“Hey, hon.” Mom hurriedly wipes her face with a paper towel, doing whatever she can to steady her voice and make herself appear normal. But her red-eyed sniffles would’ve given her away no matter what.
I dash to her side, and wrap her in a warm, comforting hug.
“What’s wrong? Did he hurt you?” After Colter’s warning, I wouldn’t put it past Alistair. There’s no telling what a man with his power is capable of doing.
“No, no.” She shakes her head, but eases deeper into my hug. “Just… something I saw.”
“You don’t have to lie for him,” I whisper. What comes out of my mouth next surprises Mom so much that her face loses all traces of tears.
“Colter told me everything.”
I can’t believe I didn’t think about her sooner. Having seen Maxwell Henderson murdered right in front of her. Fuck. Quenching my own wants and needs with Colter stripped me of my common sense.
But how was I supposed to know? Mom’s strength comes at the strangest of times. I knew that murder was a terrible offense, so why would I think that she’d go along with it just to further whatever the hell she was doing with Alistair.
Not the time for those thoughts, I remind myself. I need to be here for her.
“He told you… everything?”
I nod against her side.
“Then you know about—“ She can’t finish the sentence.
“Alistair? The Veil? Maxwell? Yes, everything.” I squeeze her. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
“No, Lilith, I’m sorry,” Mom says, turning toward me to join in the hug properly. “You were right. We shouldn’t have come here.”
“And now we have to get out,” I say, pulling away enough for her to see my face and know I’m serious. “We can’t stay. Colter says it’s too dangerous.”
“Alistair won’t stop hunting us.” Mom’s eyes sink to our shoes, her skin turning a pale shade of white.
“Maybe not, but staying here won’t do us any favors either,” I say, latching onto Mom’s wrist and pulling herout of the kitchen. “We have to go. We’ll figure out the rest later.”
And bywe, I mean Colter.
However, I’m not going to tell Mom that. Not when I haven’t had the time to explain it.
Like me, Mom packs light. A single bag with a week’s worth of clothing and supplies.
We set out together, undivided for the first time in far too long. At last, we are in perfect harmony. Neither of us knowing if we will come out of this on the other side, but holding onto hope, nonetheless.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Colter
My decision not to disturb Lilith when I left came with a heavy heart. Part of me wanted to wake her up and dive straight into another round of shenanigans, but I couldn’t. I have told her to leave this place, and I need her to do it. I’d be tempting fate by staying too close to her after our emotions boiled over and ended the way they did last night.
The only way I can be sure she’s safe is if I stay faraway from her.
I went down to the Veil’s catacombs early this morning. Many of the resident scribes were fast asleep when I entered, but some were hard at work, doing whatever they were tasked with. We didn’t speak, and I was happy about that. I have no interest in dealing with lesser Veil affairs at the moment.
Not while I await the Head’s arrival.
We meet in his chambers at ten thirty on the dot. He’s wearing a suit and tie, rather than his customary robes. He must be planning to head into the city once we’re done here.
His chamber is terribly dark, save for one lamp on his desk, illuminating his face and whatever he’s reading. It’s odd being in here with no torches lit on the walls, to show off the relics and tomes from the old years.
“Do you know what you’ve done? How dare you be so careless?” The Head is seething.
