“Here,” he offered, pushing it toward me. “Drink this. But you must promise, you’ll eat something, too.”
I sniffed the alcohol, and took a sip. Then another. And before I knew it, I’d finished my glass, letting the liquid burn my throat as I swallowed.
“Now eat,” Sean commanded, already pouring me another shot. He downed his, then again replenished the drink.
I popped a piece of bread into my mouth, chewing slowly. Despite drinking both the whisky and water, my throat still felt dry. I tossed back my second shot, slamming the glass down on the table in a clear request for another.
Sean obliged.
“This is probably a bad idea,” he said, “Especially right after you were sick. Auriel won’t approve.”
“I don’t care what Auriel thinks.”
“Well, I’m not sure I approve either. But considering the circumstances—I don’t know what else to do. He filled me in, you know—while you were sleeping. Everything I missed— all the details. What actually happened to Rhyan.” He looked away, like he was trying to compose himself. Then poured me another shot.
Immediately, I drew the glass toward my lips, Sean watching me carefully. I paused, a sinking feeling in my stomach.
“You’re not—” I eyed the glass, my heart pounding, “I mean, this isn’t just to make me feel better. Is it?”
“No,” Sean said. “It’s not.”
I set the glass down, my body crawling with uneasiness.
“What are you trying to do then?”
“Prepare you,” Sean said. “For what I’m about to tell you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and my stomach twisted. It was about Rhyan. He knew something about Rhyan. Something new. Something awful. I could already feel the bile rising up my throat, could feel my body rejecting the news. Rejecting everything. I opened my eyes, and stared blankly ahead.
“Just tell me,” I said.
“Your warning to Branwyn was appreciated. She is more grateful than you know for trying to help.”
I nodded, my body going numb. “And?”
“And I know you were trying to help your friends, too. We got word about … what’s been happening in Thene. What happened already.”
My body started to shiver, and I pulled the blanket up over my shoulders, my fingers tightening around Rhyan’s scabbard, running over the embroidery; the sun, the moon. The gryphon. “What?”
“There have been multiple attacks in the city the past two days,” he said.
I exhaled, nodding for him to go on, my blood pulsing in my eardrums.
“The first attack came from Numeria. The Emperor’s soturi arrived from the capital. Two nights ago, not long after—after it happened—his wolves invaded Thene. They were searching for you. And, from the sounds of it—they were also searching for your friends. Your sister.”
My vision blurred. He hadn’t mentioned my cousin. No mention of Jules. Was that good? Did that mean they didn’t know who she was? Or that Emperor Avery was keeping her escape quiet?
“And?” I asked.
“Your friends left the inn before the soturi arrived. Cal and Marisol sent them away just in time. They gave them the addressof some allies—people they trust with their lives to keep them hidden. It’s a similar network to what we have here.”
“So they’re safe?” I asked.
Sean took a deep, slow breath. “We don’t know. Cal and Marisol said they got out before the soturi could find them. But they haven’t heard from any of them since. They likely didn’t stay in one place for too long.”
“Why not? If they were somewhere safe? With someone Cal and Marisol trusted?”
“They were. But word is just getting out now that the Emperor arrested the soturion responsible for killing Theotis. They’re claiming you hired him.”
