Gris fired herarrow. It whizzed past Theo, meeting the neck of a Deavopan soldier creeping up behind them. His sword fell to the deck with a clank. Theo whirled on Gris as she stood tall atop the deck, another arrow drawn and her hair whipping against the wind in the torrential downpour. Clad in her black breastplate, she practically blended into the night, but Theo knew the shine of her bow and the vivid locks of her hair. Gris had come back.
When he’d needed her most, she was nowhere to be found. But the sight of her in the same armor she wore during the war brought determination to Theo’s heart. He had Esaias and Gris by his side once again.
“Both of you need to get out of here.” Gris didn’t dare lower her bow, drawing it back.
“Gods, Gris,” Esaias muttered, “you always have impeccable timing.”
“What are you doing here?” Theo asked. Had she seen Adelaide taken?
“I’ve come for Amaris.” Gris took slow, methodical steps down the stairs, her aim still drawn.
Theo startled. A cold wind sent a shiver through him, further freezinghis bare chest and reminding him of his shame, laid open for the realm to see.
“Amaris is within the manor.”
“No, she’s not. I followed her.” Gris released her arrow. The sound following it was the slump of another soldier hitting the deck.
His breath hitched. “No,” he stammered. “We’re here for Adelaide. I sent Amaris—”
“Adelaide?”
“They took her.”
Gris drew a sharp breath. “I’ll find them.”
“Gris, where have you been?”
“That’s not important right now.”
Theo raised an inquisitive brow, and he gently set the tip of his sword on the deck. “Not important?” He gestured around them. “I sent you to investigate Freville’s murder, and the Accords attack!”
“The entire Accords aren’t here, only Deavopan. It isn’t a full-scale siege.”
“Then what do they want?”
“I don’t know.”
Esaias stepped forward and threw his hands up between them. “It would seem none of us have the time to explain. We have both Amaris and Adelaide to find.”
Gris nodded, but her eyes drifted to Theo’s knee. “You’re injured.”
He tightened his grip around his sword. Amaris and Adelaide were here. He swallowed as the monster threatened to break to the surface. Its claws were a subtle reminder, a mere whisper in his head. He allowed a single shred of it to sweep away his pain and slow his heart. No injury would keep him from protecting them.
“Who isn’t?” Esaias threw out.
The rain grew stronger, creating sheets around them, narrowing their circle of vision.
“We need to get below deck,” Theo said, but as he did, a creak sounded behind Gris.
Theo narrowed his eyes, eyeing a shining blade through the rain, raised and ready to strike. Before he could warn Gris, she turned and launched an arrow through the soldier’s throat. His body tumbled down the stairs and jerked like a fish flopping on the deck.
“I’ll go after them. Esaias, you need to get him inside,” Gris shouted over the rain. “Theo, I tried to find you at the Conjugation. Your father wants to send Amaris to Elric.”
“Old news,” Esaias said, annoyed. “We were planning to get her out.”
Gris only raised a brow before she shook her head. “You both stay here. I’ll go after them.”
“No.” Theo wouldn’t leave their rescue only to Gris. She needed their help, and he had to protect Amaris.
