This isn’t right. Regardless of it being a new moon, I can still sense her emotions lodged in my gut. I’ve hurt her. A small betrayal, but one nonetheless. And she’s right. I knew she’d want to know, and I kept it from her.
So, I obey her wishes, although it fucking kills me to watch her walk away.
At least she’ll be safe tonight.
I’ve chosen a quieter bar, one that I don’t frequent with Calix because I don’t want to be found right now, especially by either of my friends.
People gather, drinking, happily enjoying New Moon night. Music plays in one of the taverns down the street, the melody carrying and entertaining everyone around me.
And then I see them.
Warriors, three of them, clearly scouting for someone. Their uniform is standard. They don’t have cloaks like the watch guards, and they carry limited weapons. All men, and all without their power tonight.
The shorter of the three looks in my direction, and his body shifts. They’re looking for me.Great.
They flank my table, approaching with a step of caution.
“Aten. Your father has requested you see him. In the Great Hall.”
“I’m getting really fucking tired of him summoning me,” I mumble into my cup as I drain the ale.
“He said you might be more amenable to the request if you knew it was regarding Ever Hart,” the man on the right says with a grin.
Fuck.
My hand sweeps to the base of my spine as I stand, a habit to check for the knife I know is there. It always is.
“I don’t need an escort.”
“Orders are orders.”
“Even tonight?” I check. “I’m sure there are many more exciting things you’d rather be doing than fetching me.” I raise my eyebrow and tilt my head to them. At least two of them bristle as if I’ve reminded them of what waits for them when they’ve completed their orders. But they all keep walking. Loyal, then.
They keep me company all the way up to the imposing wooden doors of the hall. I’d expected to be dragged to his office if this was important, but they leave as soon as I put my hands on the door to enter.
It isn’t just my father who occupies the dais at the far end. Kamari, Darien, and Portia are all in their allotted seats as well. The Maker is missing, though.
I shouldn’t have let her go. I should have forced her to stay with me.
Panic, undiluted and spiked with fear, floods through my system, pumping me with adrenaline at what this could be about. It’s how I felt at her Transference, seeing her in pain. And I’m relieved that nobody in the room can pick up on that emotion now.
“Father.” I tilt forward, greeting him as would be expected with the rest of the Orders looking on.
“Care to explain why Ms Hart was seen riding off into the night?” No preamble. Straight for the throat.
“She what?” I can’t get a lock on my surprise before I blurt out my response.
“So, you didn’t know.” He grins. The bastard.
“No. Of course not. Where is she headed?” I question, crossing my arms over my chest.
“That’s what I want to find out. You clearly have a vested interest in her. I thought you’d like to help with this matter.” His consideration is spot on, but I don’t know how he knows that until I look at Kamari. Would she have shared our meetings?
“She crossed the bridge a little over an hour ago on horseback and hasn’t been seen in the training residence. Naturally, we areallconcerned.” He waves his hand, indicating the rest of the members gathered. “A trainee going missing or fleeing is highly irregular. And we don’t want anything untoward happening to her, especially in hervulnerableposition.”
All I can hear are the veiled threats. The warnings.
Regardless of my lack of power, my mind starts to shift the words, all the words he’s spoken to me about Ever. Everything I know about her, about Fifths, all stacking into organised bundles of information.
