“She snuck in here,” I say quietly. “She said she wanted to look out the window. Just like she was doing in the library earlier.”
“That’s not a secret,” he says. “What else?”
“She said she’s looking forhim,” I say. “I don’t know whohimis.” I hesitate. “But I’m worried it might be Nakiis.”
His eyes don’t thaw one bit. “Why?”
“He told her not to tell you that he was here. She said he had wings.She said he made her a leaf out of ice. You remember how Iisak used to—”
“I remember.”
I take a breath. “She said she doesn’t know his name, but he told her not to tell you about him.” I pause. “She said he would be coming back.”
He studies me for the longest time, and I refuse to wither under his gaze. The silence is unbearable, though. When he says nothing, I start talking.
“He didn’t hurt her, Grey—and he could have. You saw my armor. You know what they’re capable of. She’s so tiny that he probably could have carried her out of here—”
“Tycho.” His voice isn’t sharp anymore, and he runs a hand across the lower half of his face. Underneath all his anger and worry and doubt, there still flows a current of pain.
I hear what he’snotsaying, too. Nakiis might not have hurt her—but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t have. Or that he wouldn’t have used her against Grey.
“He let her go,” I say softly. “He left her unharmed.”
“He said he would return.”
“I know.”
“There is already such distrust for magic, and now—”
“Iknow.”
“And now I am to warn my guards and soldiers that a magical threat may come from thesky.”
“He’sonescraver—”
“You hope.” He gives me a look.
I bite my tongue.
He’s silent again. So quiet that wind rattles my windowpanes, and I nearly jump.
“Jake told me of what happened in Briarlock,” he finally says. “About Jax.”
I flush and look away, fidgeting. “Grey …”
“Even when I felt an attraction for Lia Mara, I knew my duty to Emberfall. And later, to Syhl Shallow.”
I frown. “I know.”
“I know you’re not working with the Truthbringers, Tycho.”
I look up in surprise.
His gaze hasn’t softened. “But it doesn’t matter what I know.” He pauses. “At court, your loyalty is in question. The company you keep is in question. Youractionsare in question. You may hate Lord Alek, but you heard the reaction to his accusations.” His eyes seem to darken. “Your position won’t get better once I warn the soldiers about Nakiis. To say nothing of Lia Mara.”
“Forgive me,” I say. “I would never—”
“I don’t want apologies,” he says.
