Thandie’s eyes narrowed. “How long?”
“Don’t follow them. Stay on the ship.None of youmust join them. Play sick, poison yourselves somehow, whatever you need so they think you’re more of a liability out there than remaining here.”
“Why would they want us out there anyway?”
The question hung in the air.
“Why send canaries down a mine shaft?” Thandie snapped. Julian didn’t understand the reference, but the others clearly did.
“Stay on the ship,” Julian repeated. “Don’t go out onto the ice. And when nobody comes back, turn the ship around and get out of here.” He scanned the room again. *Everyone here is housekeeping or kitchen staff?*he asked Thandie. *What about the sailors?*
*I’ve been talking with them. They’re worried, too.*
Good.
The deer shifter was still suspicious. “How do you know they’re not going to come back?”
Julian stood. “Because I’m going to make sure of it.”
“How are you—”
Francine.
Alarm shocked through him. Something was wrong. Francine hadn’t called to him telepathically, and there was no way he could hear anything from the dining room this far below decks—but something was wrong.
“Excuse me,” he said, already stalking towards the door.
Thandie followed him, trailing him through the corridor.
*What are you going to do?*she asked. *Kill them?*
He didn’t answer. *Just stay on the ship.*
*What about your girlfriend?*
He whirled around. “What are you talking about?”
*Ms. Delacourt.*Thandie folded her arms.
*She isn’t—*
Thandie made a disgusted noise. *I worked for Harper for YEARS. You think you’re the first shifter who’s pretended to feel nothing for their mate, because admitting it would put you both in danger?*
He hesitated, but only for a moment. The plan needed to change. Francine would survive by being Eloise’s ally—but she would only escape if she didn’t go with her onto the ice.
*She isn’t going to leave with the rest of them. Take her with you.*
*What about you?*
*I won’t be coming back.*
Francine was safe. She was slouched on the same sofa she spent so much time lounging on, scowling out the window. He paused at the door to their suite a moment, and she looked up.
He reassessed. She wasn’t safe. None of them were safe. But she was, for the moment, unharmed.
*What happened?*he asked.
“Another entirely enjoyable meal with my favorite people in the world,” she drawled. She searched his face, and her eyes narrowed. *Why? What’s wrong?*
