Alistair's eyes flicked across my face. "I do. Does that surprise you?"
It did.
Why did they want my sister to live?
Bláth's hand fell from her belt. "How could you do this?"
"Easily, Bláthie.” Alistair backed away. "Easily." He stepped off the roof, tumbling backward.
Running forward, I looked over the edge. A burst of wind tore up from the ground, catching his fall. He landed lithely on his feet and disappeared into the shadows.
Cursing, I swung myself over the side and climbed down. Bláth followed, leaping the final stretch. Her knees buckled when she landed, but that didn't stop her from grabbing my arm and pulling me to her side.
"Help me get Mare out of here," she pleaded.
"What do you think I'm doing?" I hissed.
Her eyes softened. "You really love her, don't you?"
"A brother, loving his sister?Saints. Call the town criers, the people will never believe it."
"She'll need you.” Bláth ignored my sarcasm. "In the days to come."
What was going on? Yanking loose from her hold, I sprinted toward the south—where the horn had sounded. I had a feeling Reese would run straight toward it, and Mare wouldn't be far behind him.
We slammed into a sea of chaos. Soldiers ran in every direction, and captains barked orders. I pushed through the crowds, searching for a, thankfully, very obvious woman clad in luxurious purple and silver armor.
I found her arguing with Reese beneath a statue of dancing lovers. Or maybe, panicking in his general direction was a more apt description. Mare's hands waved every which way, occasionally pointing north. Reese's eyes darted in every direction, panicking in a much calmer manner than my sister.
Mare's deep purple eyes landed on me. "Liam!" She shouted.
"Turns out there won't be a heist tonight," I said, doubling over to catch my breath. "What's happening?"
Reese answered. "We'll be attacked soon—most likely before first starlight arrives."
"And," Mare added. “They've imprisoned our third Paragon."
Diar. That was the girl Quinn had given Siotha to.
"Shit.” Bláth appeared at my side. "Are they going to kill her?"
"I don't know," Reese said.
"She was right, though," Mare said, voice wavering. She lifted her chin and donned one of her masks. Her posture straightened, and her voice steadied. "We need to ride out—stop the attack before it can begin.”
"Ride out to find the scádes?" Bláth cut her hand through the air. "No, it's too dangerous."
"Not for me," Reese said. "Mare's already sought a scáde and killed it. This time, she'll be with me." His eyes darkened. "I'll keep her safe."
He spoke the words with such conviction that they might as well have been binding. I was almost charmed by them.
"But—” Bláth tried.
"Ferris," Reese said sharply. "Is gone. Which means he probably followed Yuudai and Diar. See to it that they live."
Swallowing, Bláth shot me a hard look. I read her expression and silent words.
She wanted—needed—Mare to live.
