We both froze.
“Expecting someone?” Calder asked quietly.
“No.” I moved toward the door, expecting Pip when I swung it open.
And then she was there. Black hair. Green eyes. Familiar features we’d been searching for across countries and through the Ash.
Vitoria stood in my doorway.
For one heartbeat, we just stared at each other.
Then she threw herself into my arms, nearly knocking me backward. “You’re here. You’re actually here.”
I could hardly think beyond the shock. Beyond the buzzing in my ears. But despite everything, despite the hunt and the oath and all the reasons I should be demanding answers, I hugged her back just as tightly.
Because whatever else she was, whatever she’d done or been accused of doing—she was still my friend.
Chapter 45
Syneca
If you suddenly can’t remember someone’s name mid-conversation, they’ve just lied to you. Your mind rejects them before your mouth can.
Vitoria pulled back, hands gripping my shoulders like she needed to confirm I was real. Her eyes were dim, and there were shadows under them I’d never seen before.
“You look like hell,” I said, because what else do you say to your best friend who might be a murderer?
“You smell like you crossed a continent.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Through the Ash. Damnit, Syn, I never wanted you to follow me here.”
Silas growled from his corner, low with warning.
Vitoria glanced at him, and something of her old self flickered through. “Still grumpy, I see. Some things never change.”
“He’s tired,” I said, though that was putting it mildly.
“He’s a pain in the ass with wings.” But her voice held affection despite the words. “Remember when he ate my entire breakfast because I called him an oversized house cat?”
“You deserved that.”
“I absolutely did.” She moved into the room properly, and that’s when I noticed Calder had his hand near his blade, every line of his body tense.
Vitoria noticed too. “Cal? Are you okay?”
“Haven’t decided yet.” But he relaxed a hair, never taking his eyes off her.
She pulled something from her pocket, dried fruit and a piece of cheese wrapped in cloth. Tossed it to Calder without preamble. “Eat. You look like you haven’t had a decent meal in days.”
He caught it reflexively, suspicion warring with hunger. Hunger won. He bit into the cheese, still watching her like she might vanish or attack at any moment.
“Sit,” Vitoria said, gesturing to the bed like this was her room instead of mine. “Please. I don’t have much time.”
We sat—me on the bed, Calder taking the chair by the window, Vitoria settling on the floor with her back against the wall. Like old times. Like none of this nightmare had happened.
Except it had.
“I’m not the Phoenix,” she said immediately. “I know what they’re saying. What they think I did. But I swear to you, Syn, I’m not.”
I drew back. “I know you’re not. You think I don’t know that? I’ve been defending you the entire time. Fighting to find you before they could kill you for something you didn’t do.”
