Page 48

Three women stood outside with Otho and Nezara. Julia was waving one hand as she spoke, Robin looked furious, and Teresa⁠—

Teresa was standing.

I was out of the truck before she turned toward it. She said my name, but I couldn’t answer. I went straight to her and put my hands on her shoulders, looking from her face to her throat and down the front of her shirt. No blood. No torn clothing. She had both feet planted beneath her and was looking up at me as if she had a question.

I needed another moment. Just one, with her warm and solid beneath my hands.

“I’m fine, Rauf, really,” Teresa assured me.

I could feel Nezara watching. Let her. She could put whatever she liked in her fucking files. I shifted closer to Teresa.

Broken crockery covered part of the floor. Beyond the overturned chair, the kitchen cupboards stood open and the counter was covered with things the thief hadn’t taken. I wanted someone to come out of that doorway. I wanted a throat I could get my hands around.

But there was no one there. Teresa had started rubbing her thumb against my wrist.

I made myself look at her again.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Someone broke into our rooms!” Julia practically shrieked. Robin had an arm around her and flinched away from the sound.

“Jason, probably,” Teresa said. “I got back from helping Otho and the place was trashed. Our cupboards have been cleaned out of any food that doesn’t need the refrigerator. Looks like some blankets are gone too.”

“What about those samples?” She’d nearly died collecting them.

“Those I gave to Otho this morning. He’s running some tests.”

Otho nodded in confirmation.

I was holding Teresa’s hand. I hadn’t realized I was doing it until Nezara’s gaze flicked down to our twined fingers.

I didn’t let go.

“This dorm isn’t safe for you anymore,” I said, and it was exactly what I’d believed the day before.

“No shit,” Teresa muttered at the same moment Nezara said, “He has a point.”

Teresa glanced at her, then back at the doorway. I was trying to work out how to ask her to come with me without starting yesterday’s argument again when two trucks turned into the street.

Korfas got out of the first with Kazan and Lorkin. Dezan brought the second to a stop behind them, and Zarcal climbed down from the passenger side. They’d made better time than I’d expected. I hadn’t left much for them to do except follow me.

Nezara gave them the short version while Korfas looked through the open door.

“You can’t stay here,” Korfas announced. “None of you. We don’t know if that man is coming back.”

“Did you find anything in the cave?” Teresa asked.

Korfas gritted his teeth. “No.”

Her fingers tightened around mine.

“You can come back with me,” Dezan told Julia. “I know it didn’t work out between us, but I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

Julia was already shaking her head. “No, no I can’t.”

Dezan stopped a few feet from her. He looked as though she’d struck him, and I had the unwelcome thought that Teresa might look the same way when I sent her away.

“Just until this is over,” he said.