“Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I do, I truly do, but this is not a game, Weh-sheh. Someone attacked me.”

She was right, and the sobering truth of it chased back his ego. “I’m sorry,” he said, and kissed her forehead. “Stay here until I return and we’ll report this to the peacekeepers.” She raised her eyebrows at him. “Please,” he added. His diminished pride made room for insecurity and fear. A large part of him wanted to lock her away inside his house for the rest of the year, irrational as it was, but he knew what would happen if he smothered her. She could take care of herself, and he had to learn to trust her.

“All right,” she said, acknowledging his plea.

“Thank you, and in future try not to be anywhere isolated, and don’t be afraid to ask Harth or Zui or anyone for an escort when I’m not around.”

“I will,” she said, and hugged him. “You as well, Weh-sheh. Be careful.”

Weysh frowned as he stroked her back. No way in the deepest level of hell could someone try to kill his Given and get away with it. He would get to the bottom of this.

34

Weysh flew Yenni to a blue building with a white roof and sturdy white columns—the local peacekeepers headquarters. She gave her report to a stern-looking man with a bushy moustache, and then Weysh escorted her to the academy security building as well. At last he dropped her off at Devon’s runelore class, and took her right up to the door.

“Be safe,” he said, before gently collecting his flight toll. Devon cleared his throat and Yenni broke off the kiss, her cheeks heating. Weysh simply winked at Devon and made his way to the lawn before changing and taking off.

“Good morning, Yenni Ajani,” Devon said stiffly. He jerked his chin at the sky, in the direction of Weysh’s retreating form. “What did he mean when he said you should be safe?”

Yenni told Devon about the attack.

“Watcher above!” he cried, and his eyes scanned her up and down, concerned. “Are you all right?”

“I am a little cut up, but otherwise fine. The worst of my wounds should heal in a few days.”

Devon cringed. “I truly am sorry you were hurt, Yenni Ajani, but you’re a strong, resilient woman of the Isles. I’m sure you’ll bounce back just fine, en?”

“Ah . . . yes.” Once again, Yenni experienced that strange uneasy sensation, so common since coming to Cresh. Devon was complimenting her, so why did his statement raise her defenses, like when doing verbal battle with her cousins or rival royalty back home? What was he saying without saying?

She didn’t get much chance to contemplate it, as his next statement definitely raised her hackles. “I thought you should know, my mentor, Gilles Desroches, heard back from the High Magus Council regarding the deception rune.”