“What are you doing here?” Sasha interrogated, and I felt the stone of the mansion shift under our feet—sure that it was Sasha’s doing, and not caused by the ongoing attack.
“I’m here to protect Percy and get her out alive. We gathered intelligence that True North were planning an attack. There are would-be loyalists within the conglomeration of the True North who believe that Percy is an outside force influencing the Crown and the true cause of the dissolvement of House Vouna. They want Percy’s head on a stick,” Katrina explained.
I felt myself become unsteady.
“I’m not influencing anything,” I protested.
Katrina turned to me with a sneer. “That was immediately and painfully obvious from our first encounter,” she replied, the same nastiness coating her tone and words as I had become used to. “But your disappointing character doesn’t change anything. I’m here to make sure you live and get you to safety within The New Foundation.”
“Lady Flores in under our protection.”
I turned around, pulling my hand free from Sasha’s.
“Rylan,” I exclaimed relieved. He stood tall and straight, a glare aimed at Katrina.
“Lady Flores, your Mistress has commanded your swift return to safety,” Rylan announced, using his professional voice—the one he used when others were around. “Lady Petra of Ardens, you are welcome to accompany us to safety,” he offeredpolitely, before turning his attention to Katrina. “You, may use this opportunity to flee,” he said coldly.
28. We’re All Running Scared.
Persephone Flores
Katrina stared at Rylan silently for a tense, moment, clearly weighing her options, before abruptly running past him. I was surprised that she chose to flee after appearing so adamant that I had to leave with her. The prospect of fighting Rylan must have been too much of a personal risk to take.
“Where is Selene?” I asked as soon as Rylan turned his attention away from watching a retreating Katrina and back to us.
“Why didn’t you kill that traitor?” Sasha asked, before Rylan could respond.
“I do not know. I suspect that she is assessing the level of threat. Her first command was your safety,” he answered. “My deepest apologies for taking quite so long to find you, Percy,” he continued, dropping the formality he had begun with. I saw his stressed expression. “I was not without disruption finding you. The mansion and estate grounds are overrun with True North rebels. It seems that there has been a significant infiltration of True North to positions within Ardens Estate. No servant or staff is to be trusted,” he told me.
“And yet you allowed the girl to live,” Sasha replied before I could, “As much of a traitor as any other.”
“Was I mistaken in assuming that if the girl was deserving of death—that you were capable of delivering the punishment?” Rylan asked.
“I would have, had you not intervened and allowed her to go,” Sasha argued.
“I don’t care!” I cried, angrily. “Katrina saved me. For whatever reason—it doesn’t matter. I don’t think she’s a bad person. All I care about is finding Selene and leaving here. I want to go home.”
I knew how childish I must have sounded, and looked, tears of frustration breaking and rolling down my cheeks—but it didn’t matter. I just wanted Selene. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to be back at Sanguis Academy with my friends and Healer classes and my rooftop garden.
“Percy, Ardens estate will not fall. You needn’t worry,” Sasha tried to reassure me.
“I don’t care if it does or doesn’t. I don’t care about this cold, horrible, ghostly place where everyone hates me! I want the sun and my friends and for Selene to smile again.”
I was crying more and it really wasn’t the time or place to be crying or bringing any of my upset up. But it was true. I hated Ardens Estate. There were no friends here. It was daylight for only a few hours a day, and even then barely any sunshine reached past the clouds. And Selene had not smiled since we arrived—not truly. Not in the way that made me feel like butterflies fluttered within me, not the kind of smile that reached her eyes and creased her face.
I knew Selene was trying. I knew she wanted to find a home for us. But Ardens Estate would never be my home, and it wasn’t Selene’s either.
I needed daylight and people—community to be part of. And Selene needed people to order around, and fawn over her, and to take care of—it’s just the way it was. Ardens Estate held nothing that either of us needed. All it had done was take Selene from me. I’d never been more lonely.
“Percy, this is not the time for self-pity,” Sasha told me, sharply. “Whatever you think of Ardens Estate—my home—is immaterial right now. All that matters is our safety.”
The shock of recognising how my words must have been so very insulting to Sasha stopped my tears—only to be replaced by new tears for a new reason.
“I’m so sorry, Sasha,” I stuttered. “I didn’t mean anything by it,” I tried to explain, but she held her hand up to stop me.
“It’s alright. You’re in a new place against your will and scared. Stop crying,” she commanded.
I took a few measured breaths to control myself.
