Sonia’s heart seized. She and Eric were already moving, file clutched tight, adrenaline sharpening her every step. They rounded a corner, the world a blur of stone and shadows, and found Mavina Cross standing in the middle of the hallway, her face pale as bone, eyes wide with terror.
“Mavina,” Sonia gasped, feeling the echo of Silas’s voice on her tongue.
Mavina’s eyes flicked to her, and for a moment, Sonia saw the girl beneath the queen,the vulnerability that even Daxton’s iron walls couldn’t hide.
“They’re here,” Mavina whispered, voice trembling. “The Cartel of Crowns. They’ve found us.”
Eric swore under his breath, his jaw tight. “Where?”
“Everywhere,” Mavina said, her voice cracking. “They’re rounding up anyone who’s asked questions. They think I’m still on their side.”
Sonia f
