I woke up groggy and sore, like I’d slept for days. A gnce at the clock told me it was early afternoon. If I had to guess, I’d say I’d been out for a solid twelve hours. It was probably my body’s way of recovering from everything I’d put it through yesterday.

  Stretching out, I felt the expected aches and bruises from the fighting, but nothing unbearable. Honestly, I was in better shape than I deserved. I chalked it up to the long sleep and went to find some water.

  The hideout was quiet. No sign of Morgana or Dillon. It was only after downing a cup, I spotted a note left for me on the side:

  Brandon,

  We’ve gone to the shop to pick up our coin. You were knocked out so we decided to let you sleep. Took the purse to grab a few things while we were out. —M

  It would’ve been nice to be there with them, but I couldn’t bme them for going ahead. If I’d woken up at a normal time, I’d have done the same. Still, I figured I’d get dressed and go join them.

  Then I heard a sound from the tunnel.

  We’d installed some makeshift traps at the entrance a long time ago. Nothing fancy, just enough to make noise if someone stumbled into them. We all knew where they were and how to avoid them. Outsiders didn’t.

  It wasn’t often they got triggered, but it wasn’t rare either. Every now and then some curious wanderer would poke around, and we’d get the occasional stray animal. Usually, a bit of shouting and a few thrown rocks were enough to send them packing.

  I threw on a clean set of clothes, grabbed a handful of stones, and prepared to chase off whatever pest had wandered in this time. I was annoyed – mostly because they’d probably messed up the warning snares again, and I’d have to fix them.

  Jogging toward the entrance, I started shouting nonsense. That was the trick: gibberish loud enough to spook any beast, and insane enough to convince nosy humans they’d stumbled into the ir of a lunatic.

  But as I rounded the corner, mid-chant, my heart plummeted.

  A group of armed soldiers stood in front of me.

  Leading them were two people I recognised instantly.

  The first was Alicia Santina. I’d only met her yesterday, but it felt as though I’d known of her for years. She was still stunning, even in full battle gear. Maybe more so. There was a radiant confidence in her face, and a wide, satisfied smile that twisted my gut.

  Then my eyes found the second person.

  Brian Horlock.

  My father.

  He had brought them here. Led them into my home. Into our home. So they could arrest me.

  My own flesh and blood had sold me out.

  Disbelief gave way to rage. I hurled one of the stones straight at his chest. It hit with a solid thud, knocking the wind from him. I reached for a second, but Alicia’s magic hit me before I could throw.

  Her spell froze me in pce, paralysing me mid-motion. I felt powerless and exposed, fury boiling in my veins. I pushed against the hold, refusing to give in. Her expression shifted as I took a step. The smile vanished.

  I took another.

  She gritted her teeth, her focus intensifying. The strain was obvious now.

  Soldiers rushed toward me. I went to throw a punch at the first one, but Alicia’s grip reasserted itself just before my arm moved. I screamed inside my own head.

  Furious, helpless, caged. I strained with everything I had, but she held firm this time.

  The soldiers reached me and tackled me to the ground.

  The moment she released her spell, I fought to break free, but it was too te. There were too many. They pinned me down with their full weight, twisting my limbs behind my back. Rough ropes bound my wrists to my ankles.

  Hogtied.

  Just like the nobles we’d taken down yesterday.

  The irony wasn’t lost on me.

  They left me ungagged, which was a mistake on their part and I made sure to exploit it. I screamed my rage into the tunnel, voice raw and venomous. Alicia was smiling again, and my father had recovered from the blow to his chest. He was rubbing the spot and wincing, and now that I got a better look at him, I noticed he had two bck eyes. Probably from the broken nose I’d given him the night before.

  That gave me a small flicker of satisfaction. I let out a bitter ugh.

  “You really are a piece of shit,” I said coldly.

  He turned to me, sneering. “I’m not the one tied up like an animal.”

  “If I ever get free,” I growled, “I’ll make sure to fix that.”

  Something slid under my arms and legs. Wood. A makeshift stretcher. They were actually stringing me up like I was a pig headed for the spit.

  My father let out a nasally ugh, his nose obviously giving him grief. “You’ll never get free. They’re going to throw the book at you after what you did to Miss Santina and her friends.” He gnced at Alicia as he said it, fishing for some kind of approval. She just rolled her eyes. “And let’s not forget the abuse of your dear old dad.”

