*Maerilee*

Pale sun filters into the tent, and I blearily open my eyes, for a moment forgetting where I am, how desperate our situation is. Then, the cold iron cuffs bite into my wrists as I sit up, and I remember exactly what’s happened. Permiton betrayed us. Akin, River, Brook and I are all prisoners in exchange for… what, exactly? His freedom? Refuge in Oceana while the war wages on?

Whatever Permiton has gotten out of this deal, I can’t imagine that it would be worth betraying us. I would never do that to anyone, but definitely not to the person I’m supposed to be mated to for an eternity....