Lila's heart raced, her golden salamander trembling on her shoulder.
She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Cassandra expected useful information. If she didn't provide it, her family's debt interest would be collected immediately.
Worse still, her sister would be handed over to one of Fathoran's former harem selectors as payment, to become one of his numerous 'wives'.
The image of her sister, not yet an adult, in that man's hands made Lila physically ill. But the alternative... betraying Elio...
Lila swallowed hard, guilt crushing her. "I... I don't have much to report today."
Cassandra's eyes narrowed dangerously, her frog croaking ominously. "No? How disappointing. And here I thought you valued your family's safety."
"Please," Lila pleaded, panic rising in her voice. Her salamander chirped anxiously, sensing her distress. "I've been trying, but Von Elio is... he's difficult to read."