Caspian broke off his gaze with Kieran and turned to her.
The pain in her face was gone before anyone else in the room could have noticed it.
I noticed it.
So did Rev.
Kieran sat first, though it was closer to a collapse.
Caspian remained standing for one breath longer, then lowered himself into the chair at the end of the table.
Cosima leaned on the table between them.
Her Mark glinted at her collarbone, bright enough that I wondered if anger looked different on her than fear.
“This is what they want,” she said quietly.
Neither of them answered.
“Two men standing over Astra Verita in the dining hall whileher Mark reacts erratically enough to draw the attention of witnesses.”
The word witnesses changed the air around us.
Kieran looked away first.
Caspian stared at my wrist.
My hand was still curled against the table, the Mark blazing and shifting under my skin.
I made myself uncurl it.
Cosima turned to me.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere but here.” Her eyes tracked to the basin on the far wall. Glowing gently silver. I hadn’t noticed it.
Rev stood at once.
“I’m coming too.”
“No,” Cosima said.
Rev opened her mouth to argue but Cosima beat her to it.
“Stay,” she said. “Make sure they leave separately.”
Rev glanced at Kieran.
Then at Caspian.
“Wonderful. Babysitting the boys. My favorite.”
But she sat back down.
I rose.
