One the dead never had.
One I would have to make soon, whether I liked it or not. By letting it lie.
Was I capable of that?
I reached the south tower, a scurry of courtiers rushing down the coiled staircase toward the lower halls. Fear pressed around us like too-tight walls. I scanned the crowd for anyone familiar. Bramwell was up ahead with the other chancellors. Then my eyes met Lo’s.
A flicker of joy swelled in my chest. It felt good to see him.
He hurried toward me, breath short, cheeks flushed. Even with panic smudging the edges of him, his tousled hair still left him looking unfairly impeccable.
“Evie, where have you been?” His voice pitched high, not theatrical this time, only frightened.
I realized I hadn’t seen him since the day before. “It’s a long story.” One I had no time to tell.
We were swept together into the line as it funneled down the stairs.
“I’ve been worried sick!” he said, clutching my sleeve like I might vanish. “Kael found you, didn’t he? What happened up there?” His tone wavered between concern and outrage, as if torn between scolding me or fainting.
Would I tell him about Drachenfels? Was I now part of the secret, bound to honor it?
“I can’t tell you now, Lo. We have to get to safety.”
He blinked at me, wild-eyed. “What is happening, Evie?”
What? He didn’t know?
“They told us to head down the south tower into the dungeon for shelter,” he said, panic rising like a tide. “It’s Dereck Thorne, isn’t it? He’s actually coming, now, tonight?”
Lo could be dramatic, yes, but this wasn’t for show. His fear was real, raw, clinging to him like a second skin.
I nodded.
We moved down the coiled steps. The air thickened with dread. We would pass the armory before reaching the dungeon. Everyone walked slowly, but I could feel it in the crowd, that tenuous edge. One wrong word, one stumble, and the whole descent would collapse into a stampede.
I glanced through the open doors to the armory, a large circular chamber where steel and blackiron adorned the walls and shelves. Hundreds of soldiers swarmed through the gates on the opposite side, streaming back up to the castle. They shuffled in tight formation, the clank of metal a steady rhythm in their well-practiced march. Only one remained behind.
Kael.
We moved so slowly that I could take a good look at him. He stood with his back to me, shirtless, muscles shifting beneath the lightning scar that cut across his skin. He had half his reinforced leather armor strapped on and seemed to stare at himself in the reflection of a blackiron shield.
We headed down more stairs.
Suddenly, the urge to be close to Kael seized me. My feet moved on their own.
“Go, Lo. I’ll be there in a moment,” I said, giving him no chance to protest.
“Evie! Where are you going?” he shouted behind me as I pushed through the press of bodies, climbing back up.
Surprise followed the echoes of my footsteps until I slipped free of the crowd and into the armory.
The air inside was cool and metallic, carrying the faint bite of oil and old battles. Racks lined the curved walls, empty of weapons that normally stood in tight formation like silent sentries. Some swords remained, their edges catching the torchlight in sharp, unforgiving glints.
It wasn’t chaotic like the halls outside. It wasn’t loud. This chamber held purpose, weight, a history of being used rather than displayed.
Kael turned when he heard my steps. His expression shifted from calm to a scowl. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too.” Humor was always better than awkwardness.
