Minutes passed by like years. Zutto and Callie’s distraction held—none of the rotting catgirl heads came after us, and the sound of the quaking grounds tapered off with distance. Cannoli trembled in my arms, her tears damp against my chest. Rājadhānī loomed in the distance, the dark fortress that I couldn’t stand just a few hours before was now our only sanctuary.

Cold sweat poured down my back, and bright white spots peppered my vision. We remained in our three separate groups, with Ravyn and Keke picking off any smaller Encroachers that dared try to slow us. Ceres summoned a shard of ice in her free palm, then launched it at a threadfin that crested the sand’s surface. The crystalline bolt speared the roach straight through, knocking it free from the safety of the earth. If there was a school of them, Ceres’ immediate response seemed to deter an attack.

That run was one of the longest hours of my life. Every muscle and joint ached, burning for me to stop. Serena’s face while she was sliced in half hovered in the corners of my vision. The sound of cracking bones rang in my ears. I thought I could still hear Zutto and Callie’s screams even as we were just outside the city. It’s just your imagination. Hold it together, man.

When we finally reached the gates, I fell to my knees. Cannoli gingerly shifted her weight, stepping down from my arms and steadying herself with one hand on my shoulder. The others converged around me, and Keke silently pushed a canteen against my shoulder. I accepted it and took a drink just as one of the guards approached.

“What the hell happened to you?” Kathy asked, jerking her chin toward the hunters. “And what are you doing with this lot?”

“The Chikara… The Chikara attacked,” Taraji panted.

“We need to see Aliye of the Ejderha.” Tristan licked his lips and caught his breath. “Immediately.”

“Oh? Making demands now, are we?” Kathy jeered.

“Are you deaf, woman?” Taraji snapped, stepping forward and grabbing Kathy’s wrist. “Give us passage to the Second Shell. The men and their Parties as well.”

Kathy eyed her with clear skepticism. “The hunters are no question, but the traveling lot—”

“Let them through.” To my surprise, it was Cecilia who spoke up for us. “Ejderha orders directly from Zutto.”

I wish I could say I felt any semblance of victory. Or relief. But as I pushed myself to stand and brushed the sand from my knees, I felt… exhausted. The sun had tipped over its peak and began to sink in the west. I hadn’t realized how late in the afternoon it was—how long had we been awake?

“Sanrai won’t like this,” Kathy said, but she was clearly on the losing side of the argument.

“She would honor the request of a dead Ejderha,” the silver-haired girl spoke up. “Will you? Guard?”

Kathy’s ears drooped forward, flattening against her cropped hair. “As you wish.”

She led us through the trickling crowds of the Third Shell, earning us a few sidelong glances and some choice words for the hunters. When we reached the gates to the Second Shell, Kathy whispered something to one of the guards posted there. The guard gave us all a long, distrusting stare.

“You test Sanrai’s patience,” she warned.

“Yeah. We heard that the first time. Open the damn gate,” Ravyn countered.

With one last nod, the guard stepped aside and unhooked the myriad latches and locks that kept the girls of the outer shell away. It seemed like overkill to me, but what wasn’t in this city?

They closed and locked the gates behind us as soon as we were all inside. Kathy stayed behind with the other guards, leaving the remaining hunters with the rest of us. We stood in a long stone hallway, and I realized just how thick the inner walls were. For a split second, I wondered how many girls were buried inside the walls. My stomach turned, and I forced the thought away.

“Cecilia, Taraji, thank you,” Tristan said.

Cecilia snorted. “Reserve your gratitude. Dead or not, I refuse to owe an Ejderha any favors.”

“Come. I know where you can wait while we await Aliye,” Taraji said with a wave of her hand.

“What if they harm you for doing this?” Destiny asked. “Wouldn’t it be better if we waited in the Third Shell?”

Tristan shook his head. “No. That’s back where we started. Magni will go back to pretending that we don’t exist. Here, he’ll have to respond.”

“Or Sanrai will,” Keke replied.

“Let me handle my sister if it should come to that,” Zahra said, thumbing the hilt of her katana.

“I’m with Tristan. Let’s take our chances staying here,” I said. “Let’s go.”

The five hunters led the way down the corridor and back into the sunlight of the Second Shell.

“Woah,” Keke murmured, echoing how I’m sure all of us felt.

Every citizen we’d spoken with had talked this place up to the sky, but that still didn’t do it justice. Clear, glittering canals wound around, beneath, and through enormous homes built of stone and shimmering white plaster. Tall pawm trees provided shade at the curves of the channels and alongside the expansive walkways. Where the Third Shell was cluttered and dilapidated, the Second Shell was evenly spaced and well-maintained.

“How can they live like this? While the Third Shell is so poor?” Cannoli whispered.

“We work our tails off for this city. You think it’s easy to get here?” the silver-haired girl snapped.

Cannoli flinched and whimpered.

“Hey, back off.” I put an arm around Cannoli’s shoulders and positioned myself between them. “It’s a simple question.”

The silver-haired girl opened her mouth to speak, but Taraji raised a hand. “Kai, let it go. Come, follow me.”

I think we attracted every pair of eyes inside the Second Shell. Catgirls stepped outside their homes to leer and whisper. Kittens skittered away, wide-eyed, after one look at Tristan or me. Others stepped back and gave us a wide berth as we passed. All of them were well-dressed and well-fed. Not a dirty face to be seen, not even the kittens.

“As travelers aren’t allowed past the Third Shell, we don’t have inns,” Taraji explained. “We do, however, have several dining halls.”

“There is enough food here for such establishments?” Ceres asked.

“Yes. Our cooks pay a premium in Bells for exotic dishes.”

Cannoli looked like she wanted to say something. Her ears drooped against her head, and she fretted at her lower lip. I caught her eye and shook my head. This isn’t the time.

“I’m close friends with a restaurant owner, and I will explain your situation. However, Aliye will need to find you a place to stay for the night.”

“Thank you, Taraji. Really,” Tristan repeated.

Taraji chuckled and shook her head. “You are not yet through this storm. If Sanrai acts on her instincts, you will wish for the claws of the Chikara.”

Zahra growled low enough that it didn’t reach the hunter’s ears. Tristan and I exchanged a silent look.

“The other hunters and I must report what happened to the Ejderha. It may take some time for the news to reach Aliye’s ears.” Taraji stopped outside of another vast building with colorful awnings. “I will give you one last piece of advice. Do not be penurious with your Bells in the Second Shell.”

“Penur—” I started to ask.

“Don’t be stingy, Matt,” Ravyn sighed.

“Right. No problem.” Not like funds are running low, and the Quest rewards were kitten allowances.

“I’ll pay whatever is necessary,” Zahra spoke up. “Whatever it takes to see the king.”

“You’ll need far more luck than gratitude for that.” Taraji chuckled. “Let’s go inside.”