“You should get changed into the dress, in case what the guard threatens is true,” Everly suggests as I look up from the floor. I yawn from my sleep, stretching my arms above my head as I stand up. Dante and Zack are talking quietly with Chaz on the other side of the cage.

“We won’t look,” Chaz stops their conversation to tell me. I pick the dress up off the floor, feeling the soft shiny material, and I know it comes with a horrible price. What’s even worse is that I have no idea what the price is. I slowly pull my clothes off, letting them fall to the ground before stepping out of them. I leave my boots on and just pull my tight trousers off over them. I finish pulling the dress on and turn around to see Chaz looking at the wall. When I look to the left, Zack and Dante are looking away, too. I almost grin when I see Dante turning his head slightly, his eyes trailing down the open back of the dress and the tight way it pulls my chest up. His eyes darken when he sees my open arms, and the lines covering most of them. It looks terrible and I have to look away.

“You look more beautiful than the sea,” Dante tells me, his words gruff and husky.

“You looked,” I chastise him, and then laugh as Zack hits him on the back of the head. Even Everly laughs as she watches us all, and Chaz comes over, sliding his hands down my arms.

“She is more beautiful than the whole of Calais,” he comments, his finger trailing over the sensitive green lines from the burns, and I know he doesn’t think they are horrible like I do.

“And Cassandra must think she is the world with all these compliments.” Everly laughs playfully, her eyes on my arms.

“They do compliment me a lot, I will give you that,” I tell her.

“It’s sweet, really,” she says, smiling at me. Her smile dies away when we hear the lock being turned and the doors to the dungeon are pushed open. I watch as two guards come down the steps and open my cage.

“Just the changed one,” the guard says when Chaz steps in front of me.

“No!” he says. At the same time, Zack and Dante grab hold of the bars and shout the same.

“Why?” Everly asks, and the guards look between each other. The one guard talks quietly to the other who nods, walking out and shutting the door. The remaining guard walks closer to me with his hands at his sides, and he doesn’t seem to want to attack us.

“Don’t make any trouble, but there is something big planned tonight. I’m friends with the princes because they pay for my sister to live, and they told me to tell you,” he pauses when I look around Chaz’s shoulder to see the guard better, “my little bird is good with a book,”.

“We can trust him, no one could know that,” I say, and Chaz relaxes enough to let me walk around to his side. He puts an arm around my waist, pulling me close to his front.

“Why are the others not allowed to come with me?” I ask the guard who looks over at Everly, and I follow his gaze to see her nod.

“It’s a private dinner, and the royals are the only ones allowed. Other than you, who is the special guest. I don’t know anything more, but I won’t leave the room. I’m allowed to be near and I will stop anything that risks your life. For the princes and for Everly,” he says, bowing slightly at us.

“I’m no royal. Don’t bow,” I say, and he laughs.

“You have the hearts of the princes and you’re the only one who can save them. I will always bow for you,” he tells me, then steps back.

“I should go,” I whisper to Chaz as I turn to face him.

“Go with him. I trust him, Cass,” Everly tells me.

“There isn’t much choice but to trust me and come with me. The other guards will only give me a few minutes with you in case anyone notices,” he says, and I nod, understanding his point.

“Thank you for this. It won’t be forgotten,” I tell him before wrapping my arms around Chaz’s waist and holding him close.

“Be strong,” he tells me, lifting my chin to look up at him, then kissing me.

“I will,” I say, moving away and going to Zack first, who is nearest. It feels like I’m saying goodbye, and I hate it.

“Little fighter, you need to fight and if you get a chance to escape, go without us,” he says when I step in front of him. I shake my head, trying to step back, when he grabs my hands. Dante comes over and reaches through the bars, placing his hand over Zack’s and mine.

“Pretty girl, you need to promise us this,” he asks me.

“I won’t leave without you. I cannot do that,” I say, telling them the truth. No matter what they tell me to do, I can’t do that.

“You can and you will live. We cannot die if you’re alive, remember that. We will escape in time, or you will die of old age and be happy somewhere,” Dante says, reaching through the bar with his hand and wiping a tear away.

“We will all die of old age, on our pirate ship, and with our children sailing our ship,” I say, feeling Chaz put his hands around my waist and kiss the side of my neck, sending shivers through me.

“I like the idea of children, of a happy forever with you,” Chaz says gently, but I keep my eyes on Zack as he speaks, knowing that he and Dante heard every word. Zack smiles, a small one, but it’s still there.

“We need to go,” the guard says, stopping this moment between us. Zack squeezes my hand.

“Please just think about it, for us,” he says, and I lean forward, kissing Zack and pulling away. I walk over to Dante as Chaz lets me go and I kiss him before pulling away. His sad look is the last thing I see as I walk out the door and let the guard take hold of my arm.

“I love you, Cass, just so you know. You will always be a sister to me, and I want you alive,” Everly says, reaching out a hand through the bars and I hold her hand in my own.

“I know, and I will keep you alive, too,” I say, wondering how I’m going to do that.

“Go and be brave,” she says, letting go and stepping away. I walk up the steps, stopping as the guard knocks on the door.

“What’s your name? I need to know,” I ask him, and he looks down at me, his bright silvery-blue eyes watching me.

“Tyrion,” he answers quietly, just as the doors are opened and we have to walk out. Another guard comes to my other side, grabbing the top of my arm. We walk down the corridor, my dress brushing across the path as we walk down the silent corridor. I try to calm my heart when we stop outside a large pair of doors. I look at the doors, the green painted roses forming a circle but you can see that it covers something up, which makes me wonder what’s under the paint and inscribed into the wood. I feel a burst from my bond, and I know straight away that Hunter, Ryland, and Jacob are in the room in front of me. It gives me a little bit of strength to hold my head higher and to face whatever horrors wait for me.

“Be ready,” Tyrion whispers as the doors open and I walk inside.