Claire's POV

The darkness gave way to an unfamiliar room. Cramped. Damp. It was the kind of dungeon found only deep beneath a palace.

A carved basin sat in the center of the floor. Grace loomed over it. I was right there with her. I caught the greasy scent of tallow smoke in the air. But when I opened my mouth, I couldn't make a sound.

My brain felt thick. I struggled to piece together how I got here. I scanned the grim chamber, desperate for clues. My eyes tracked Grace's moving hands.

Then, I saw her wrist.

The bandage was gone.

The flesh underneath bore a charred mark. It...