“Yes,” I assure her. “Are you? You and Ilsa were close.”
She swallows thickly, eyes momentarily glossing before blinking back to normal. Marideth isn’t one to show emotion. I know she will cry, but she will do it in private or with Dover. She has a kind of quiet strength that can only come from surviving true hardship.
“I’m alright. I need to check on the others. Don’t do anything stupid.” She shakes me once before slipping into the hall, leaving Zadyn and me alone. He gives me a concerned look.
“I don’t want to talk about it. Not tonight,” I murmur, trudging toward the bed.
We sit anxiously for hours until a guard knocks on the door to let us know the castle is clear. It must be near midnight when a softer knock sounds. Zadyn answers it to a trembling Cece, her golden hair undone and a knit shawl wrapped tightly over her nightgown.
“Cece,” Zadyn breathes. Her beautiful face contorts in sadness as tears spring from her eyes. He pulls her into his chest.
“Ilsa,” she sobs, her body shaking violently. My heart aches for the female I’ve never liked. Her best friend was mutilated and hung up for the entire court to see. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
“I don’t want to be alone right now.” She peers up at him, her green eyes sad and hopeful, as Zadyn gently smooths her face.
“I’ll stay with you, of course.” Wrapping her in another tighthug, he strokes her hair and glances at me over her shoulder, silently asking for permission. I don’t understand why he needs it from me, but I give him a nod.
Of course. Go be with her. She needs you.
And you?
I’ll be fine.
He imparts me with one final look before taking the trembling beauty by the hand and leading her back toward her room.
* Cue: Moon Songby Phoebe Bridgers
39
Ilay in bed far longer than I should, my hangover riding me viciously after guzzling that bottle of liquor. I know I should get up. Go feed my dragon. Hit the training ring. Check on my mourning friends.
Be anything but a hungover slug.
My door clicks open, and Jace slips through, not even bothering to knock.
“Sure, come on in,” I say sardonically as I prop myself up on my elbows.
“Ilsa’s dead.” He slides onto the bed.
“I know." I sigh. "Zadyn told me last night. It’s terrible.”
I still haven’t had time to really process it. I’ve just been trying to unravel this knot and figure out how to prevent it from happening again. “Did you find anything?”
“No.”
“How did they even get in here to…to plant her body?”
He shakes his head, rising to his feet. “I don’t know. I don’t know how they were able to breach the wards again.”
“Zadyn said Ilsa’s blood was drained like the others.”
“It was. They hung her up like swine to send a message. It was a threat, and now everyone knows the wards have been compromised. It makes our security look unstable. Weak.” He paces, hands on his hips.
“But now we know those creatures are behind the border attacks. And since they started after the portal was breached, they could be responsible for that, too.”
He nods in agreement.
“You said that they justappearedin the maze?” I ask.
