But he is not cold, she wanted to shout at them. He is not cold at all!
“He doesn’t know I’m here,” she muttered. “I know I swore you to secrecy, but I would make an exception for him?—”
“I saw him myself today,” Nestania said. “He is aware.”
Her heart clenched. “Did he leave any message for me?”
“I’m afraid not. Best forget about him,” Nestania said briskly. “He has clearly done the same about you. Now, your mother and I have decided to move you to our dacha in the countryside. The fresh air will speed your recovery.”
“I’m not a child.” Cathrynne locked eyes with her. “You can’t simply make decisions on my behalf.”
“Don’t be difficult,” Nestania retorted. She seemed surprised to find that the pliable young girl she’d known two decades ago had grown into a headstrong woman.
Hysto stepped in, her voice soft and coaxing, which was equally irritating. “We only have your best interests at heart. Surely you remember the summers we spent there, swimming at the lake and playing tennis?”
Cathrynne gave a grudging nod. Those were the long, lazy golden days of her childhood.
“You were born there, darling,” her mother admitted. “I left the city when the pregnancy was too far along to hide anymore. I’m sorry I lied to you.” She shared a look with Nestania. “But we had no other choice?—”
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Cathrynne snapped. “Please, just leave me alone.”
Hysto recoiled. “Very well. But I beg you to consider it. All we want is to keep you safe. It is a great gift that you have been returned to us.”
They left. Cathrynne stared into space.
Gavriel was gone. Back to Kirith without a word. She tried to make sense of it. Would he leave without saying goodbye?
He would if he felt something for her. In that case, a clean break would be best.
She swallowed the knot in her throat. Maybe some time in the countryside would do her good. She needed to recover physically before she tried to find Kal Machena. But there was no way she’d leave the young woman to the mercy of the White Foxes.
Suddenly, the room felt horribly stuffy. She needed fresh air. Cathrynne opened all the windows. A cool breeze blew in and she inhaled the scent of roses.
A starling landed on the sill, eyeing her with a bright, quizzical gaze.
“Hello, pretty thing,” she said. “I wish I had some seed for you.”
A tawny flash from the corner of her eye was all the warning she had.
“No, Tamar!” Cathrynne threw herself into the path of the leaping caracal. The starling took flight, and his paws raked along her arm. She winced. A little blood oozed from the scratches, but they barely hurt and it was worth it to save the bird.
“I won’t scold you,” she said to Tamar, “since it is your nature to hunt. But I think you are well-fed enough, my friend.”
He gave her a reproachful look, then laid his paws on the windowsill and watched the bird speed skyward. Only a single purple-green feather remained. Cathrynne picked it up and presented it to Tamar. He sniffed the feather, growled, then took it delicately in his jaws and lay down by the bed again.
Chapter 30
Gavriel
He landed on Suriel’s private balcony, visions of retribution thundering in his head. He no longer cared about the empire’s delicate balance of power, nor about the laws he had spent a lifetime enforcing.
He did not care that Nestania was entirely correct in claiming that Cathrynne’s disappearance was “witch business” and none of his.
He did not care that Arioch wasn’t in his province, and he had no jurisdiction here.
All he cared about was getting Cathrynne back. If that meant storming the chapter house and extracting answers by force, so be it.
Gavriel’s sister was waiting for him in her personal chamber, wearing a green silk turban and serene expression.
