Peregrin’s forehead wrinkled, and his hooves clopped on the stone floor as he led the way to the kitchen. “Why would I frost snails or plants?”
Julian patted Lore on the shoulder as the three of them passed us, saying to Peregrin, “To be fair, you’ve done weirder things.”
They disappeared into the tunnel that led to the kitchen. I startled when Gwen sat down on a chair. She’d silently joined us while I’d been distracted. “Did you tell her?”
“Not yet.” Soren shifted uncomfortably. “I was about to.”
He’d already told her? He’d probably told the others too.
I snapped. “Why does everyone know where my family is except me?” My voice cracked on the last word. I drew a deep breath and blinked a few times, holding back sudden tears. This whole day had been one reaction after another without a second to process anything, and now it all swept over me like a heavy, suffocating blanket.
I couldn’t breathe.
My vision flickered with little black spots around the edges.
“Brynn.” Soren’s voice brought me back into focus, though just slightly. He was close enough that I felt his breath on my cheek. “Come, sit. I promise to tell you everything I learned. I think you’ll be pleased.”
A warm pressure at my back encouraged me to walk toward the couch by the fire.
I sank onto it, numb.
I barely noticed Gwen’s voice in the background. “I’ll go get her some water.”
“Did you find them or not?” I whispered, staring at the rug through blurry eyes.
“Yes.”
My eyes flew to his.
As I blinked, a tear slipped out.
He tracked its progress down my face until I swiped at it. Swallowing visibly, he sat back. “I know where they’ll be tomorrow night. They’re part of a staff selected to serve at the Winter Solstice Ball hosted by a stonemason named Cosmarion Bristle—Cosmo for short.”
“Why do you say that like it’s bad news?”
He hesitated. “They’ll be difficult to get to.”
“How difficult?”
“Cosmo’s guest list is highly exclusive, invitation only.”
“But... we don’t need to wait until this ball, do we?”
When he didn’t answer right away, I straightened and tried to focus. “What’re you not telling me?”
“His home is invitation only all year round.”
“We can’t... sneak in?”
“We’ve dug unauthorized tunnels before, so it is doable,” he said, taking me seriously. That helped me breathe a bit easier. “Though someone like Cosmo is likely able to afford quite a bit of stonework, like you see here in my burrow, which keeps intruders out.” He gestured to the floor and the walls that weren’t covered by bookshelves. “The only way to know for sure—and to avoid getting caught—is to acquire a floor plan first.”
Sighing, he rubbed a frustrated hand over his face. “That’s something we’ve never been able to obtain for Cosmo’s home.” Bringing his gaze back to mine, he added, “More importantly, it would require at least a week of digging, maybe more, depending on the location. It’s highly unlikely they’d still be there by then.”
My gaze fell to the pretty sandals still wrapped around my feet. I pulled them under me and curled into a ball on the couch, leaning against the soft orange cushions. “You’re saying it’s hopeless.” That numb feeling was spreading through my whole body.
“I didn’t say that.”
I thought back, trying to remember his exact words. “Yes you did. You said they’d be difficult to get to.”
