Page 107 of The Iron Hex

Rhona had loaded her travel pack as quickly as possible. She didn’t own much: her everyday leathers, and a few shirts and pants. Rhona had never needed much, or had much, growing up. For that, she was thankful.

The barracks had been quiet for the most part, and she’d hoped she’d managed to seem as nonchalant as possible as she strode through the space to grab her things. The few soldiers working odd hours had watched her as she walked by, but nothing had seemed too out of the ordinary to her.

In and out, she had said to herself over and over until she’d exited the barracks. As she left the place she’d called home for years and hurried into the castle, she heard a few voices through the open door to the throne room, one of them Commander Bartholomew’s.

“I understand what you’re saying, but I’m not authorized to make that decision without Lord General Kerrigan here,” she heard as she slunk by.

“She is the best option for my next subject,” she heard Dr. Balet say.

Rhona’s veins turned to ice. They were talking about her. She picked up speed as she turned the corner, nearly running as she headed back to Maeve’s quarters. When Rhona got to the door she opened it without knocking and locked the door behind her, afraid that she’d been followed despite knowing she hadn’t been.

Maeve jumped up from her chair wearing the same clothing she’d been wearing before, a look of pure relief on her face.

Rhona smiled through her concern about Maeve’s clothing—she shouldn’t leave the palace in her pajamas—as Maeve bounded over and planted a kiss on Rhona’s cheek.

“My visions changed, it worked.” She smiled, relief written all over her features.

“That’s great news. Where do we need to go?” Rhona asked. “And why aren’t you ready?”

Maeve’s face changed, almost imperceptibly, but enough that Rhona immediately noticed it.

“I’m not ready because I am staying here. You have to go,” Maeve said, richly lit by the fire that Rhona noticed she had started again, her curves languid in her soft silk sleep chemise. Why wasn’t Maeve ready to go like Rhona had told her to be?

“Wehave to go,” Rhona corrected.

“No,” Maeve said, placing her hand on Rhona’s chin. “I am not going with you.”

“Yes, you are,” Rhona said, pulling Maeve into her bedroom before she began searching for a bag to pack Maeve’s things. Rhona had never even stepped into this room, with its canopied bed and lush rugs. She looked around desperately for something she could use to start throwing clothing into.

“Rhona,” Maeve said, walking to her. “You’re not understanding me, and I need you to.”

Rhona watched Maeve try to pick her words, a wraith in the dim light.

“They are coming for you,” Maeve said finally. “My visions changed, and I can see you get out of here, but only if you leave now.”

“Maeve, you can’t stay here,” Rhona pleaded. “It’s too dangerous. Someone will catch you and—” She couldn’t even say it; it couldn’t happen.

“I’ve been hidden for a long time,” Maeve explained calmly. “You only know because I wanted you to know. I will be okay.”

“No. I’m not leaving without you. I will only go if you come with me.”

“Rhona, it’s not my time to leave this place,” Maeve said, placing her hand on Rhona’s chest.

“It can be if you want it to be,” Rhona begged, eyes welling with tears. This wasn’t how this was supposed to happen tonight. They were supposed to runtogether. Rhona wouldn’t leave the only person who had ever been truly good to her, witch or not.

“No,” Maeve said, resolute. “I still have a part to play here.”

“Then so do I,” Rhona doubled down.

“No,” Maeve growled. “You need to find Princess Evangeline.”

Maeve’s words had a physical effect on Rhona, her world spinning before she steadied herself. The crown princess? The same crown princess they’d burned on a pyre more than three years ago?

“She’s dead,” Rhona said, brow furrowed in confusion.

“No,” Maeve said, frustration palpable in the tone of her voice and the way she shook her head. “She isn’t, and your part is with her now. You must find her.”

“Maeve, that’s not possible,” Rhona said. “I think your visions might be wrong this time.”