When we arrived, Duke Tudor was away on business – the gentleman's way of saying he got drunk and passed out in another brothel. His maid let us into the manor, casting a wary look at me and my neck tattoo, but keeping her mouth shut. I tried to ask Cassian what happened to the other pledges, but he waved me off and locked himself in the master study to send ravens to the duke and his closets allies.

In the mean time, I wandered through Duke Tudor's armory until I found a couple of blades to defend myself with until my divine recovered. Then I dressed my wounds and grabbed a loose shirt and britches from Duke Tudor's closet. I wound a belt tight to make his waist band fit my hips – not too tight, though. I planned to eat half my body weight in the kitchen.

"Pledges aren't allowed to bring food into the arena anymore?" the maid asked, giving me the stink eye as she brought me my third plate of food.

"We are," I replied between spoonfuls of stew. I'd have to stop soon, lest I make myself sick and toss everything back up. "But my group lost our supplies in a pond on the first day."

The maid squinted at me. "Why on earth would you go swimming?"

"I don't know, the water called to us, I suppose."

The door rang, its iron handle clanging against the heavy wood frame. The maid turned for the door, but I held up a hand, stopping her in her tracks. Something in my expression made her pale. She turned even lighter when I unsheathed my dagger.

"Hey," she hissed. "There is no fighting in the duke's halls!"

"The fight is already upon us," I said.

"But–"

"Go."

She froze. Then she turned on her heel and ran out the back exit, her long skirts billowing behind her. I light-footed my way to the door, making sure I made no noise, then peered through the eye hole. Through the small gap, I could just make out a strong jaw, windswept hair, and warm brown skin.

I opened the door to find Atlas Windsor standing on Duke Tudor's front steps. When he saw me, his eyes brightened, and a crooked grin broke across his face. "Raven Black," he said, his eyes dancing. "I knew I had a good feeling about you."

—-----

I thought I ate an obscene amount of food, but Atlas put my appetite to shame within minutes of entering the kitchen. He wolfed down plate after plate, his fork never at rest for longer than a second, like he had ten stomachs, which each had ten more stomachs. I sipped some water, stalling. It took me the full glass to work up the nerve to ask my question, and the whole time, Bianca's face was burned into my mind.

"So," I said. "Any news on the other pledges?"

"Well –" Atlas grimaced, swallowing another fork full. "After the wyvern killed Blacktooth, that only left three hydras left, and you'll never guess who Sistertooth bonded with."

"You?"

Atlas snorted, shaking his head. "Gordo. I got Falkin."

"Gordo!" I burst out, so surprised that I didn't even comment on Atlas getting the second strongest dragon in the arena. "You're having me on."

"I wish," he said, barley restraining a laugh. "As for the others, Grace Midlands had not managed to bond with any dragon, but luckily – her captain's words, not mine – her poor performance caused her grandsire's heart to collapse, and his will bequeathed her a fierce fey. Should she survive her injures, that is. Apparently, a tree did a number on her. Anyway, I bonded with Falkin, then Edmund bonded with Greyback – the worst hydra, even before losing an eye." Atlas grinned wide, raising his brows at me. "Nice shot, by the way."

"Do you know what happened to Bianca?" I cut in, unable to wait any longer. I expected Atlas to give me a nothing answer. In the weeks following Blood Fest, many pledges' whereabouts are unknown. Search parties enter the arena for survivors but almost always leave with corpses.

"Bianca bonded with an amphiptere but was too injured to fly in for celebrations."

"How bad is she? Can she – is it anything permanent?"

"Last I heard, she's not missing any limbs." He snorted. "She's in better shape than you are, at least. I pale to think what you would look like without my poison."

I let out a breath, slumping against the counter. It felt like Bianca's survival lifted a hundred pounds off my shoulders. "I am in your debt now, aren't I?"

"Oh, I wouldn't think of it as a debt." With a playful smile, he brought my hand to his lips and brushed a kiss against my skin. "More like the start of a promising new alliance."

"Raven!" Cassian's voice echoed from above the ceiling as he ran to the kitchen, taking two steps at a time. "I have corresponded with Duke Tudor's allies, and we've decided the best path forward for you! You do not have the resources to keep the wyvern; we do! Give us the wyvern's true name and wipe your hands clean of the –" He pushed open the door, only to stop dead in his tracks upon seeing Atlas leaning against the counter.

Atlas raised his brows, his mouth curving. "So you will help Raven by taking the most powerful dragon in the kingdom away from her. How gracious of you, captain."

Cassian's face clouded over. "Steward. Who gave you leave to enter Tudor's property?"

"What a kind, benevolent soul," Atlas drawled. "Next you'll do me the favor of emptying all the gold from my coffiers."

"I did," I said, answering Cassian's question.

Cassian turned to me. "He's here to poach the wyvern."

"I have not spoken a word about Raven's wyvern," Atlas said. "If someone here is poaching, it's not me."

"Then if you have nothing to say about the wyvern, leave. I have important matters to discuss with my pledge."

Atlas turned to me. "Should I leave?"

I thought of how I owed Cassian for saving me from the noose, and then I thought of how quickly he threatened to revoke my parlay when I defied his orders.

"No," I said.

Atlas shrugged at Cassian. "I'm afraid it's out my hands, cap."

"Black," Cassian said through gritted teeth. "I am trying to offer you an out."

"How can I accept it?" I said. "If I give you the wyvern, what about my parlay?"

"Duke Tudor has considerable means; he will hide you. You cannot keep the wyvern alone. There will be assassination attempts by the hundred, and eventually, one will succeed."

"Or you can join squad Steward," Atlas said. "Where you can receive protection and keep your dragon."

A new maid appeared in the doorway. She was a small and slight girl, too timid to raise her voice. "Sir, there is a visitor."

"I was wondering when you'd show your true colors," Cassian said, oblivious to her arrival.

Atlas leveled him with an unimpressed stare. "I'm merely letting Raven know she has options. That there is no need to feel backed into a corner."

"A visitor, sir," the maid said.

Cassian's lip curled. "You're a vulture is what you are."

"Cassian," I said.

Atlas smirked. "Well, you're a blood sucking –"

"A visitor!" the maid shrieked. When all three of us turned to look at her, she froze, as if her own voice shocked her. She cleared her throat, looking down at her feet. "There's a visitor."

Cassian gave a rough exhale. "Tell them to leave, would you?"

"He's already here."

"Didn't I say no one came or left these grounds without my permission?"

"He said his will triumphed yours."

"What?" Cassian said, his face twisting. "This is the home of a duke. One does not –"

The commander of the Sword Brethren strolled into the kitchen. "Hello, Cassian. I'm here to take Black to the palace."

"You have no right to make demands of her," Cassian said.

"I have every right."

"By whose orders?" Atlas challenged.

I kept quiet as they argued, scanning the kitchen for a back exit to slip through.

"The king's," Leon replied. Well that shut them up. "And if she refuses, a legion of tracker dragons await in the woods."

But still, no one moved. We all knew what would happen if I let Leon take me to the castle, where no doubt a legion of knights awaited to torture the wyvern's true name out of me.

Leon's eyes fell on me. "Though I doubt the trackers dragons will be unnecessary. You would do anything for your captain, wouldn't you?"

My face went slack, my heart suddenly slamming against my chest. "Which one?" Instantly, Drax's final words flashed though my mind. One more time. Disappoint me one more time, and I will kill you. I don't care how far you run. I don't care how long it takes. I will hunt you to the ends of the earth if it is the last thing I do.

Leon paused, savouring the tension on my face. "Crenshaw."