Page 88 of Heart of Shadows

“Hello?” she whispered. “Is someone there?”

The scratching paused, then started again.

“Hello?” she said a little louder, in the smallest voice she could—in case it was something dark and terrible. Did she need to call for one of Dimitri’s servants? Fear clutched her chest, and her breath would not come. She was there alone, unarmed, without magic, against whatever was on the other side of that door—and she had just given away her presence to it so obviously. Her supple imagination fed her all sorts of detailed and terrifying possibilities. The scratching stopped again. Harper wanted to vomit. She clamped down on the churning in her stomach, and the impending light-headedness.

“Hello?” said a quiet voice from the other side of the door.

“Who’s there?” she asked, a flood of relief threatening to overwhelm her. A person? The voice sounded strange through the door. Man, woman, or something else, she could not tell. The voice was far too quiet, as if they were also being cautious.

“Harper?” the voice whispered.

Wait, I know that voice. She tugged on the handle—locked. Scrambling to undo the bolts, Harper’s fingers fumbled. She opened the door. Harper angled her head so she could see the face in the almost-dark.

“Aedon!” She threw herself at him as he rushed for her. Their bodies collided. He gripped her in a great hug that she returned, relief flooding her body.

“Oh, thank Pelenor I found you,” he said, his voice muffled in the crook of her neck.

Harper struggled out of his grasp and stepped back. “It’s really you? I’m not dreaming? How did you get here? How did you find me? And why? I didn’t think I’d see you again.” The questions rolled through her mind and off her tongue.

Aedon held up a hand. “We don’t have much time, but suffice it to say,” he said, drawing himself up tall and sweeping into an elaborate bow, “I am Aedon, the legendary Thief of Pelenor, and I have come to steal you.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I thought you might like a change of scenery.”

Harper did not know whether to laugh or cry, so she did both.

“I’ll take that as a ‘yes, please’. Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” When he turned toward the door, she grabbed his cuff.

“Wait. Why? How?”

Aedon didn’t turn back, but some of the swagger dropped from his posture. “We realised we couldn’t leave you to fend for yourself—not when we knew what you were walking into. It was too dangerous, and you were blinded to it. I hoped I wouldn’t be so late, but the others took a little more persuading. By the time I arrived, the entire city was abuzz with rumours of the Dragonheart thief’s capture and impending trial. I suppose I’m here to make sure you won’t be attending. Unless you wish to?” He turned and cocked his head.

Aedon had no idea what had transpired between Dimitrius, the king, and her since her capture, it seemed. Events had unfurled so swiftly even she reeled from it. Something she could not name stirred in her stomach. Aedon was here to rescue her. But she was already safe—wasn’t she? Dimitrius had promised her that and despite everything that had happened between them, she realised that in those quarters, and especially with him, she did feel safe. Harper swallowed. Safety was an illusion here.

“No thanks,” she said, her voice hollow. She had the opportunity to leave. That was exactly what she wanted, wasn’t it? She was a prisoner here—to the king, to Dimitrius, did it even matter? Her freedom was the goal. And now she had a chance to take it. So why did it feel empty and a tinge bittersweet to face the open door before her?

“Didn’t think so. So what else was there for me to do but come and get you myself?” Aedon asked, his usual grin and twinkling, mischievous eyes appearing once again, oblivious to her discomfort. “This place wasn’t a match for me.”

Harper hugged him again as gratitude and relief bubbled over that someone cared so much for her to put themself in danger on her account. He squeezed her back and laughed, lacing his fingers through hers and tugging her with him.

“Come on.”

Harper followed Aedon, overwhelmed by a strange stirring rekindled by his presence that she recognized. Somehow, it felt like she was going home. Yes, she decided. It was definitely right to leave. She owed Dimitrius nothing. He had his own agenda, and she didn’t want to find out where that left her when he had no further use for her.

66

HARPER

Harper had no time to savour the moment. Aedon chivvied and tugged her along the dark corridor.

“What about the guards?” she hissed at him. Their footsteps were far too loud, deafening to her after her enforced silence.

“Already taken care of,” he said airily.

“Huh?”

He did not answer as she struggled to keep up on feet that felt like blocks of ice. Sure enough, the corridors were deserted, the noise of the guards always seeming at a distance, though too close for her comfort. She had no idea what he’d done or how he’d done it. It seemed too easy, too neat.

He soon pulled her into early morning sunshine. She slammed her eyes shut against the brightness of dawn, then slowly opened them again, looking around. There was not a soldier to be seen—or anyone, in fact. He slid his arm around her waist when her knees buckled, supporting her as it overwhelmed her for a moment—to feel light upon her face, wind upon her skin, and the hubbub of the city waking around her.

“Are you all right?”

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