The price of dust

I managed to escape my dungeon‑like bedroom. I did well that no one saw me leave, especially not Kellan. I waited at the same spot I saw him the last time. I actually thought he would be here before me, but it seemed I was early,, and tired of waiting. I keep looking around and saw no one, getting really frustrated until I felt someone at my back. I almost screamed. I actually screamed a little.

“Shhh,” he said, covering my mouth from behind. “It’s Lyrien.”

My heart hammered against my ribs as I turned to face him.

“You enjoy frightening people?” I whispered.

“Only when they arrive late and loud,” he replied, releasing me. “Come. We don’t have much time.”

He led me through the gardens, where the fountains sounded like rain. The palace at night felt different-less golden, more like a beast with its eyes closed, pretending not to watch

“Tell me the plan,” I said as we slipped behind a row of hedges. Lyrien crouched and drew lines in the soil with a little stick he found on the sand. “Two guards at the west stair,one at the inner gate. I’ll distract them, and you go straight to Rowan. I have a key for the first lock, but the rest will need his strength.”

Relief washed over me at the sound of Rowan’s name. “You’re sure he can walk?”

“He will if he sees you,” Lyrien said

When we reached Rowan’s cell, my knees nearly gave out.

He was thinner than before, but his eyes-those stubborn, storm‑colored eyes-lit the moment they found me.

“Ivy,” he managed and pronounced my name

“Rowan.” I pressed my fingers through the bars before I could stop myself. “I’m here. We’re getting you out.”

Lyrien worked the lock while Rowan starred at me silently. “You shouldn’t have come.”

“I wasn’t going to leave you.”

The door groaned open. Rowan stepped forward, unsteady, and I wrapped my arms around him. For a moment the dungeon disappeared—the King, the court, even Kellan. There was only the warmth of him alive.

“We need to move,” Lyrien warned.

Rowan pulled back, his expression shifted as I was about unlocking it. “Not yet.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“There’s something I need first.” He reached into his pocket and brought out the blue scrap—the same one he had pressed into my hand weeks ago.

“This isn’t just cloth.”

"What do you mean it's not just a cloth"

” Rowan said. “Without it, leaving is pointless." " I need you to do something first"

I frowned. “Tell me what you need.”

“A powder,” he said quietly. “Fine as ash, kept in the King’s inner yard, near the old shrine. It looks like dust, but it reveals what’s hidden.

"What does the dusk do??" I asked.

"The dusk will reveal the truth, there's no time for explanati-"

" We have to get you out of here" I said worry in my face. but Rowan grabbed my hands firm and tightly, looking into my eyes and uttured a sentence that calmed me "You have to trust me

Lyrien swore under his breath. “You want her to steal from the King’s own grounds?”

Rowan met my eyes. “I won’t ask you to if you don’t want to" he says with concern in his eyes "But that dust will show the truth of this scrap and the truth is the only way out of here.”

Fear gripped inside me, but so did something stronger. I had crossed half the palace already, I had lied to guards, to servants, maybe even to myself. What was one more risk? I say to my wolf trying to convince myself

“I’ll do it,” I said.

Rowan closed his fingers around mine. “Be careful, and if anything feels wrong- r4n.”

I forced a smile. “You’re the one in chains.”

“Not for long,” Lyrien muttered.

***

The King’s yard was quieter than the rest of the palace, guarded more by reputation than men. Moonlight glazed upon all the whole place, which gave me child btw

I found the shrine Rowan described-a low stone table covered with offerings and, beside them, a small bronze bowl filled with grey powder.

I look around, trying to make sure not to get caught, I honestly don't know what I'm going to say if I get caught, I was afraid.

My hands trembled as I reached for it.

I hear footsteps.

I froze, hoping I may just turn invincible at spot

A shadow moved between the pillars. I pressed myself behind the shrine, heart climbing to my throat. The footsteps slowed…then stopped.

“Ivy?”

My name on the voice almost gave my an heart attack. I turned to see the face of who just saw me,but I already knew who it was, I can never mistake that voice,not even in my sleep

Kellan

Kellan stepped into the moonlight.