I’ve made them a promise. I told Magistratus Garrin that I know how to fix this, that he and the other shallows can count on me—and it’s true. Because I’ve figured it out, thanks to the Adastrum Devotis comets. Aurora is coming tonight, her celestial power matched only by that of her lover, Orion.
I’ve known for weeks that a miracle would be needed for me to get past the suppression magic of the obelisks.
Aurora is my miracle.
Tephryn won’t be pleased, but I can’t let that stop me.
My shallows need this too much.Ineed it too much.
A heart divided is a heart unfaithful.
My heart is not divided in this.
22
A thousand swear words screamed across Viri’s mind as she looked at her stunned guardian, panic instantly rising within her.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” she blurted, then winced, because it was exactly what it looked like. She and Reeve had been caught red-handed inside the Magistratus’s locked office—there was no way to deny that.
Viri wasn’t sure what she expected to happen next, though a large part of her was certain Sarielle would have no choice but to follow protocol and call for the Nox.
That, however, wasn’t what Sarielle did.
Instead, she unfroze and strode straight over to Viri, wrapping her in an embrace.
“Elders, I’ve been so worried,” Sarielle said into her ear.
Viri nearly wilted with relief. “I’m sorry—I never meant for you to find us here. I know what a difficult position this puts youin.”
“Never mind that,” Sarielle said, drawing away. Her blue eyes flicked to Reeve, her features tightening as she realizedwho—and what—he was, but she quickly returned her attention to Viri. “Everyone is looking for you. Captain Farrow has his Nox out in force, half ordered to find the missing children, the other half ordered to find you.”
Viri grimaced, but said, “They won’t be able to find us where we’re going.”
That was one benefit of traveling into the deadly wood, at least.
Sarielle held Viri’s eyes for a long moment, before she quietly said, “I won’t tell you not to do whatever it is you’re doing. I know better than that—just as I trust there’s a reason you’re here withhim.”
Sarielle’s gaze flicked to Reeve again, and this time, Viri turned as well, finding him as tense as stone, his features completely blank as he stared unflinchingly at the Magistratus. There was no indication of the animosity he held toward her, thank the Elders, but it was obvious he didn’t want to be in her presence. That was hardly surprising, given who they both were: the right hand to the Reaper Priest and the city’s highly moral leader who had once been a hunter, two people who would never be on the same side of anything.
Except, right now, theywere.
“There’s a reason,” Viri confirmed. “You told me last night that there’s no cost too steep if it means finding the Reaper Priest.” She dipped her chin toward Reeve. “This is the cost of me being able to do that. I don’t have time to explain, but I promise everything I’m doing is with the aim of stopping him.”
Sarielle’s lips pressed together, as if she were fighting the urge to say that hadn’t been what she’d meantat all, but then she sighed. “Whatever your plans are, just be careful.”
“Always,” Viri said, knowing it was what her guardian needed to hear and praying she could keep her word.
Sarielle was about to say something else—maybe ask what Viri and Reeve were doing in her office to begin with—but she was interrupted by a knock on the door. Before any of them could react, Meera walked in, her focus on the papers in her hands as she said,“We forgot something at the meeting—”
The head of the Hunters’ Guild stopped abruptly when she caught sight of Viri and Reeve, her dark features slackening with shock.
Viri’s heart leapt to her throat, but it wasn’t just because of her mentor’s unexpected arrival.
It was because two Nox guards appeared directly behind her.
A single glance was all it took for them to recognize who they’d just walked in on, with both lunging forward at the same time, making Viri realize she and Reeve were going to have to fight their way out of the room.
Only, that wasn’t what happened.
