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“By who? Jarek?” She paused, relief filling her expression. “Sterling? Is he back already?”
“Neither,” Lily said, treading carefully since what she was about to say was unbelievable. “Something connected with the Wraith. I can’t explain it. I was in Vestial one minute, and here the next.”
Maude showed no reaction to the claim other than disappointment. “So that means no weapons then?” She shook her head, muttering under her breath. “Blasted Flares and their—”
Lily’s gaze fell toward the window. The ethae brought me here. Why? Why did it want her to come to Markoth? Did it have something to do with what Sterling said earlier that day?
“What’s going on?” Lily asked. “Sterling mentioned tensions were high, but nothing like this.”
“The camp was compromised as of this morning. A Stalker snuck in and—” Maude’s icy scowl let up for sadness. “Killed Mia.”
Dead? How? “What happ—” Lily’s heart thrashed in her ears. If the camp was discovered, did that mean…? “What about Luka?”
Maude sighed, watching Lily with a keen eye. “He’s missing.”
Lily’s legs weakened—the weight of the realization threatening to crumble her to the floor.
I never should’ve agreed to go.
She pushed toward the window, but Maude blocked her at the chest. Incensed, Lily shoved her. The soldier pushed Lily back by the shoulder.
Lily steadied herself, agonizing rage replacing her panic. “You let this happen! You all want him dead! I know you do.”
“Don’t take it out on me!” Maude shot back. “What do you think I’ve been trying to do here? I’m risking my life and my men’s trying to find him for you.” Maude’s toxicity wasn’t as potent, sympathy and torment clear in her expression. “I am not responsible for this, but I am not going to waste more of my people when it’s likely too late.”
“Where would the Swarm keep him?”
“Lilith. He’s probably not in Markoth anymore, if he was at all.”
He has to be. “I don’t care! I have to try and find him.”
Maude’s voice rose again. “You’re not going anywhere. This fight is lost.”
Lily ignored her, heading toward the stairs, but she was caught at the shoulder.
“Lil—”
Lily spun around, jerking her shoulder free. “I won’t leave Luka with them!”
Maude drew back as if she had swiped at her. Lily’s rage quelled seeing Maude’s hardened stature crumbling for little more than a flinch.
“Why are you fighting so hard for him, but not us?” Her expression said.
Maude was hard to get close to when they were young. Lily came to see Kyer like a father, but his daughter was prickly—short tempered. Not that Lily made an effort to get to know her. She barely spoke to anyone for the first few months after arriving in Rimore, and the more people tried, the more she sealed herself tighter.
But Maude never did. Though their silences dragged, she never expected Lily to speak. Maude was a quiet, distant comfort, never asking more of Lily than she was willing to give, even after she caught Lily sneaking out of her room for the first time. Lily was sure she’d turn her over to Kyer, or worse, Amalia. Instead, she gave her a tour of the castle, and then the next day the barracks, then the city center.
Lily’s first words in Rimore were thanking Maude for the grapefruit.
How could she ask anything of Maude now when she never had then?
“I’m going after him, and you’re not going to stop me.” Lily dropped her head and turned to the stairs.
“I helped you, you know.”
Lily stilled, turning back to Maude who was looking at the wall with her arms crossed.
“It was smart leaving from Zaitrerin. The ferry is a straight shot to the center of the continent.” Her brows were pinched, face sharp. “Zander told me what he did the next day. When everyone started questioning me about your whereabouts, I told them I saw you that morning, and that a guard accompanied you into town. I was trying to give you time for all the ferries to run and then shut down at nightfall.” She glanced to the floor. “I never considered you not coming back.”
