wall near the cracked door, and she bit her lip.

She would have to be quick and quiet.

Tossing her legs over the bed, Kallie stood. When she straightened, her legs wobbled, and she grappled for the wall, her palm pressing against it for stability.

Being quick, unfortunately, would not be an option if she could barely stand.

She took a deep breath in and counted to four in her mind. She held the oxygen in her mouth for five seconds, steadying herself and calming her raging thoughts before she exhaled.

Then, on quiet, unsteady feet, Kallie crept toward the nearest table. She searched through the instruments but found only strips of cotton, gauze, and miscellaneous herbs. She sifted through several drawers, finding only aprons, linens, and flimsy gowns.

"Shit," Kallie hissed when she pulled open the last drawer and discovered only more sheets. She shut the dresser, the vials on top shaking slightly from the force.

Cursing, she looked over her shoulder but found Terin still asleep. She sighed in relief.

Hurrying to the cracked window, she pried it open. The wood creaked as the hinges turned. Her heart thundered, but she didn't dare waste any more time. She pushed open the window the rest of the way and quickly surveyed the environment.

All around the property, tall, foreign, white-barked trees covered the area as far as she could see through the darkness of night.

Kallie looked down.

Shit!

Her fingers curled around the window's ledge. She was too high to jump without hurting herself in the process. Her eyes widened, an idea spinning together.

She hurried to the dresser and pulled the sheets out, constantly checking if Terin had awoken. Quickly tying the sheets together, Kallie tossed one end of the makeshift rope outthe window and tied the other to the nearest bed anchored to the floor.

Kallie lifted herself onto the windowsill, her legs dangling from the ledge. Sending a silent prayer to the gods, she twisted around and grabbed onto the sheet with a deadly grip as she began her descent.

Just one foot after another. That's all she needed--

A tear in sheet ripped through the silence, the top of the sheet snagging on a jagged piece of metal that Kallie hadn't seen. If she was quick enough--

The tear spread even further the moment she shifted.

Quickly, Kallie reached for the window ledge, trying to find purchase, but her nails only clawed at the wall. As the fabric ripped, Kallie squeezed her eyes shut as she prepared for the inevitable fall.

A hand suddenly gripped hers, and Kallie's eyes sprung open.

Eyes sharp as steel stared down at her. "Going somewhere, little mouse?" Graeson said, his voice low and sending a vibration through her core.

"Let me go," Kallie spat.

"I don't think so."

Before Kallie could argue more, Graeson was yanking her up and back through the window. His large hands wrapped around her, pulling her inside.

He pressed her back against the wall, his hands gripping her arms.

"What was the plan, Kalisandre?" Graeson asked, his voice low and cold. "Jump out the window and hope the swamp cushioned your fall?"

Kallie jerked against his hold, but that only caused him to tighten his grip. Her gift stirred within the pit of her stomach, but she knew it was useless. Graeson was immune to her manipulations.

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