Page 73 of Alien Burn

“Has something happened here too?”

“No attack has been reported here. The residence guards are securing the building.” He glanced toward the doors. “They'll help everyone back to their rooms.”

People had begun to notice. Someone asked a question too loudly. Another voice rose to answer it, equally loud and less certain.

Dhomhes turned to the nearest guard. “Give them the instructions clearly. No speculation.”

The guard nodded and moved toward the center of the room.

Sereya's gaze went to Dhomhes's hand. A few minutes ago she had been holding it.

“Your friends,” she said.

“I need to find out.”

He wasn't pretending to know. She could see how much he wanted to.

“Go,” she told him.

A muscle moved in his jaw. “Stay with the residence escort. If anything changes, they'll tell you.”

“I will.”

He looked as though he wanted to do something else. Touch her again, perhaps. She wanted it too, desperately, but the woman with the untouched plate had started to cry and a guard was waiting at his shoulder.

“Tell me when you can,” she said.

“I will.”

Then he was gone.

Sereya went to the woman by the chairs and asked if she would like help finding her room.

It gave her hands something useful to do.

The official notice reached their suite later: the attack was over, the injured were receiving care, and the residence restrictions would remain in effect while security assessed the situation.

Sereya read it standing beside the sitting-room table. The words were careful. She was grateful for the care and hated how little they told her.

Roemary came out of her bedroom.

“Any news?”

Sereya handed her the display.

Roemary read it and gave it back. “Well. That puts an end to the reception.”

“Yes.”

“What did he tell you?”

Sereya looked up.

“Dhomhes,” Roemary said. “Before he left. He spoke to you.”

“That there had been an attack. That the guards would take us back to our rooms.”

“Nothing else?”