“Oh!” Freya offers a curtsy to the men behind me. “Your Highness. My lord.”

“Welcome,” says Zo.

Jake and Noah stare at both women and say nothing. They both still look shell-shocked.

“Our carriage was destroyed,” I say. “We will rest in my chambers until Jamison can find rooms for Jacob and Noah.”

“Yes,” Freya says. “Yes, of course. I will have food brought.” She heads for the staircase.

Zo studies me, then my brother and Noah. “Perhaps clothes as well?” She hesitates, a slight undercurrent of curiosity between her words. “If your things were destroyed?”

Freya believes the best of everyone, but Zo is more savvy. She doesn’t distrust me, but she knows something is up. I want to tell her the truth, but it would unravel everything we’ve promised the people of Emberfall.

“Yes,” I say to her. “Thank you.”

She glances at my brother and Noah again. “Yes, my lady.”

Once she’s gone, I lead Jake and Noah into my rooms, then close the door. A fire rolls in the hearth, and every sconce on the walls is lit. They both turn in a full circle, taking it all in.

“I don’t quite believe this,” Noah says finally. “I need you to pinch me.”

“I’m too busy pinching myself,” says Jake.

Noah gives him a rueful look. “At least you get to be the prince. I got stuck with healer.”

“Fine. Let’s trade. You be the fake prince.” Jake folds his arms across his chest. “When can your friend take us back?”

I frown at his tone. “Back into the house with the men who were about to shoot us? Maybe you should give it a few hours.”

He flinches and looks away. “We can’t stay here, Harper.”

“Well, I can’t take you home, and Grey needs rest.”

Noah has moved to the fireplace. He runs a hand along the mantel. “Are we in the past?” He frowns and shakes his head. “That’s a ridiculous question. That’s impossible. But this is impossible—”

“Not in the past,” I say. “They call it the other side. Or maybe our side is the other side—somehow our world runs parallel to theirs.” I’m suddenly exhausted. I need to find out what rumors have been spread. The state of the army. What Karis Luran said.

I head into Arabella’s closet and dig through the dresser until I find the doeskin breeches and knit pullovers I’ve grown accustomed to wearing when I spar with the soldiers. I pull the door halfway closed and speak around it while I change.

“Okay, look,” I call to them. “Freya is going to come back with food and clothes. Put something on so you don’t look like such outsiders. Have something to eat. Rest if you want. I don’t care. But don’t mess with what’s going on here.”

“What are you going to be doing?” Jake’s voice is incredulous.

“I’m going to find out what happened while I was gone. I’m going to find out where the monster is. I’m going to talk to Rhen’s army and see if we can figure out a way to save his people.”

“Oh really?”

I pull a vest over the shirt and lace it up. “Yeah. Really. There’s no one here leading these people. They’re worried the royal family is dead.”

“And you think you can lead them?”

No. I have no idea.

“Yes,” I say. I yank a dagger belt out of the chest under the dresses and loop it twice around my waist as I come out of the closet. I lace the leather together in a practiced motion. “Do you think you can stay out of trouble for an hour?”

Jake sputters as he looks at me. “Harp—what are you—just who do you think you are?”

“Princess Harper,” I say. “And you’re my brother, the Crown Prince of Disi, so you’d better damn well act like it.”

“How do I act like a prince? I don’t even know where we are!”

“You’re in Emberfall. And acting like a prince generally means acting like an arrogant know-it-all, so you shouldn’t have any trouble at all.”

The castle is packed with people who’ve taken shelter from the creature. Karis Luran’s soldiers have moved east of the mountains, preventing any access to the passage to Syhl Shallow. Any who have attempted to engage in battle have been slaughtered. Messages are sent from city to city once per day—and messengers travel in packs of three. Many don’t return. People fear that Rhen is dead, that the King of Emberfall is dead. Many of them thought that I was dead.

