Chapter 12: Everly

Chapter

Twelve

EVERLY

The bed creaks as I roll onto my side, trying to find a comfortable position. As if anything could be comfortable with the knot of anxiety twisting in my gut.

I close my eyes and will sleep to come, but my mind keeps spinning. On one side, there's Hawke and his band of rat-smelling brutes. On the other, there's Cenric—brave, handsome Cenric. Here I am, stuck in the middle like a rabbit caught between two hungry foxes.

Some spy I'm turning out to be. I couldn't even make it to the camp without taking a bath in mud. At this rate, I'll probably trip and impale myself on Cenric's sword before I can gather any useful information.

Everything in me wants to tell Cenric exactly what Hawke is up to, but I don't know how wide Hawke's reach is. What if he really does have spies in Astarobane? What if the moment I unveil his intentions, he silences my family forever? Icy dread tightens around my heart like a fist.

No!

I will not allow that to happen!