03] ES) Firestorm by Shannon Mayer

protect those in my care. No matter who they are.”
    Her eyes went cold again, and I knew I’d struck a chord I hadn’t meant to.
    “You may visit your friend once. That is the gift I offer you for placing your life in front of mine.” She turned and strode toward the entrance Cactus had collapsed. He scrambled to get it open for her, lifting the rock and pushing it all to one side. The queen never looked back, and I realized just how scared I’d been facing her. My legs shook and I had to lock my knees to keep them from buckling.
    Peta shrunk to her housecat form and she trotted to my side. “Dirt Girl, what are you doing, turning the queen down? When she beckons you to her bed, you go!”
    I snorted. “Flattered as I was, I cannot fake desire.”
    “If you want to survive the Pit, perhaps you’d best learn how to ‘fake’ it, as you say,” she grumbled at me. I scooped her up and kissed her on the nose.
    “Peta, I love you.”
    “Gah, put me down, Terraling!”
    “You see?” I let her down. “I cannot fake it.”
    Brand took a few steps after the queen, then turned and looked at me. “Peta is right, no one turns down the queen.”
    I arched an eyebrow at him. “Not even you?”
    “Not even me.” There was sadness and regret in his eyes. I thought about Smoke, about her having to share him with their beautiful, but-oh-so-deadly, queen.
    “Perhaps if more people stood up to her, she wouldn’t be such a power hungry bitch.” Yet even as I said the words, I realized that wasn’t the case. She’d shown that she placed her life on par with all her people’s lives. Though it did not help Ash any, I could give her credit that she at least didn’t set her life above theirs.
    And then I realized I’d lost my one bargaining chip. The traitor was dead, and I was no further ahead in getting Ash out of the Pit. Damn it to the seven hells and back.
    I made my decision quickly. “She said I could see Ash.”
    “No, not yet,” Brand said. I bent and picked up my spear, twisting it in half and hanging it from my belt in two pieces.
    “Two questions, Brand.” I crossed my arms and lifted an eyebrow at him. “Why can I not see him now, and where the hell did you get my spear?”
    “Your spear was sent by your father. And you can’t see Ash because he is healing.”
    My father . . . my brain struggled to comprehend. “My father sent my spear. And you let me have it?”
    And then the second half of what Brand said hit home, and I stepped toward him, hands dropping into fists. “What do you mean he is healing?”
    Brand shrugged. “Ash started a fight with one of the other prisoners. So he’s a bit bruised up. As to your father, here, he sent a note with the spear. It got here just a few moments before I saw you on the ledge up here. You can have it only because I am vouching for you. Again. Use it on anyone and I will be in the dungeons with you.”
    “Why would you do that?”
    “You just pulled a traitor down and you’ve been here for less than a day. You tell me why I’m trusting you.” He pulled a sealed envelope from inside his black leather top and handed it to me. The seal was green wax with a perfect blooming tree imprint. I ran a thumb over it, fear filling me. Without opening it, I tucked it into my vest. “Thank you. For this and for trusting me.”
    Brand nodded. “Lark, you have done as I asked and ousted the traitor. Now I must hold to my end of the bargain. Ash wanted to get you out of here. You’ve seen just how dangerous the Pit is. And now you have sparked the interest of the queen. Please, reconsider—”
    “No, I’m staying until either I get Ash out or . . .” my guts tightened as I realized I might not be able to save him. I might be staying to watch him die and be a final witness to his sacrifice for me. My throat burned and filled with a thick lump. I had to swallow several times to force it down. “Or the three days is up,” I finally managed. Then there was the