EIGHTY: A Shining Silver Cage

The Yellow Marguerite.

The group had been approaching Kel since she first came to Serin. If she had known they would end up kidnapping her, she would have answered their summons in the first place, despite Lucy's warning.

But even if she had, it was clear that these people were never going to take no for an answer.

"This is where you've been hiding then?" Kel snapped, turning away from Soren and Lila. "Is this some kind of hidden room in that inn or whatever?"

"The Seven Lions Inn?" Soren replied. "We're near that place but also very far away."

Kel could hear the delight in his voice as he delivered his vague explanation.

"You make me sick," she murmured, making a face at the bile in her throat. "What do you even want from me?"

"What do I want?" The bedframe creaked as Soren sat down next to Kel.

With both hands, he scooped the hair dangling against her neck and gently pulled it behind her back.