Page 76

Damaris looks back down at the image. "And you think this is all connected?"

"I don't know," I admit. "But I can't stop feeling like it is."

"You've got to be careful. The Virels own that place, and they own much more on Sero. His invitation to come to his party?" He shakes his head. "Not a coincidence."

"I think you're right."

My thoughts flicker, uninvited, to the alley, to fingers closing around my throat and lips ghosting over mine. I shove them aside. Not here. Not now.

Damaris doesn't need that. He's already worried enough.

"Hey." I look up when he pulls me back. "You're not crazy, okay? If it feels wrong, it probably is. But going out there alone? That was a terrible idea."

Something in my chest loosens just slightly at that, and I huff out a breath, because I know he's right. "Yeah. I figured that out."

His mouth twitches. "Good. Because I'd like you to not get kidnapped on my watch."

That almost makes me smile. Wrapping my hands around the mug, I let the heat sink into my fingers. "I just thought…"

"That it might be her," he finishes for me.

I nod. For a while neither of us says anything, but this time it doesn't feel uncomfortable. It just feels like us.

"We'll figure it out," he says after a moment.

I want to believe him. I really do.

Outside, the rain picks up, soft at first, then steadier, tapping against the glass in uneven rhythms.

Damaris glances toward the window, then back at me. "So, what about him?"

I freeze, my fingers tightening around the mug. "What about him?"

"Ciaran. The one who dragged you out of whatever that was. Why is he suddenly everywhere?"

I shake my head. "I don't know."

That's not entirely true. But it's the only answer I have that doesn't make things worse.

"Did he help you?"

I hesitate, then nod. "Yeah."

Damaris studies me, like he's deciding whether to ask something else. For once, he doesn't. "Okay." He leans back in his chair. "Then we need to be careful. Because something's going on. I don't know what it is yet, but I don't like any of the pieces we have so far."

We don't say much after that. The tea goes cold between us. The cookies disappear one by one, more out of habit than hunger. Outside, the rain settles into a steady rhythm against the glass, filling the silence without quite breaking it.

Eventually, Damaris stretches and pushes back from the table. "We'll deal with it tomorrow."

I nod, then hesitate as I follow him into the kitchen. "Dama?"

"Hmm?"

"What about you? You said you thought Lucan was your biggest problem."

When he freezes halfway through rinsing his mug, I know I've got my answer.

"Is there something you need to tell me?"