Lydia watched her friend, who’d not recovered any of her spirit since Kaira’s death, disappear inside.
“We’re glad to have you back alive and well, Your Grace,” Seldrid said, and she noted the exhaustion that hadn’t been there when she’d departed marring his face. “We feared the worst when Malahi and Agrippa returned without you. Did you discover more information to aid our cause?”
“Wasted time, I’m afraid.” How many times would she have to admit that she had no solution? How many times would she have to admit that even if they were victorious, she’d spend every day thereafter still feeling as though she’d failed? A failure made worse by the cost of Aspasiana’s life, which was a catastrophic loss to the Maarin that wouldn’t have happened if she’d left earlier.
Seldrid made a noncommittal noise, then gestured to the door. “I assume you’ve been updated. We need to move swiftly on many things. I’ll have food and drink served while we set our course.”
Lydia started to follow Seldrid, but Killian caught hold of her hand and pulled her back while the others entered.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know that you hoped to save them. It seemed like the only way to buy us time, and even knowing what I do now, I’m not sure I’d do differently.”
“We’re at war.” Lydia’s tongue felt thick, her throat choked. “You did what you thought you had to.”
“As did you.” Killian’s hand pressed against the small of her back. “Every instinct in me screams that the Corrupter didn’t want you in that library for a reason.”
“Because the answers for Malahi were there.”
“And yet Malahi has never been his target.”
“Because he knows she won’t ever turn to darkness.” Her eyes tracked Malahi’s blond hair as she walked inside, now a neatly trimmed cap, the bald spots grown in.
“Or because you’re the threat.”
She sighed. “This is speculation, Killian. Whereas there are facts demanding our attention. Let’s go inside.”
Leaving him to follow, Lydia rose the steps into the blissful coolness of the manor, the scent of flowers filling her nose, her boot heels clicking over the tiles. It was quiet after the noise of the city, but the serenity was destroyed by a familiar voice echoing down a corridor. “Let me go, Sonia!”
“I will not,” the Gamdeshian woman retorted. “Not until you explain to Killian why you were trying to sneak out past the guards.”
“I have business in the city!” Finn shouted. “My subjects need to be fed, and the Calorian larders are always full. They won’t miss a few sacks of food.”
“You don’t steal from your hosts!”
Lydia stopped in her tracks as Sonia appeared, dragging a struggling Finn behind her.
And at the sight of him, all the air disappeared from Lydia’s lungs.
Sonia glowered at Killian. “He’s already back to his old tricks!”
The boy stared Lydia in the eye, and she stared back, a tremble running through her, as Killian said, “It’s fine, Sonia. Seldrid can handle having his larders pilfered for the good of a few children. Finn’s doing the right thing, because there are many…” He trailed off, his eyes moving to Lydia. “What’s wrong?”
She sucked in a shaking breath, still staring the creature in the eye. “That is not Finn.”
82KILLIAN
Even as his heart screamed in wordless fury and grief, his instincts took over. Killian caught hold of Finn by the arms, restraining him.
No, not Finn.
A blighter. Which meant every word Finn had said was the Corrupter’s.
“What are you going on about, Lydia?” the blighter demanded, mumming Finn with such perfection that Killian knew that Finn had likely been dead for every conversation they’d had. That all the things he’d told the boy were words told to a spy. And rather thanrecognizing that something was wrong with the boy who was like a younger brother to him, Killian had brushed him aside at every turn.
“It’s me.” The blighter’s face sagged with fear, his eyes skipping around the room. Everyone with a weapon held it in their hands, faces white with horror. “It is! I don’t know what she’s saying!”
“Stop.” Lydia’s voice was frosty as ice. “You will cease this farce.”
All the tension in the boy fell away, and the blighter that wore Finn’s face gave a sigh that was half chuckle, the voice that emanated from his lips like nails on a chalkboard as it said, “As you like,Your Grace.Though I would have enjoyed watching your companions tormented with uncertainty over the verity of your claim.”
