Page 46 of Zenith Tower

“I wanted to tell you first.”

I turned her hand carefully, keeping my fingers below the linen. Nothing changed beneath my touch. Her pulse beat faintly against my thumb.

“I don’t know what that means.”

“Neither do I.” Delphine watched my face. “But you’ve kept asking what your Mark can do. I thought you should know when it did something.”

My throat tightened.

“I won’t try anything while I’m guessing,” I said. “Not after what they did to you.”

“I’m not asking you to guess.”

“What are you asking?”

She glanced at the healer, then back at me. “Find out what happened. If you think you can do something without hurting me, come back and ask.”

I closed my hand around hers. “All right.”

We sat that way until the healer resumed grinding the herbs.

I told her Kieran had been recovering before the breach, though I had no news from the two days since. I told her Hale had found the ration route and Caspian had overturned the cart. At that, she gave a quiet laugh.

“Caspian Ashford overturned a supply cart.”

“It was surprisingly graceful.”

“He used to make the entire dining hall nervous by setting down a cup.”

“He’s broadened his range.”

Her laughter faded, but some of its warmth stayed in her face.

“And Lior?” she asked.

“Rev’s grandmother expected the letter to reach him within a week. I never received proof that it did.”

Delphine rubbed her thumb over my knuckles. “He’ll have asked after me loudly.”

“That is exactly what you told him to do.”

“He was always good at the loud part.”

Marrow appeared at the open door.

“The visit is over.”

I looked toward the corridor. “How long was that?”

“Longer than the administrator approved.”

The healer made a small sound into his bowl that might have concealed a laugh.

I stood but kept Delphine’s hand.

“When can I come back?”

Marrow’s expression remained guarded. “Her condition will be reviewed again in three days. If the healer approves, I’ll submit the visit request that afternoon.”