Daemon grinned sheepishly, which was quite an accomplishment for a wolf. “I told you I might crash.”

“But you’re all right?” Sora asked.

“Ego bruised, but that’s the worst of it.”

She nodded. “Let’s find a place to settle down. It’s been quite a day.”

That was, of course, a massive understatement, but so much had happened since the sun rose that morning, Sora could only process parts of it at a time. Prince Gin had hypnotized the entire Society of Taigas except Sora, Daemon, Fairy, and Broomstick. He had also destroyed Rose Palace, sacrificed two hundred innocent people in a bloody ceremony, and possibly murdered his sister, the empress. It was almost too much to bear.

“Hey-o,” Daemon said, “that house over there looks intact.”

Sora and Fairy followed him and Broomstick. Upon closer inspection, the building wasn’t a house but a large hall, possibly a meeting space for when the Councilmembers had their annual retreat. Also, it wasn’t so much “intact” as not falling down. The front door barely hung on its hinges, the rice paper on the windows was torn open, and the glass ceiling was completely shattered. But it was the best they had.

“Let’s see if there’s any food,” Sora said, “and figure out a plan.”

“Can we sleep a little before we have to think again?” Daemon asked. His shoulders slouched from the effort of flying for hours with three people on his back.

Sora paused. Time was of the essence. If Empress Aki was still alive, they’d have to find her quickly before Prince Gin had a chance to move her out of the Imperial City.

But when Sora looked at Daemon, she knew what the answer had to be. His muscles trembled beneath his fur, and the gales outside had almost blown them out of the sky several times as he tired.

“Yes, of course,” Sora said. “We should definitely sleep. I’m sorry I didn’t think of it before.”

They walked through the creaky front door. It was indeed a meeting space, which apparently doubled as a dining hall, too. Smashed plates and teacups and the moldy remnants of a meal lay in the mess of broken tables and chairs.

Broomstick eyed the room warily, as if the ryuu who had done this might still be lurking, just waiting for them to let down their guard before they sprang again. “We can take turns on watch.”

Sora waved him away. “I’m having trouble shutting off my brain. You guys go ahead and get some sleep.”

Fairy hesitated.

“I swear I’ll wake you if I need someone to take over,” Sora said.

Daemon stumbled into the far corner of the hall and collapsed on a pile of tablecloths. Within seconds, he was snoring wolfishly.

Broomstick and Fairy went off to find their own nooks to sleep in.