“It isn’t foolish. I know what I’m doing. My father saw to that.”

In the sudden silence following my announcement, I hear the heavy patter of the rain outside the room as it bounces off the stone walkway. I also hear the low sound of men’s voices just beyond the turret. Before I can do more than cast my eyes toward the door, Commander Chase wheels toward me, his expression reminding me of a predator about to pounce on his prey.

“Did he, now?”

I nod and force myself to swallow past the icy lump forming at the back of my throat. I have to convince him Dad is still alive, and I’m qualified to find him. My plan to sneak over the Wall might be dashed to pieces, but there was nothing to say I couldn’t head into the Wasteland on a Commander-sanctioned mission. Even Logan wouldn’t be able to argue against that.

Well, he’d argue. But he wouldn’t be able to stop me.

“And how did he make sure you, a girl, knew how to survive the Wasteland?”

“He took me with him on some of his courier missions.”

Something vicious flashes across his face, and he smiles, a horrible parody of mirth. I take a step back and bump against the table behind me.

More guards enter the room, pushing another man in front of them. I barely spare them a glance, but freeze when I see who it is they’ve caught.

Logan.

My heart clenches, a sudden pain that makes it hard to hold Logan’s gaze as he stands to the left of the Commander, his hair plastered to his head, and his blue eyes locked on mine. I’m responsible for this. He’s only here because he’s trying to be a good Protector. No matter how angry I am at him for refusing to help me track Dad, he doesn’t deserve to receive the brunt of the Commander’s wrath.

Maybe if I keep the Commander distracted with what I can offer in the effort to track down Dad, he’ll spare Logan whatever harsh consequence a Protector receives when his ward goes horribly astray.

Commander Chase doesn’t bother turning around. Instead, he takes a step toward me, crowding me against the table. “Did your father take you with him on his second to last mission?”

I open my mouth, but Logan shakes his head frantically and says, “No.”

The Commander tosses a glance over his shoulder. “Ah, the arrival of your Protector.” He swings his sword until the tip digs into the soft skin beneath my chin. I grip the table with clammy hands and try to remain absolutely still. “Not another word, or she dies.”

Logan’s hands curl into fists, but he clenches his jaw and remains silent.

The Commander’s sword remains steady as he says, “The truth, please. Did you go with your father on his second to last courier mission?”

“Yes.” I breathe the word, but even that slight movement scrapes my skin across his blade. The pain is sharp and quick, and a hot trickle of blood slowly snakes its way down my neck.

“Where did you go?”

“Rowansmark.” More pain. More blood.

Logan makes a sound that reminds me of a starving alley dog stalking his next meal.

The Commander smiles. “And here is where you give me either your secrets or your life.” His sword tip digs into my chin, and tears sting my eyes. “Did anything unusual happen on the trip to Rowansmark?”

I glance at Logan. His face is white. I can read the plea for silence in his eyes as easily as if he’d begged aloud. But I believe the Commander’s promise to kill me. And this is my only way out of Baalboden to track Dad. I have to tell the truth.

I try to tilt my chin away from the sword’s tip and pray I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life. “Yes.”

CHAPTER TEN

LOGAN

Blood runs down Rachel’s neck and her body trembles. Something ugly fills my chest, begging to be unleashed. It was foolish of her to risk so much to go searching for Jared. It was also incredibly brave. I know she thinks she’s ready to pay the price for this act of courage, but I can’t stand the thought of watching another woman I care about die.

I should’ve seen this coming. If I had, she might not be trapped at the point of the Commander’s sword. Scanning my surroundings, I start cataloging my options.

We’ve been joined by the turret’s pair of guards, back from their sunset inspection of the Wall. The room feels cramped and the smell of warm bodies and rain-damp cloaks chokes the air.

“So, to the matter at hand.” The Commander removes his sword from Rachel’s throat, and the tightness constricting my chest eases a fraction. We have a chance. As long as he thinks we have something to offer, we have a chance.

Lantern light flickers along the blood-red stone the Commander wears on the ring finger of his left hand. The gold dragon talon bisecting the stone glows softly, and I look away.

He’s watching Rachel. “You say something unusual happened. What was it?”

She casts me a quick look, but there’s nothing I can do to stop this. Not until I see what he really wants, and how to convince him that keeping us alive is his only chance at succeeding.

“Someone gave him a package. Not an official one, but after we were almost out of Rowansmark,” she says.

His dark eyes gleam. “And did he open it?”

She hesitates for a fraction of a second before saying, “Of course not.”

He steps closer to her, his fist gripping his sword handle until the veins in his hands bulge. “We’ve had peace with Rowansmark for nearly four decades. Do you know why?”