She sobered. “No, it’s a desperate one. But I have an idea. Do you trust me?”
Not caring who saw, he put his hands on the table and grasped hers. “With everything that I am.”
“Tonight, during the feast,” she whispered. “Have a bag ready. Bring your weapons.”
“I love you,” he replied, feeling hope rise in his breast for the first time in what felt like forever. They might die in this attempt, but dying together would be better than the living death Sabrina planned for them.
“I love you, too,” she replied fiercely, squeezing his hands.
In the end,Iliana went to Alise. She wasn’t positive she could trust her old friend, but there wasn’t much choice. She and Han needed wizard help to pull this off, and Alise was the only wizard Iliana came even close to trusting. Hopefully their Founder’s Day reconciliation would extend to a favor.
Besides which, a certain wild recklessness had taken hold of Iliana. Even a day ago, she might not have contemplated this, but what she’d told Han was true: she was in love with him and the astonishing truth that he loved her in return had changed everything. He washersand she wouldn’t meekly surrender the one thing that gave her life meaning.
She’d rather die.
Well, she’d rather live, happily ever after with Han, but those were the only two options she’d accept.
When Alise opened her bedroom door to Iliana, the wizard girl looked uneasy enough that Iliana nearly second-guessed herself. But Alise recovered, beckoning Iliana to come in, then activated the lock and put her back to the door. “You heard?” Alise asked.
That gave Iliana pause, and she swallowed her prepared speech. “Heard what?”
Alise shook her head, frowning. “No, I’m being stupid. Of course you couldn’t have heard. Papa sent another courier. Nic is in Meresin, with Lord Phel.”
“Oh.” Iliana’s knees went weak, her head swimming to catch up. Though Alise hadn’t offered, she sat on Alise’s bed. Better than passing out on her floor. “So, she didn’t escape?”
“That’s just it,” Alise sat beside her, running her hands through her sleek black hair in agitation, making it stand up. “Apparently shedidescape, across the sea, to non-Convocation lands, but Lord Phel brought her back. One of our wizard enforcers found them in a harbor town in Ophiel. Phel had put her in an iron collar,” she added in a horrified whisper.
“Oh, Alise. I’m sorry.” Iliana put an arm around her friend and Alise sagged against her. She couldn’t think of anything to say. “How awful for her.”
Alise nodded against Iliana’s shoulder. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Is there anything youcando?” Iliana asked tentatively, pretty sure she knew the answer to that.
“No.” Then Alise laughed, a watery sound as she wiped her eyes. “Papa is determined to bring Nic back to House Elal, so maybe I can go home then and see her and…” She straightened herself. “And I don’t know. Our wizard said Nic wasn’t bonded yet, so maybe Phel doesn’t know how.”
“If anyone can get her home safely, your Papa can,” Iliana said staunchly. Much as she hated to be selfish, time was ticking away. The feast started soon and it would be the best chance for her and Han to get away. By morning, Han’s new status would be common knowledge, and the thought-seekers would be on the alert again. It had to be tonight. “Alise, do you know anything more abouthowNic escaped over the sea?”
No fool, Alise gave her a sharp look. “I don’t know much, but apparently there was a sort of system for smuggling people out of the Convocation operating out of one of our distribution centers on the coast.”
Iliana’s heart thundered with excitement, the same as it had that morning when Alise first mentioned Nic’s escape. This had to be it. “Which distribution center?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
No luck there. “I’m not telling you that,” Alise replied sternly, looking all wizard again. “Besides, Papa says it’s shut down. The people involved have been taking into custody. Papa isnothappy,” she added, darkly and unnecessarily.
Feeling the pieces of her plan shatter around her like shards of ice, Iliana stared at her hands, willing herself tothink.
“Iliana,” Alise said, not without compassion, stroking Iliana’s hair. “Why did you come here tonight?”
Deciding to risk it all, Iliana faced her old friend. “Han manifested as a familiar. It will be announced in the morning.”
Alise put a hand over her mouth, green eyes wide with shock and sorrow. “Oh no. Oh no, Iliana. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Sabrina Hanneil wants him for her familiar,” Iliana continued.
“That bitch,” Alise hissed. “She’s the worst of them.”
Alise and Iliana had always understood each other.
“I want to escape with him,” Iliana said. “I can’t let her have him.”
