Page 212 of The Fifth Heir

Torren fastened a dagger at his waist. “Stop helping.”

“I’m presenting the available facts.”

“You’re enjoying the presentation too much.”

Rafe’s smile did not reach his eyes.

We all understood the part he had not said. The official histories could not be trusted. If a Keeper had concealed an entire fifth heir, he could have concealed deaths just as easily.

A sharp knock struck the outer door.

All four men moved.

Torren drew his dagger. Shadow spread across Sebastian’s fingers. Frost whitened Leander’s knuckles, and silver lightning flashed once beneath Rafe’s skin.

“I’ll get it,” I said.

“No,” they answered together.

Under other circumstances, I might have enjoyed that.

Torren took position beside the door while Sebastian examined the threshold wards. “One person. No visible spell against the lock.”

“Visible?” Rafe asked.

Sebastian ignored him and opened the door.

Camilla stood in the corridor.

Her hair had escaped its braid, and the hem of her academy coat was smeared with gray dust. She had no weapon. She held a roll of heavy paper against her chest with both hands.

“I need to speak to Talia.”

Torren did not move aside.

Camilla looked past him and found me. “Please.”

I had never heard my sister plead.

Dust streaked her cuffs and knees as well as her hem. Whatever had brought her here, she had not stopped to make herself presentable first.

“Let her in,” I said.

Torren’s jaw tightened, but he stepped back.

Camilla entered beneath the combined attention of four heirs. The door closed behind her, and Sebastian restored the wards.

She saw the summons on the wall.

All the color left her face.

“It’s already awake.”

“You knew this would happen?” I asked.

“No. Not tonight.” She looked down at the roll of paper. “I thought we had until morning.”

“Until morning for what?”