“Wynnie says they were almost through the veil when it happened,” he finished.
George’s heart galloped ferociously, its heightened activity forcing a rush of blood to her ears.
“Is Wynnie all right?” Hildy checked as George asked the same about Isahn.
“Dunstan and Wynnie are all right.”
“What about Isahn?” Georgie asked again, this time grabbing Burke by the tunic with her touch magic and yanking him to attention.
“He’s alive,” he said somberly.
“What the fuck does that mean? Where is he? Take me to him.” She jostled Burke with every sentence. Her own composure rattled just as badly.
“I don’t think that’s a great idea.” He remained calm despite being shaken like a rag doll.
“It wasn’t a godsdamn suggestion,” George bit out, dropping her magical grasp on Burke. She spun and rushed toward the alley entrance. “The villa, right? Let’s go.”
“We’re covered,” Hildy announced as she and Burke caught up.
With sound protection confirmed, George wondered, “What did Gianis and Marinos learn?”
“Not sure, but you know they don’t like to take anything to the king until they’re positive.”
“And now they’re positive ofwhat?” Hildy tacked on.
George fought a quiver in her lower lip. Everything was crumbling around her.
Burke offered more details, explaining how Wynnie and Dunstan brought a very confused and slightly belligerent Isahn to Villa Senone. Then they’d left him and gone to take care of the problem.
“Take care of it? Successfully?” George asked, sure she hadn’t understood him correctly. Her mind was solidly focused on what she might find at the villa. Was the Isahn she knew and lovedgone?
Burke nodded.
Hildy’s mouth fell open. “Wynnie killed someone?”
“No,” Burke clarified. “Adda and I were nearing Senone when they were leaving. Dunstan and I took care of the problem. Wynnie handled visuals. We were lucky. The fuckers got cocky, sat down for a drink, and were well in their cups when Dunstan and I found them. Thank the gods they had no scruples about drinking before midday.”
“Undeserved pride does funny things to people.” Hildy shook her head morosely.
“They’re strong mages and even stronger warriors. But we caught them off guard. Left the alley looking like them, and made sure we were seen around town before splitting up. Wynnie and Dunstan should be here with Adda and Isahn now.”
“Will Ceadda and Isahn ever have a normal, official, first meeting?” George’s question was innocent enough, would be funny even, in the right circumstance. But her voice quivered the slightest bit when she spoke, belying the fragility of her emotional state.
“Georgie...” Hildy squeezed her hand.
“I know it’s scary right now. But it’ll be all right, we’ll figure this out.” Burke slung a protective arm across George’s slumped shoulders, and the trio turned up the drive to Villa Senone.
“Whereishe?”
Dunstan looked stoic with his arms crossed over his chest, the effect lessened slightly by the flapping of his tunic in the spring breeze. Wynnie stood beside Adda, defeat writ plain on both their faces.
“Where is he? Why are you all out here?” George questioned her friends again, voice tight with panic.
“He’s inside. He’s safe and alert. We’re out here so he can’t listen to us,” Wynnie explained.
“He’s wily, even in his current state,” Dunstan added.
She clenched her teeth. “How bad is it?” They all knew she meant the memory loss.