I learn of the rumors that say Rhen is not truly the heir, that Emberfall will fall to the armies of Syhl Shallow, that escape is impossible now that the creature has returned with a taste for blood.

I tell them that Disi has been attacked by the enchantress’s creature as well, and that my traveling party was nearly all killed. Luckily I have returned with a skilled healer—and Grey’s survival is proof enough of that.

We can’t run without risking an attack by the creature. We can’t stay here without risking an assault by Karis Luran’s men.

Our people are tired and afraid, and looking for guidance. Even the most seasoned soldiers want orders, a chance to act.

Every story of the creature is more terrible than the last, and I don’t know where truth ends and fear begins. All I can do is listen. And reassure.

And worry.

By the time I return to my chambers, I haven’t been gone for an hour. I’ve been gone for four. Jake and Noah have fallen asleep in my bed. I can’t remember how long it’s been since I last slept. My leg is aching, but I ease out of the room and head to the infirmary.

It’s empty aside from Grey. He’s asleep on a narrow cot in the far corner, a thin muslin blanket thrown over him. We’re in the basement of the castle, down the hall from the kitchens, and early-morning light streams down from windows near the ceiling.

I gently ease a stool over to his bed. The wood drags on stone just the slightest bit, but it’s enough to startle him awake.

“Sorry,” I say quietly. “I was trying not to wake you.”

He squeezes his eyes shut and runs a hand down his face. Rough, dark stubble has formed on his jaw. “Forgive me.” He puts a hand against the edge of the cot and forces himself upright. He’s shirtless, but Noah’s bandages are still tightly wrapped around his chest and upper arm. The blanket pools in his lap.

“You didn’t need to get up,” I say. “I really just came to check on you.”

His eyes flick over my face. “You look as though you are more in need of a bed than I am.”

“Probably.” I can’t sleep, though. Not knowing that everyone in this castle is living on borrowed time. “You said that Karis Luran gave Rhen a week to have his people leave Emberfall. It’s been three days. Did Rhen have a plan to defeat her? What was he going to do?”

Grey shakes his head. “Sending our army to face hers would be sending our people to their death. We may be able to stop her front lines, but she would have replacements and we do not.” He frowns. “His final order was to have the generals evacuate the people. To head south and then to board ships at Silvermoon, bound for the southern shores.”

He was saving his people by giving up. Knowing Rhen, I understand how difficult a choice that would have been for him. “If we try to do that now, Rhen-the-monster will attack?”

“Or Karis Luran’s soldiers will. An attack could come at any moment. I fear for those who live outside the castle territory.”

“Will he attack her soldiers?”

“Maybe—but he would destroy ours as well. His attacks are quite indiscriminate. But he was injured when I drove my sword through his wing. That may have bought us a reprieve. There is no way to know until he attacks again.” He looks back at me. “Have you spoken to anyone since arriving?”

“Yes, of course. I’ve talked to everyone. We’re going to meet with the generals at mid-morning.”

Some mixture of surprise and sorrow flickers across his face.

“What?” I say. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” He shakes his head, then meets my eyes. His voice is low and quiet in the warmth of the sunlit room. “I could have chosen no one better, my lady. Truly.”

A blush finds my cheeks before I’m ready for it. “Thanks, Grey.”

“I was unsure you would return with me once you knew the truth.” He pauses. “I am unsure what we can do, even now.”

I give him a rueful smile. “I was kind of hoping you would wake up and have all the answers.”

He gives me a sad smile in return. “The prince generally has all the answers. I simply follow his orders.”

“What would Rhen do?” I say.

“He would likely order his soldiers to hunt this creature and destroy it. Or at the very least, lead it away from Ironrose so the rest of the castle can escape. But it is a mission of martyrdom either way—to lead the monster away from the people would mean heading directly into Karis Luran’s forces.”

A mission of martyrdom. Just like Rhen jumping from the parapet in an attempt to save his people. I swallow. “I’ll do that. I’ll take Will. He’s fast and steady. You get them to leave.”