“Like how I drew from the Font without a sigil?” I ask. She nods. “But it’s not because I’m cursed?”
“There is nothing about you that I would call cursed.” All theadmiration in the world lights up her eyes as she tucks a rogue strand of hair behind my ear. “Now, I should go.”
“Where?” My voice sounds small even to me.
“It’s better if I don’t say…” She glances at the window. “But know I’m still a step ahead of the vicar, and I’m not without friends. I’ll find a way out of his clutches. Until next we meet, stay safe and hold on. Their cruelty is only just beginning.”
I nod, but my throat closes. Love, anger, confusion—they knot under my ribs, sharp as claws. I throw my arms around her shoulders, desperate for her warmth, and clutch her until my fingers ache.
She doesn’t move, only holds me until I’m ready to pull away.
“I love you more than Ether,” I whisper.
“I love you more thanallthe Ether in the world.” She smiles at me softly. “My methods might be unconventional, Isola, but my intentions have always been to protect our family. But now, the best thing I can do for you is leave…which means I won’t be able to get you more tinctures.”
Leave?I shake my head, unsure of what to say, and tighten my grip on her robes. There’s no “leaving” Vinguard. “Where would you—”
A knock. Both of us freeze.
“Isola, are you asleep?” Saipha calls softly from the other side. I thought she went to bed. Did she hear anything? No, she couldn’t have. If she had, she’d be breaking down the door.
I open my mouth to answer, letting go of Mum and making it halfway to the door on instinct, but then stop. Should I just let her think I’m asleep? I can’t explain this.
Saipha makes the choice for me as her soft footsteps fade away, and I feel a twinge of guilt. Should I have let her in? Emotions warring, I turn and look back to Mum—
But she’s gone.
Only a soft breeze drifts through an open window. I stand inthe middle of the room, vial clutched in my hand. The room seems emptier than it’s ever been, like the air itself has been scooped out.
More questions echo in my head. Where is she going? Who are her friends? But one swells louder than the rest: Why does she seem more afraid at the idea of me being “special” than if I were cursed to become a dragon?
36
I hardly sleep that night. Every sound jolts me awake, alert and straining to hear if the shutter of my window is creaking open, or if the inquisitors are coming to interrogate me—if Mum was caught—but nothing of the sort happens.
Even though I barely managed a wink of sleep, I feel better than I have in weeks when I wake in the morning, thanks to the tincture.
Cindel wants nothing to do with me today at breakfast. Instead, she shoots daggers at the new kids. She’s clearly standing on the principle that they should’ve been put to death for suspicion of the curse. Selfishly, I’m a little happy to have her attention not on me for a while.
I eat with Lucan and Saipha, and we spend our day split between the library and training area. The three of us work quite well together. Better than I would’ve expected.
Two days crawl past.
Everyone grows a bit more on edge as the hours slip by. Probably because it seems…almost peaceful in a way that’s like the quiet before a storm. Like something bad is happening—gnawing at us—but we don’t realize what it is yet.
“What’s wrong with you?” Saipha asks on the fourth quiet afternoon. We’re in one of the training rooms with just Lucan.
“Nothing’s wrong with me.” It’s not the first time she’s asked. Ever since my meeting with Mum, I feel like a “guilty by association” sign is plastered across my forehead. I stride to the weapon rack to put space between us. We came here to get away from everyone else more than to train, so I just stare at the array of blunt practice weapons.
“You’ve been broody and all-around…off,” she insists,following me.
“You’ve been more testy than normal, too,” I counter, not wanting to be prodded or examined.
“Maybe if you weren’t acting so weird.” Saipha folds her arms.
I look to Lucan for assistance.
He surprises me by coming to my aid. “Youhavebeen more testy, Saipha.”