  The guards hoisted me up. Pain shot through my limbs as the rope dug in, but at least it eased the pressure on my neck.

  “Abuse? Of you?” I scoffed. “What happened yesterday wasn’t abuse. That was justice. You beat me and my mother for years. Stole from us. Lived off that fake pension and drank away everything we had. You ruined her life, and now you’ve done the same to mine. But I’ll return the favour one day. I swear it.”

  His face tightened with anger, but Alicia stepped in before he could retort.

  “As entertaining as all this is,” she said, tone sharp, “I’d like to get back to the academy sometime today. You’ve already deyed my education enough.”

  She turned with a flick of her fingers, and the procession began to move.

  Being trussed up on a pole like livestock wasn’t something I’d recommend. It was humiliating. Degrading. The only small comfort I got was that it had taken this much to restrain me. If I was being optimistic (and delusional) I could pretend that meant I was dangerous. Like I could’ve taken on ten armed guards, a high-level mage, and my traitorous father if I’d had half a chance.

  As we exited the tunnel and stepped into the sunlight, I found myself grateful that Morgana and Dillon were gone. They had the coin, the loot, and hopefully enough sense to disappear. I doubted I’d see them again. Coming back for me would be too risky, and visiting the prison would raise fgs if the authorities were still hunting accomplices.

  That thought stung, so I forced my focus elsewhere. Escape. Could I do it?

  If we were walking the whole way to the station, there was a chance. A commotion might give me cover. The guards were weighed down with gear so they wouldn’t be as fast as me, even trussed up. If I could just snap the ropes and get a head start before Alicia noticed…

  But that was a big “if.”

  As we hit the street, a crowd began to form and I saw familiar faces. Some I’d grown up around, others I’d never seen before. All of them jeered. Shouted abuse. Demanded I be locked away. Most of them probably didn’t even know what I was being arrested for.

  It quickly became clear there’d be no transport. This was a walk of shame. A deliberate humiliation. I held out a stupid hope that Morgana and Dillon might be watching from the rooftops, pnning a daring rescue with Marky’s help. But deep down, I knew better. Even if they were nearby, there wasn’t enough time to get to Marky, pn something, and get back before I was locked away.

  My father strutted ahead of the guards like he was the damn captain. This was a dream come true for him. Marching down the street with soldiers behind him, pying hero for a crowd of onlookers.

  I hated him more than ever.

  The crowd thickened as we neared the market. My father started waving, nodding to people like he was the toast of the town. He was basking in the attention, letting it infte the lie that he was a war hero. That today proved it.

  Alicia had finally had enough.

  She pulled a purse from her belt and threw it at him.

  It hit the ground with a clink of coins because he’d been too busy py acting to catch it.

  “Here’s the reward we promised,” she said loudly, her voice carrying above the crowd. “Thanks for helping us find your only son. You can go now.”

  My father stooped to scoop it up, smiling like he’d just been knighted. “Thank you, that’s very kind. But I’ll stay close. Just in case he tries something.”

  “That won’t be necessary.” Alicia’s tone made it clear she wasn’t asking.

  She turned away, giving the order to keep moving.

  As we passed him, I turned my head.

  “Brian,” I called out.

  He turned towards me, a sneer on his face.

  And then I spat at him.

  It didn’t hit his face, but it nded on his jacket. Almost as good.

  I didn’t see his reaction because we were already moving past him but I heard the cursing behind me. “You’re going to regret this! You won’t like where you’re going, boy!”

  Alicia walked beside me, silent for a moment.

  “I’ll forgive that,” she said eventually, her voice lower now, “because he’s a pig of a man. But if you spit at anyone else, we’ll muzzle you.”

  I didn’t respond. I wasn’t pnning on spitting on anyone else anyway. That one had been personal. The rest of them were just doing their job.

  Don’t get me wrong, I’d be willing to hurt them all in a heartbeat if it meant my escape but there was no point being petty towards them.

  After a few seconds, she nodded to herself and picked up her pace, moving back to the front of the line.

  And I was left, swaying between two guards, the rope biting into my limbs, trying to hold onto something – anything – that wasn’t despair.

  I tried to take in as much of my surroundings as possible on the walk. I knew it wouldn’t be long before we reached one of the main guardhouses, and once we did, I’d be locked away. I wasn’t a murderer, so I didn’t expect the harshest punishment, but I’d had the audacity to attack the wealthy and that meant they were going to make an example of me.

