Adrian and I walked side by side along the beach, away from the partygoers, minding our steps so as not to slip on the layer of snow. When we were out of eyesight, I reached inside the pocket of my coat and withdrew the page, handing it to him. “Here you go. Tell Caitlin I say hi.”

“Hey. Don’t kick me out just yet. It took almost three hours to get here and all that’s happened so far is an argument. I want to make the trip worth it.” Adrian smiled, then his face grew serious. “Can we talk?”

I nodded, then followed him over to a large, flat rock. We were far enough away from the party now that the sounds of nature were able to reach our ears over the music. He sat down on the rock and I sat next to him. The surface was cold on my behind through my jacket. “What is it?”

“I just want to know. After you get your freedom, what are you going to do?”

“I planned on leaving the Court and never coming back.”

“And go where?”

“Anywhere but here. Someplace where I can pretend I’m not a Hellenicus,” I said. “I will forget the Hellenicus. I will forget this place. I will live as a Nescient.”

“Will you forget me?” There was a sadness in his question.

“Adrian—”

“Can I come with you?”

“What?”

“Can I come with you when you leave all this Hellenicus stuff behind?” he asked.

“Adrian, I—” I thought of the kiss he’d shared with Renata and how he had defended her. Clearly he had some feelings for her, and it made me doubt that he sincerely meant what he’d said.

Adrian seemed to notice the doubts dancing through my mind. “You know I like you, right?” When I said nothing, he continued, “Well, I do. And if you’ll have me, I want to come with you.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I said.

We sat there for a while, watching the moon before he finally rose to his feet. “Think about it, Montgomery. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Adrian left and took with him his warmth, the cold stinging in his absence.

And I did what he’d asked. I thought about it during the party. The thought of Adrian coming with me was a relief. After all, my intention had been to leave with Bryan, and a part of me still wondered if the true reason why I was at Court was because I had been too afraid to leave on my own. I had convinced myself I came here for Carlo, but there was still a niggling in the back of my mind that told me I was making excuses for being a coward.