“I doubt Hanjae would be opposed,” Hans replied. “It’s not like it would take much effort on our end.”
“No, but plausible deniability could work in his favor if shit goes south with the Houses. Don’t involve the rest of the cadre, either. I just want you, Jer, and myself on this one. We’ll keep our ears to the ground. Sophrosyne is safer than Yvestra regardless, and I doubt anyone will be stupid enough to strike right under the noses of the Aetherborne.”
“Godsdamn right,” Hans agreed.
“Do you mind briefing Jeremiah on this? He should be running patrols tonight,” I said, running a hand through my hair.
“Can do. I take it you won’t be joining us for lunch later, then?”
“Not today,” I replied. “I’ve got plans with Arken.”
Hans snorted audibly, and opened his mouth to make some smartass remark—but it immediately snapped closed when he saw my darkening expression. A rare show of tact from the impulsive, mouthy bastard.
“Get back to work, asshole,” I muttered.
“Aye, Captain.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Arken
The next morning, I walked Laurel home.
As the two of us were wading through the crowded Market District in relative silence, there was so much I wanted to say. So many words of comfort that I wanted to offer my friend, but they all turned to ash on my tongue as I realized I could promise nothing.
I was never good at pleasantries or telling lies for the sake of other people’s comfort. In truth, there was no reassurance to be found here, nothing sincere that I could give. Nothingtrue.
There was nothing sane about this scenario, and we both knew that. All I could really offer was to hold her hand as we walked together in the cold air—and to make sure she knew she wasn’t alone.
“Don’t be a stranger,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head as we reached her apartment. “I’m here if you need me.”
“Thanks, Ark,” she sniffed. “I really appreciate that. I appreciate you.”
There was a certain thinness to her tone and the weak smile she offered as she turned to go that left me lingering.
“Hey, Laur?” I called out hesitantly before she pulled her keys out from her coat pocket.
“Yeah?”
“Would you like me to stay? Keep you company for a bit?”
Laurel shook her head, though her eyes softened a bit at the offer. “No. Thank you, though. I think… I think I just need to be alone for a little while.”
That, I completely understood.
“Of course. I’m just a mail sprite away, though, okay?”
She nodded once before heading inside and I exhaled heavily, not realizing that I had been holding my breath.
As I meandered home slowly, I tried to wrap my head around who could do such a heinous thing.
Who would steal achild? Andwhy? To what end? Perhaps it was just my own naivete that left me so shaken. Amaretta had warned me long ago that life in the cities was different, that there were criminals and soulless creatures out there who preyed upon the weak. She had been concerned that there would be those who mistook mysoftness for weakness, and had all but beaten certain safety practices in me before she ever let me explore Elseweire.
I was beginning to think there was a reason she gave me her old research studio, too, as opposed to letting me stay in the student apartments. A reason beyond her typical motherlyparanoia, that is. Perhaps not even Sophrosyne was entirely safe from such mortal monsters.
A slight shiver ran down my spine at the notion.
I took a detour on my way home, unable to resist the temptation to wander through one of the nearby gardens. There were a handful of floral hedge mazes scattered throughout the city, but I knew that this one had a small swinging bench beneath curtains of hanging wisteria—a lovely place for quiet contemplation.