Josie’s hands curled around the balustrade, the wind whipping the loose fabric of her cotton pants around her ankles. Natali had managed to find her clothes and a bath, and though she’d scrubbed her skin raw, she could still feel the phantom touch of the rebel’s hands around her neck.
“They’ll search the Maraciana,” Josie had insisted whenNatali had told her of their plan to sneak her through Rinnia under the cloak of night. “Viviane has ties to the Bellare.”
“Viviane has not left the Maraciana since her arrival months ago.”
That meant nothing to Josie. She did not trust that Viviane didn’t have some way of contacting the Bellare, that she wasn’t relishing in their new advantage in the city.
Banish her, Josie had demanded of Aidon. She wondered if he had planned to, if it was simply another order he had yet to give before war came calling.
“The Maraciana is one of the most respected establishments in the realm,” Natali had stated with surety. “Not only is there a history of neutrality when it comes to the libraries, but we also hold sacred knowledge—knowledge the Bellare could leverage should they wish to. They would do better to seek our help rather than attack us, and right now, their attentions are elsewhere.”
“And will you?” Josie had prodded. “Help the Bellare?”
“The fact that you are standing here should be proof of my loyalties.”
It was. And yet Josie still didn’t understandwhy. The Saj of the Maraciana were notorious for valuing knowledge over most else. They were not particularly loyal to one monarch or another, nor did they hold any sort of true devotion to Trahir.
Why, then, had Natali continued to lend their help?
The Saj had risked their life twice today alone to get Josie to safety: first in bringing her to the cottage in Rinnia, and then in sneaking her through the streets to the Maraciana.
But Josie was too exhausted, too frayed at the edges, to question them. Besides, after all they had done for her, it seemed the worst sort of insult.
“I will see if I can fetch word on the Visya force,” Natali had assured her, as if they could read the way fear still had her thoughts in a vise grip. Their words did little to ease it.
Even now, Josie could feel it churning in her stomach asshe stared out into the night. How many of the Visya elite force had they lost?
Had Aleissande made it out alive?
Had she found Cole?
Josie squeezed her eyes shut as she thought of her friend. She should have tried harder to find him in the water. She should have kept looking, should have stayed on the beach until she could be sure he was—
“Josie.”
Her eyes flew open. She knew the rasp of that voice. It used to bring her comfort, used to warm that place deep in her chest until it was something molten.
Now, it only brought the heat of rage.
Josie turned to find Viviane standing on the balcony, a small torch in hand. The light of it flickered across her face, illuminating her features in soft shadows.
Josie’s throat burned as she stared at her former partner. It was like looking at a memory.
Viviane had cut her black hair into its former cropped style, and it was thick against the curve of her head. Her skin, wan the last time Josie had seen her, was flush, its usual peach tone returned to her cheeks.
She looked the picture of health, and Josie hated her for it.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Viviane breathed, taking a step toward her. Josie took an immediate step back, keeping the distance between them.
“Are you?” she questioned, her voice low. “Why? So you can be the one to hand me over to your friends?”
Hurt flickered across Viviane’s face, but Josie felt nothing at the sight of it. “I didn’t know about the attack—”
“Spare me,” she hissed. “You betrayed my family months ago. You as good as set this in motion.”
Viviane’s chin trembled, her lips pressing together in a tight line as she fought off her tears. “I did not think it wouldbe like this,” she whispered. “I did not think people would get hurt.”
Anger drove Josie forward, her strides short as she closed the distance between them. “Then you are not only disloyal, but also naive!”
