Whoever had the bright idea of sneaking into an evil empire’s Guild to do some brain snooping to understand what they’re doing and why wasn’t very intelligent.

Oh wait. That’s me.

Yep. But it’s worth it… right? Sure.

Gregory is sweaty and smells like Jack’s socks. That’s not a complement. Jack’s socks could give a Bamshee a run for thier coin. And a crown coin at that.

My hands and legs are tied around his waist to a wooden rack of some sort while other padding is around me to make it more… realistic, according to Nika. But it’s also doing a fine job of smothering me.

Nika snickered the entire time I was being strapped into this thing while Silver stood with a raised brow and crossed arms. Nika complementing me on my slim—and tiny—figure. Multiple times. Until I would’ve stabbed her but my hands were occupied being tied into this thing.

If I were an inch taller, this wouldn’t have worked.

The royals should use this thing as a torture device. The criminals would be singing, right after they were resuscitated.

Death by smell. Never thought I’d live to see the day I died.

Dramatic much?

Oh, fancy hearing from you. Where ya been?

Wolfsbane is digging deeper into the woods, searching for us. He’s found a pack. Strange emotions come over the bond… emotions I didn’t think a wolf had.

Regret. Sorrow for what was lost. But a longing. A hope for what could be.

Wolves do not have these things.

My heart aches. The Bond? I ask gently, knowing her bond with me has made my sense of smell greater (I am seriously wishing I could turn that certain trait off about now), my healing quicker, and my instincts a bit louder—and it seems she’s gathered a few human characteristics, as well.

Sorrow turns her core, but also joy. There is much to be grateful for… and much to bemoan. But either way, you and I will always be together, as one.

Always, sis. Go find them, warn them. I will be fine.

She pauses, and I can feel how her paw freezes in mid-air and the way her nose twitches and ears flick as one part of her mind catalogues hundreds of scents from deer musk to decaying pine needles and the other part of her brain searches through what I just said.

What of the your pack? I cannot leave you, rider.

Yes, you can. Everything is calming down, the last of the tournament is next week… and you need to ensure it’s not your old pack. I know you still look for them. Go, sis. Find them.

She howls into the air, and I can feel it rise from deep in her chest and how each note communicates emotion dragged from the depths of her soul.

Go, I whisper, sending warmth, love, and ever present understanding over the bond.

She leaps a brook and disappears into the underbrush as I pull from her mind. “But be careful,” I whisper as I’m pulled back to my body and a stinking and hairy arm pit inches from my nose. I should’ve stayed with Ran. At least as a tag along I could’ve seen the stars and smelled deer musk. It says quite a bit I’d much prefer sticking my nose in deer dropping than where I currently reside.

Ran snorts in my mind and I smile.

“The High Priest is expecting us.”

A hacking cough and the splatter of something against rock. “What’s it to me?”

“Your life.” Madame Nika sounds as if she’s discussing the weather. Which makes me shiver. Gregory coughs to cover my movement.

“So?”

“Do you wish to be the one who tells your boss we’re here? Or would you prefer it be your companion over there?”

“Boss is busy, lady. We ain’t got no time for stragglers—” his voice cuts off with a gurgle and something splatters the ground. Then a thud.

“How about you, handsome? Gonna take us to our appointment?”

A gulp I can hear even through all the fabric. “Yessams. Right away, ma’am.”

I count the steps and try to keep my mind off of how my arms burn and feel like they’re gonna fall off. One shoulder may be dislocated.

Everything is silent except for the crunch of foot against dirt and the gentle clank of sword against thigh and the breathing of the man beneath my ear and the gurgle of his stomach. I officially hate this plan.

Which is likely why Nika likes it.

I really want to stab her. Maybe not with the pointy end, but the hilt hurts something terrible.

