A black-cloaked man loomed over me. “What’s a beautiful lady like you doing in a place like this?”
My eyes widened, then narrowed. The fingers on my right hand twitched, begging me to slap him, and my teeth ground together. But I couldn’t muster any anger.
Mouth warbling, I fell forward against his chest and wrapped my arms around him.
Seth grabbed the back of my head and tucked me against him. Something brushed my leg, and I glanced down to see Whisper weaving between our feet, tail wagging furiously.
“I still think that was risky,” Seraphim said. Pulling away from Seth, I breathed out in relief when I saw her approaching. “She could have turned you into dust.”
“I couldn’t resist.” Seth glanced around before wrapping an arm around my shoulder and guiding me back to the safe house.
I waited until the door closed behind us to speak. “Where have you been?”
Seraphim grabbed a candle from the table and sparked a flame between her fingers. “Most of the story is Seth’s to tell. Getting back into the city was what delayed us—it was nearly impossible to find a means to slip in unseen.”
Seth threw back his hood. I gasped. A faint gray line streaked through his bangs.
“Why were you nearthe Empty?” I demanded.
“Seraphim.” Seth looked at our leader. “Would you fill in the others?” He glanced at me. “I assume they’re looking for us.”
“Obviously.”
“I will,” Seraphim promised. “Go on. Come tomorrow, everything will change. One way or another.”
“Go where?” I asked.
Seth didn’t say anything. He took my hand and looked at me with soft, pleading eyes.
Pulling out the crumpled letter, I handed it to Seraphim. “You’re right. Tomorrow.”
She took the note and nodded, glancing between us sadly.
Slipping out the door, Seth yanked his hood over his head before knitting his fingers through mine. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” I said. “Luckily, the cuts weren’t very deep.”
Nodding, he glanced up and down the street before guiding me down a narrow path I’d never walked before. We emerged beside a thin channel reflecting the orange and purple hues of the setting sun.
“Seth,” I whispered, “are you alright?”
“Yes.” He grinned. “Don’t worry, princess. It’s not bad news.”
He looked genuinely happy, but . . . something felt wrong. Falling silent, I searched for guards or prying eyes. We encountered only a handful. Seth weaved us through thin alleys and back roads, retracing paths he’d probably walked hundreds of times.
The channel widened, flowing back into the river. The rows of homes ceased as we reached a stretch of soil bordering the water, where trees and flowering plants grew in abundance. Ducking between the boughs, Seth led me toward the riverbank and dropped my hands when we reached an old, iron fence.
It was only knee-high. Lifting my skirt, I moved to step over it, but Seth picked me up and gently set me on the other side.
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow as he leaped over it.
“A princess shouldn’t lift a finger,” he teased, leading me deeper into the little woods.
“What is this?” I asked.
“The back entrance,” he said, turning away.
Wind blew through my cloak and rustled the leaves. A wind chime rang in the distance, faint and alone. Seth walked until he stood below the tree where the tiny, old chime hung.
