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“You must be frozen through!” Margot said.
“I’ve been warmer,” I agreed. “And the temperature is still dropping.”
“You did an amazing job,” Malik said.
“It’s been quite a night so far,” Ethan said, shaking his head at the offer of hot chocolate. “The mayor was concerned, but seems to be directing the pressure at the Ombudsman’s office, rather than us.”
“He can handle it,” Malik said as I took the cup of hot chocolate and sipped deeply. Brody had offered to stop for coffee, but I’d mostly wanted to get home as quickly as possible.
“He can,” Ethan agreed. “And we’ll help as we can. Seeing the river freeze—that was something altogether different.”
“Not a soul lost,” Luc said, patting his arm in congratulations. “So that’s something else to celebrate.”
“It is,” Ethan agreed. “But Sorcha’s involvement is not. The snow and temperature seem to be her first steps. You’ve seen Towerline?”
“Most stations are showing live footage,” Luc said. “It’s hard to avoid. What is it?”
“The source of the weather,” I said, and shivered involuntarily.
; He pulled off my wet jacket, wrapped a thermal blanket of shimmering silver around me, then pushed damp hair from my face.
“I heard you say my name,” he said.
I’d thought it. I hadn’t realized I’d said it or that he’d heard. But thank God for it.
I leaned forward, wrapped my arms around him, and let fly the sob that was trapped in my throat.
Thank God for him.
• • •
The crowd was appreciative and grateful when we trudged up the stairs back to Michigan Avenue again. But our clothes were wet and were crunchy in the freezing air, and icicles had frozen in my hair. I felt as if I’d been frozen from the inside, like crystals had actually begun to form in my blood.
“Good work as always,” my grandfather said. “Although absolutely terrifying.”
“Most of the things she does these days are,” Ethan said.
My grandfather stepped closer. “Does she need to go to the hospital? Her lips seem . . . bluish.”
“No,” Ethan said. “We’ll keep her awake and moving, and anything that might have been damaged will heal itself.” His gaze went hot. “And when she’s feeling one hundred percent again, we’ll have a very long talk about diving into a freezing river.”
Since that sounded much braver than having climbed into the river and fallen at the last moment, I let him believe it. And yeah, not my best move. But the Patton family was super glad of my recklessness right now, and that was the only outcome that mattered.
Pierce walked toward us. She’d abandoned the headset but added a CPD jacket that was too big for her athletic frame. “The Department of Water Management is sending an icebreaker to keep traffic moving. We’re going to keep automotive traffic rerouted on this portion of Michigan until we figure out what’s happening.” She aimed her direct gaze at my grandfather.
“I hope that’s something you can do.”
“So do I,” he said.
“I think we’ll want to talk to Winston,” Ethan said. “But we need to go to the House first, get a change of clothes.” He glanced at me. “I called Brody. He’s on the way, will meet us across the river.” He looked over at the police boundaries, the detour signs, the general congestion. “It’s best to stay out of this.”
My grandfather nodded. “Best to stay out of the Loop if possible. As for Winston, let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll meet you at the gate.”
“We’ll do that. Come on, Sentinel,” Ethan said, putting a hand at my waist. “Let’s go home.”
I need to be with my people for a little while, he silently said.
And in his House, I thought, behind the fence, where the Novitiates didn’t need quite the same kind of saving.