We enter an area where the steps echo. Strange how when you only have one sense, it seems to expand and allows you to take greater advantage. Or maybe you just ignore other senses in order to focus on sight. But there is so much more. Especially smell. I can taste the sweaty armpit stench. Bile burns the back of my throat and I swallow it down with effort.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of one of the Top Four, madame? We are but a s-ssmall guild, of little use to one such as yourself, I am ss-sure.” The voice is snakey and makes my skin crawl. It brings memories of my family being taken, and all at once, I’m back. Jill screams, her whimpers broken and her voice hoarse. Momma tries to placate their captors, but they won’t listen and Jill pays in blood. Jack is whipped and I am back beneath the earth. Back where it all began. Back where it all ended.

Rider. Rider! a voice says, a voice which does not belong here, not in this way. I pull against my bound hands, not remembering it being this dark and smelly. But Momma, Jack, and Jill need me. I’ve gotta get away. I’ve gotta save them.

Rider, easy. Stop struggling.

I don’t wanna, but this is a voice I trust to the depths of my core. I still my scrabbling and my whimpers and go still.

They’re safe. They’re safe. You’re underground, but Madame Nika brought you here. By your choice. By your request.

Who in their right mind would do such a thing?

You, my crazy, beloved, stubborn rider. Now focus on my voice, come back to the present. Those battles are behind us, and what we face now is a battle of wits and of intellect, to act before they act and to be in the right place before they are. Now focus.

With those words, she sends images. Images of my siblings and mother home safe, sleeping. Images of me sparring with the guards who Hans sent with us to our new home. Images of Silver, his cocky almost-grin that lights up his face and makes him all the more handsome.

My heart rate returns to normal and my breathing evens out.

“Is she alright? Great thinking with the barfing there, we woulda been toast-a-lacka without it.” Madame Nika.

And it seems I caused some trouble.

“I ain’t got a clue what’s wrong with the little thing. She started squirming and then shakin’.”

“Mau Tigress, what’s wrong?”

My cheeks go beet red, and I undo the ties that bind my wrists. Must be time to trade out. I squirm out from beneath the man’s shirt, and Silver is there to hoist me up, looking me up and down. I huff and blow a strand of sweaty blonde hair out of my face.

“Are you alright?” he asks again, staring at me with a wrinkle between his brow and jaw clenched. His hold on my arms is gentle but firm, but his hands shake slightly.

“I’m fine, worry wort. Couldn’t breathe, is all.”

I avoid his eyes, afraid he’ll see the lie and how shaken I am. What was that? It was like I was back… I fight back a shiver.

He takes my chin and brings my eyes up. My eyes flutter closed, but he isn’t having it. “Mau Tigress,” he says, drawing it out like Momma does when she’s mad and being stubborn.

“Yes?” I say with my eyes still closed.

“Would you please look at me?”

“No.” I tuck my chin mulishly.

“Fine, then we’re aborting this mission.”

My eyes pop open only to find him grinning from ear to ear. I pinch his arm skin and twist, and he gives a little yelp. “That was uncalled for,” I say, crossing my arms.

He rubs his forearm, but his eyes remain alight with mischief mixed with concern. “And you wouldn’t look at me. What is wrong?”

“Would you quit asking me that? We’re in the middle of enemy territory and need to focus on the important things.”

“Ahh, but you are important. Most important, I would say.”

I roll my eyes, even as I try to keep my lips from twitching. “Shameless flirt.”

“You’ll tell me after?”

I huff, blowing out my cheeks. He stares at me, and I know he’s not moving until I give in. “Fine, I’ll tell you. If we survive.”

He smiles, but it’s a gentle thing that makes my toes curl. He pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “That’s my tiger.”

A cough has me glancing up and blushing. I pull back from Silver, avoiding the gazes of the other three in the room who stare as if we’d lost our all forsaken minds. Gregory, my look-alike, and Nika, who rubs her hands together and grins like the dragon who caught the knight with his pants down.

“Well, that was cute. Time to get going, kiddos. Things to steal, information to gather, and people to kill. Life as usual, really.” I stare at Nika, and she throws her brown braid over her shoulder and taps her red fingernails on her black clad thigh. “You ready?”

“Do I look ready?” I ask.

“Not really, but we can fix that.”