  It was strange, moving through familiar streets while knowing I might never see them again. Every corner felt like a farewell. Stalls I’d never buy from again. Taverns I’d never drink in. I even spotted a few people I’d conned over the years, and I was almost sorry I wouldn’t get the chance to do it again – though judging by their smug expressions, they were thrilled to see me like this.

  Ah well, Morgana and Dillon would probably get them with something at some point.

  We were a couple of streets from the guardhouse when I decided to voice the question that had been bothering me.

  “Why did you come for me personally?” I asked Alicia. “I get that I hurt some of your friends, but you’re a student. Shouldn’t someone more senior have led the group?”

  One of the soldiers let out a stifled chuckle before covering it with a cough. Alicia turned and shot me a gre sharp enough to cut steel.

  “‘More senior’? I’m a lieutenant. These are my men,” she snapped. “I’ve served in multiple Challenges and led countless missions. And on top of that, I’m one of the highest-ranking members of House Santina. The real question isn’t why someone ‘more senior’ isn’t here – it’s why someone like me is.”

  She raised a hand to halt the group and stepped right up to my face.

  “You embarrassed us,” she said, her voice cold and steady. “You embarrassed me. I don’t even care about what you did. Half the idiots you beat up deserved it, and what you stole is easily repced. But you made me act. And then you got away.”

  She stepped back, turned, and continued walking. “That’s why I’m here. To correct a mistake and make sure a street rat doesn’t ruin my reputation.”

  As we approached the guardhouse, I noticed a small crowd gathered outside. Alicia paused for a moment, caught off guard by their presence, but quickly composed herself when the appuse started.

  People cpped. Shouted her name. Cheered her for capturing me so quickly. Congratutions and ptitudes echoed through the street. Her ears turned red, and if I weren’t the one being paraded like a prize, I might’ve thought it was cute.

  We approached a man standing just to the side of the door, dressed in pin leathers that made him look more like a traveller than a noble. I thought we’d pass him by, but Alicia stopped and stood to attention. The soldiers followed suit.

  The man looked her over, then turned his gaze to me. There was a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

  “Under three hours,” he said. “You apprehended the culprit, paraded him through one of the rougher districts, and sent a clear message. Your father will be pleased.”

  “Thank you, Uncle,” Alicia replied, voice tight. Her ears were now a deeper shade of crimson, but she held her posture. He nodded toward the door, and we moved inside.

  As we passed him, I gave him a proper look. Long, luxurious brown hair brushed his shoulders. A stubbled jaw framed a face marked by small scars. Broad shoulders and an easy confidence gave him the air of a seasoned fighter. A sword hung at his hip, a knife strapped to his thigh, and I’d have bet there was a third bde in his boot. He met my gaze with a quiet amusement that unnerved me more than I’d admit.

  The interior of the guardhouse surprised me. I expected cold stone, iron bars, the harsh cng of metal. But it opened into a reception area, more like a library than an armoury.

  Alicia stepped up to the desk and gave the receptionist my name and date of birth. I wasn’t surprised she knew it because my father would’ve handed it over without hesitation, but hearing it spoken aloud by a stranger made something in my gut twist.

  The receptionist scribbled down a few notes, then pointed to a corridor on the right and told her which cell was avaible.

  The cell was tiny. One bnket. A bucket. Not even a pillow.

  I let out a long sigh as the guards set me down just outside.

  “We’re going to untie you now,” said the soldier who had ughed earlier. “Don’t try anything.”

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  They loosened the bindings and my limbs fell limp. I could already see bruises around my wrists and ankles, and the blood hadn’t fully returned to my fingers. I tried rubbing my wrists, but my hands barely responded. One of the guards snorted a ugh. I shot him a gre and tried to stand, but my legs buckled beneath me, drawing more amusement.

  Alicia clicked her tongue. “Someone help him up. And can we get a pillow in there? I doubt that’s a major security threat.”

  Two guards grabbed me under the arms and helped me up, guiding me into the cell. Once I was inside, they shoved me gently against the back wall, pointed to indicate I should stay there, and left without another word. The heavy metal door smmed shut behind them.

  There was a small window set into the top half of the door, just at eye level. I looked through and caught Alicia watching me. She studied me for a moment, then turned and walked away.

  I let myself slide down the wall, nding in a heap on the cold stone floor. I dropped my head into my hands and sat there, surrounded by silence, trying to figure out what came next.