When we arrive at the entryway, we’re not the only ones gathered. The hall is lined with legionnaires and servants, ready to greet the emperor upon his arrival.
I realize I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. Should I be playing the part of the empress? Do I care if I look the part? I don’t know what an empress would do in this situation.
Before I can dwell on it too long, the doors swing open and several legionnaires walk in. For one brief moment, I hope that I’ll see Anya. It was something I hadn’t let myself consider, but as they march forward then fan out to allow the emperor to enter, I find myself looking for her.
Caiden is alone.
There’s no Anya.
No Brevan.
My heart crashes into my stomach then sits there like a stone. Where are they?
Caiden limps into the estate, his clothing tattered and covered in mud and dark stains. There’s scratches and scrapes on his face and in the bare areas on his arms where his sleeves have been torn apart. A lump rises in my throat. He was fighting, and it didn’t look like it went well.
I suck in a jagged breath as I try not to think the worst. Someone nearby grabs my hand and holds it tight. I can’t turn to look. I’m afraid the impassive stoic expression I’ve managed to fix on my face will crack the second I see any kind of sorrow reflected in anyone else’s expression.
Caiden approaches and someone else gives me a little shove, the hand releases mine. I step forward and lock eyes on the emperor.
He gives me a weary smile. “You look well.”
“Welcome home.” It’s all I can manage while my insides are screaming at me to demand where the others are. Where is my best friend, and where is my enforcer?
I swallow hard. Notmyanything. Just the emperor’s enforcer. Loyal to him, nothing to me.
He approaches until he’s right in front of me, then stops. “I’m sure you have questions. I need a few hours to collect myself, then we can talk.”
My fingers tremble as I watch him walk past me and down the hall, a group of legionnaires following in his wake.
Telling someone you need totalkto them, is never good.
The backs of my eyes sting, and I’m clenching my jaw to keep myself from falling apart completely.
They’re dead. That’s the only answer that makes sense for this kind of reaction. He’s not gloating. He’s not bragging. He looks—oh fuck, he lookssad. I didn’t know he was capable of that.
“We should go,” Antonia says. “I can sit with you in your rooms.”
I nod, then we follow the group at a distance, continuing up one more floor of stairs after they turn down the hall to Caiden’s room.
“What do you think happened out there?” I finally ask.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure where they went. You never told me,” Antonia says.
“They told me they were going to check on Anya, but I didn’t get any promises that she’d be returned,” I explain. “What if…what if?”
“Don’t think like that.” Antonia loops her arm through mine. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe the others traveling slower and they’ll show up later.”
She doesn’t need to specify who she means byotherswho might be with Anya. And though I don’t believe her, I nod. “Yeah, maybe.”
“Should we return to your rooms?” Nate offers. “Or would you like me to escort you back to the library?”
Charlotte rushes over to us. “I let the kitchen know. I saw the emperor, where are the others?”
“We don’t know,” Antonia tells her.
“Where’s Genevieve?” Charlotte asks.
“She and Ludis didn’t come down,” I say.
