Chapter 121

Maeve’s POV

It was still dark at dawn, before the sun crested the horizon, when I went down to see Thea in her dungeon. The moment I stepped inside, she lazily pried open her eyes, their lucent brown depths settling on me.

“I was expecting you. I knew you’d come to gloat,” she hissed, venom in her tone, though her voice remained sharp. I’d assumed by now she’d grasped how dire her situation was – clearly, I was wrong.

Earlier I’d undone Seraphine’s ward on the dungeon to bar all magic, though Thea’s own enchanted shackles, locking her to the chair, would have done that anyway. I crossed to the heavy door and murmured a few runes, sealing the cell so nothing – not even an echo – could slip out. Then I clicked back in my leather boots toward her. I’d just left the training grounds at Draven’s request, but I had no patience for Thea’s theatrics.

“I would love to,” I said coldly, “only you’re not worth the time, Thea.” My eyes didn’t leave hers. “I’m here