She shakes her head, biting her lip.
My cat friend twines around my legs, and the water grows louder, setting the words to a faster cadence.
Go away go away go away…
I take a steadying breath. “Would you like to sit?”
Another shake of the head.
“Tilly, if there is something I can help with, then I will. You know that, right?”
A miserable desperation passes over her face. “Rosa says I shouldn’t interfere with the relationship between the two of you.”
“Between the king and I, you mean?”
She nods.
Again, I silently thank the tutors who trained me to school my expression. “Princess Rosa is welcome to her own opinion, but as your soon-to-be sister, I hereby declare you free to tell me whatever you please without consequences.”
Her eyes lift at my playful tone.
“I mean it,” I say, tilting my head to look into her face. “You can say whatever you like. My sister Selena certainly does.”
She glances aside once more before words tumble from her like a broken dam. “It’s just that I don’t understand why you haven’t made him stop. He hasn’t eaten. I’ve asked. He hasn’t slept. Rosa said you two must have hada fight, and I should leave it be, but he’s my brother, and I know he loves you, Serah. He’s been mad about you since the first time he laid eyes on you. He came home telling me he’d found his fated flame. You’re all he talked about before your ship came.”
My mouth falls open, but I snap it shut fast. I don’t want her to think me angry when I’m only confused. “Tilly,” I say slowly, “forgive me, but I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She flinches back, not in fear but anger. Does she think I’m lying? For a second, her pupils narrow on me in an alarmingly familiar way, and I find myself glancing over her arms for emerging scales.
She must decide my puzzlement is genuine because her expression turns contrite. “You don’t?”
I shake my head at her. “I haven’t seen Soren since last night. What is it he’s doing?”
Instead of answering, she says, “Didn’t you wonder where he was?”
Of course I did, I almost answer, but the water is shouting now within my mind, booming for us all toGO AWAY, and the exhaustion of this long, perplexing day rushes through me, and all I can do is say, “Please tell me where he is.”
“He’s right outside the tent. He’s, well, he’sprowling.” This last word she leans near to whisper like it’s profane.
“And how long has he been doing this?”
“Since last night.” She wrings her hands. “Serah, he hasn’t stopped since last night.”
25
Sincelast night. This entire time…he’s been just outside?
I stare at Tilly for another second before launching myself from the tent. Even the muted glow of sunset seems harsh after a day spent inside, and I squint against the sudden change as I fling looks back and forth. Boyd and Fuller, standing at attention a short distance away, step forward as if to speak to me, but I’m already striding toward the left.
Where is he?
Yes, I was focused on my task, but how could I not know he was so close? Why did no one tell me sooner? Then again, who would? Rally and Ty are gone, and neither my guards nor Hiln are tasked with informing me of the king’s whereabouts. Guilt lances through me.
I should have asked where he was. If I had disappeared, he would have torn the camp apart in search of me. What if something terrible had happened to him?
I have to find him. Pushing my hair back from my face, I lengthen my stride. I’ve nearly walked the entire perimeter of the tent. Tilly said he was here. Surely, I haven’t missed—
I stop short.
