Matthias points to the chair opposite. “Take a seat. I’ll teach you all my secrets, which will take us around seven seconds. Maybe I’ll manage to win the first round, at least.”
Callan steps away, speaking to Rio and Esme as I glance around. “Where’s Leo?”
Merrick places a full cup of beer down in front of me. His hand squeezes my shoulder in greeting. “He went to visit Leesa. They know each other from the tutoring sessions. He should be back soon. I’m glad to see you, Selene.”
My mouth dries. “Thank you for inviting me. How is she?”
Merrick says softly, “As well as she can be, although she mourns her father. Ryn has not let her out of his sight. But it could have been worse, were it not for you.”
Heat climbs my face. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You did.” His words are quiet. Opposite us, Matthias sets out the cards in a pattern, his gaze determinedly focused down. “You helped them, Selene, and they will not forget it.”
“Agreed,” Matthias says solemnly. There’s no amusement in his voice. Only approval. “The whole practice is barbaric in my opinion, since nobody asked.”
“Matthias.” Sol sounds as though he’s said something similar, many times before. “You need to stop shouting that so loudly.”
Matthias sniffs. “Why? Somebody has to say it, and say it loudly. Silence creates accomplices of us all. A truly insidious form of maegis, really, since nobody will realize until it’s too late to stop it.”
“Until they lock you in the compound as a punishment.” The room fills with discomfort as Sol snaps at Matthias. “You walk a thin edge with Petyr as it is. I don’t disagree with you. You know that. But you have to be careful.”
Matthias’s face softens. Behind me, the door bangs open once more, cutting through the tension and deflating it. An excited screech fills the air, and Leo flies into me from the side. “You’re here!”
“I am.” I settle my hands on his shoulders, scanning him. Leo beams at me. I ask, “You’re well?”
He nods, scrambling into the chair beside mine. “I was telling Esa and Ryn about your wings, and how you flew through the Never.”
His arms fly wide, flapping. I wince. “Oh?”
“He’s very proud of you,” Merrick says softly. “Been telling everyone he can about his friend Selene, who saved him from falling forever through the Sea of Stars.”
My throat grows tight. Leo’s eyes widen. “Are youcrying?”
I shake my head. Callan gets up from his seat. He settles behind me, and I lean my head back as his hands land on my shoulders, waiting for the burning at the back of my eyes to dissipate.
Matthias and Sol have matching expressions. Mouths open, as Callan’s words ripple out. “I hope you told them the good part, Leo. About how she was attacked by wraiths andstillmanaged to fly.”
Leo nods seriously. “And about holding onto the ship.”
Groaning, I turn, hiding my face in Callan’s stomach. His laughter shakes my head. “Good lad.”
His lips press to the top of my head. “You’re all right?”
I nod, still flushing. When I straighten, everyone is looking. Rio grins. “Well, well,well.”
“I’m shocked,” Matthias says drily. His eyes dance between us. “Truly.”
“Enough.” But Callan’s voice curls around me with warm amusement. “Behave, all of you.”
“Oh, no.” Matthias shakes his head. “After all of the ribbing you’ve given Sol and I over the years, you are significantly overdue for some of your own.”
He winks at me. “Apologies, Selene. In this house, we tease each other relentlessly. You’re going to get caught in the crossfire, since Callan is owed some payback for all he’s dished out over the years. But outside of it, we’ll fight if anyone else dares the same.”
“Do your worst.” Callan’s fingers trace the back of my neck. He pulls up the stool beside mine as Matthias spreads out the cards, explaining the game to me.
“Ready?” He holds up his cards, shielding them from me. “Callan, no helping.”
I nod. “It seems simple enough.”
