That’s no official.
The towering man wore an elite mask and a billowing black cloak. Beneath, he wore standard black leathers, brown straps wrapping his midsection and bearing small knives.
Though I could only just make out his eyes through the mask and layers of clothing, I could see a hunger in the bright blue depths.
He jostled some of the clothes, nearly grazing Altair’s elbow on his second pass through. I tried to remind myself that even if he found us, he’d have no way to know for sure who we were. Even if he did, we’d fight them all. And maybe, just maybe, we’d win.
“Or maybe this is the moment we say goodbye to you, sweet catalyst.”The stars’ voices were higher than normal, their tone so unserious I didn’t bother to respond. We’d live. This wasn’t the end.
Luckily, I was proven right as the elite sighed loudly and backed away. His face turned to a terrified Joseph, the doors slamming closed a moment later and shaking the wooden walls. We didn’t dare breathe again, listening closely as the steps faded.
“Just so you’re aware, two rogue shaytan were reported to have been in this village. Keep an eye out for them.”
“Oh, how scary. I’ll absolutely watch out. If I see anyone suspicious, I’ll inform an official.”
“Good.” A beat of silence, a slammed door, and then, far enough away that it was difficult to hear, “As you were grunts. Officials.”
“Create, kill, conquer!” a handful of voices said in unison, bidding the elite farewell. More steps receded after. Had we truly gotten so lucky?
Now somewhat confident we wouldn’t be caught, I looked up at Altair, finding he was already staring down at me. Though, that could have been from the bent neck and hunched shoulders.
“We survived,” I whispered.
“Barely,” he muttered back.
A small stream of light from the crack between the wardrobe doors shone across Altair’s unrecognizable face. Oddly enough, I found myself missing his real face. His hand left the back of my head, sliding over to my cheek, the other releasing my waist to move to the other side. My heart was racing, adrenaline leaving my skin tingling. As my focus went from magic to Altair, I felt the slip of the cloak charm.
Our noses touched, his face tilting to the side after. I watched in odd anticipation as he grew nearer, and then, as if my mind simply could not think at all anymore, I closed my eyes. His breath fanned across my lips, which parted of their own accord.
“Little Void,” he whispered as his lips met—
Light burst into the wardrobe, spreading like wildfire. I jolted back, releasing my hold on his shirt and smacking my head into the wardrobe. Altair pushed his arm in front of me, as if ready to attack.
“It’s safe to come out now,” Joseph said, his breaths coming evenly and his skin fading from bright red to pale pink. Clearing my throat, I nodded, exiting the wardrobe.
***
Dust clung to every surface of the fortunes shop that Mihaley owned. The southernmost village in the Almud District was coated in orange sand, dust building from it. Heat still drenched the air here, where the sun beat down despite the time of year.
“I think that’s all of them,” I said, pulling out the last vial of haya designated for the third stop.
“Thank you.” Mihaley was loud, her voice carrying across the shop. Of the three individuals we’d met so far, she seemed the least scared. Surprising, seeing as her market was crawling with officials. Unsurprisingly, Altair and I’s faces had been nailed all around the area as well. Not labeled missing, butwanted.Which meant Talon had decided to label me a perpetrator.
Stars knew I was.
“Of course. If you don’t mind, could you tell me if you heard anything about that Tershetta woman? Or the Altair man?”
Mihaley looked at me through a half-lidded gaze, her lips pursing as if in disbelief. “You meanyou two?”
Altair stepped forward, placing a small jade crystal back onto one of the many tables bordering the walls. “We have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m sure you don’t,” she scoffed, moving to sit down at the large, round table that sat in the center of the room. It had a deep purple cloth on it, silver stars placed sporadically across the fabric. A large, clear ball loomed in the middle, sitting at least two feet high. “The stars speak to me, you know. I hear them.”
Do you really?
“No, of course not.”
Are you lying?
