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And the less chance they’ll narrow the possibilities down to my monstrous magic.
Stavros shoves away from me and paces the room. “I’ll ask around. Someone has to know.”
“No,” I say. “I don’t want whoever it was finding out how badly they affected me. Alek got me out of there pretty quickly. It’s better if they think there wasn’t any point. Maybe they’ll give up.”
“It’s better if they’re never capable of doing it again!”
Julita’s laugh rings out lightly from the back of my head.Whatever else you’re going through, you have managed to get them awfully invested in you. Good job there.
I recoil inwardly from her flippant assessment of the situation. I haven’t been trying to… to “wind them around my finger” the way Anya accused Julita of doing to everyone.
Whatever concern they might have for me, I didn’t scheme my way into it. I’m just trying to survive.
Benedikt steps in to brush his fingers across my temple. “Someone came at both of our girls. That’s just not acceptable.”
Both of their girls. Me and Julita.
Stavros pauses. “Is she still there with you? The attack didn’t… dislodge her?”
The last of the agony vanishes under a surge of frustration. None of their concern is really on my behalf anyway, is it?
They aren’t worried about my well-being for my own sake, only as a vessel for the woman who clearly did have them all wrapped around her finger. Who mostly sawthemas tools in her investigation rather than people.
“Yes,” I say tersely, “she’s just fine. And I’m fine too, now.”
I stretch my arms in front of me as if confirming that and then stand right up. My legs hold me steadily enough.
I won’t think about the faint smear of blood I’m hiding on my palm.
Alek eyes me with obvious skepticism. “You couldn’t even walk for a minute there. I still think we should have a medic look you over.”
I grimace. “And what? Make me look even weaker?”
Benedikt rubs his jaw. “We could have the Crown’s Watch keep an eye on—”
With a stutter of my pulse, I shake my head vehemently. “No. How can I get close to anyone who’s conspiring against the crown if I’ve got the royal family’s chosen soldiers trailing around behind me?”
The bastard’s bastard raises his eyebrows. “There is such a thing as taking a break.”
I glare around at all of them. “I’m here to complete a mission so I can get back to my own life, and I’m going to do that. Whoever struck out at me meant to shake me up. The last thing I want is for them to see I was shaken. Or think I went running to any of you to help. How would that keep our group a secret?”
“You’remyassistant,” Stavros starts.
I cut him off with a pointed look. “And at least half of the reason anyone’s harassing me is because they think you favor me unfairly. So let’s not confirm their suspicions, all right? Or maybe there will be real damage next time.”
He hesitates, and Casimir takes the opportunity to hook his arm around mine. “I think Ivy’s been through a lot today, and she could use some space. I’ll see that she gets some unwinding time. We can sort out any other ways we should respond tomorrow.”
His tone is typically gentle but firm. The other men exchange a glance.
Stavros’s shoulders flex, but he nods. “Make sure she’s all right, work your pampering skills on her, but see that she’s back at my quarters by the tenth bell.”
My thoughts are still more scattered than I’d like, but Casimir’s mention of what I’ve been through today reminds me of something much more important that went on earlier.
I catch Benedikt’s gaze. “Who was Romild waiting for this morning?”
He raises his eyebrow as if bemused that I’m bothering to ask that after what I’ve just experienced. “I wasn’t able to find out. She seemed to get impatient with waiting and left before anyone turned up.”
Damn it. I turn to the others. “Well, however she fits into this mess, we have to check on the girls from the orphanage that Ster. Torstem brought to the college in particular. Determine whether they really ended up at temples after their dedication ceremonies.”
