Chapter 3

My brother grabbed Lina's wrist.

There was only a red mark on her palm, but his breathing turned frantic.

"Who sent this?"

Mother saw the name on the gift box, and her face changed instantly.

"Eve?"

I recognized that box.

Inside had been a protective charm. I'd bought it with my first military pay.

When Lina was little, she always said she was afraid of dragon hunters.

I spent half a year searching the border before I found someone who could get me a charm that could block one fatal attack.

But now the charm was gone.

At the bottom of the box lay a curse stone with Lina's name on it.

Lina pulled her hand back into her sleeve.

"Don't blame Sis. I found it myself."

Father's voice dropped.

"Where did you find it?"

"On my nightstand... It had my name on it. I thought she was still willing to give me a gift."

I rushed forward, trying to turn the box over and show them.

Under the charm was my custom order receipt.

If they just pulled it out, they'd know the box had been tampered with.

But my hands passed through it again and again.

Father raised his foot. The gift box hit the fireplace.

The velvet lining inside fell into the flames.

"Is this what she learned in the army? Using dragon hunter tools to hurt her own sister!"

"I'll go drag her out," my brother said.

I turned immediately.

"Get medicine first!" Mother stopped him. "Lina's hand is what matters!"

My brother pulled open a cabinet and found an empty medicine box.

"Where's the gauze?"

"Used it last night bandaging a guest's mount," the housekeeper said. "There's another box in the basement."

My brother was already at the stairs.

I raced down along the railing, then turned back to wait for him.

One more step.

The key in his hand had already touched the lock.

Then Lina grabbed the hem of his coat.

"Brother, don't go."

She was crying so hard she couldn't breathe.

"I'm scared... Take me to the healer, please?"

My brother crouched down and lifted her into his arms.

"Okay. Brother won't leave."

He put the key away and walked right through me.

Mother grabbed a cloak. Father sent for the carriage. No one mentioned the medicine in the basement again.

I chased them to the door and reached for Father's sleeve.

He was angrily instructing the housekeeper.

"When Eve comes out, have her kneel at the front door. No food until I say so."

The door closed in my face.

I struck the door panel. My body passed straight through to the outside.

The carriage had already pulled away.

The housekeeper stayed on the steps, still holding the plate of dessert.

"Eldest miss, where did you go?"

I stood in front of him.

He looked down at the fallen cake and sighed.

I wanted to tell him I hadn't gone anywhere.

Last night, when Mother locked me in, I'd even thought that once the celebration ended, I'd take my uniform to the military headquarters.

If I missed the investiture, I'd just apologize to the general.

I'd even wrapped the brooch carefully so it wouldn't get damaged in the basement.

When the dragon hunters pried open the vent window, the first thing I heard was the iron grate hitting the ground.

I rammed the door with my shoulder and called for my brother.

The music upstairs drowned me out.

The chains pressed my dragon flame against my chest. I couldn't even light up the crack under the door.

Finally, I squeezed out a spark and lit the blood-kin link.

I thought that was my last chance at survival.

Outside, the housekeeper set the dessert by my bedroom door.

"Eat something when you come back."

He turned off the hallway light.

No one went down to the basement.