I hated him and his protocols more than I ever had before.
My Mark pulled at all three lines.
Caspian took one step closer. Hale remained motionless. Kieran looked at me and let me see the fear before he covered it.
“Astra,” he said.
My name, and the fact that he could not stay.
The stewards entered.
This time they knew better than to touch him.
Hale went first because Hale understood when a fight would cause a bigger problem. Kieran followed because he realized the wisdom in Hale’s choice, though grudgingly.
At the threshold, Kieran looked back.
“Try not to miss me too much.”
My throat hurt.
“Only if you try not to bleed too much.”
He glanced at his weeping shoulder. “I make no promises about things I’m not sure I can manage.”
Then he was gone.
Hale paused after him.
His eyes found mine.
The rain-dark line pulled once, steady and unbearable.
“Dawn,” he said.
I nodded.
The door closed after him.
The lock turned again.
Caspian and I were alone in the west antechamber.
Except the walls were full of girls who had waited here before me. My mother’s warning was carved under the table. Delphine’s initials were under the bench, dated three days after she disappeared.
Alive.
At least then.
Caspian stood beside me without speaking.
For once, I was grateful for silence.
I went back to the table.
I crouched.
I put my fingers beside my mother’s word.
