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ONE

Everything had gone horribly wrong

None of Safiya fon Hasstrel’s hastily laid plans for this holdup were unfolding as they ought

First, the black carriage with the gleaet Safi and Iseult had been waiting for Worse, this cursed carriage was acco midday sun from their eyes

Second, there was absolutely nowhere for Safi and Iseult to go Up on their li, the dusty road beloas the only path to Veñaza City And just as this thrust of gray rock overlooked the road, the road overlooked nothing but turquoise sea forever It was seventy feet of cliff pounded by rough waves and even rougher winds

And third—the real kick in the kidneys—was that as soon as the guards irls’ buried trap and the firepots within exploded … Well, then those guards would be scouring every inch of the cliffside

“Hell-gates, Iz” Safi snapped down her spyglass “There are four guards in each row Eight times four makes…” Her face scrunched up Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen …

“It’s thirty-two,” Iseult said blandly

“Thirty-two thrice-dauards with thirty-two thrice-damned crossbows”

Iseult only nodded and eased back the hood of her brown cape The sun lit up her face She was the perfect contrast to Safi: ht hair to Safi’s wheat, moon skin to Safi’s tan, and hazel eyes to Safi’s blue

Hazel eyes that were now sliding to Safi as Iseult plucked away the spyglass “I hate to say ‘I told you so’—”

“Then don’t”

“—but,” Iseult finished, “Everything he said to you last night was a lie He was a town this er unfurled—“his name wasn’t even Caden”

Caden If … no, when Safi found that Chiseled Cheater, she was going to break every bone in his perfect rutting face

Safi groaned and banged her head against the rock She’d lost all of her money to him Not just some, but all

Last night had hardly been the first tia went, You can’t trick a Truthwitch

Plus, the winnings off one round alone froht Safi and Iseult a place of their own Noin an attic for Iseult, no uest room for Safi

But as Lady Fate would have it, Iseult hadn’t been able to join Safi at the gahbrow inn where the game had taken place And without her Threadsister beside her, Safi was prone to … mistakes