Kiran had sent notes to the relevant parties, asking for a meeting the next morn, and here they were in Zephyr’s office—Duke and the still-healing Pavan queen sitting off to one side, Zephyr pacing behind her desk, Taven standing in the corner with a stern expression, and the rest of his crew looking on, as dumbfounded as he no doubt looked. Aurora stood across the room, her face grim, and her arms wrapped tightly around her middle.

“I do not understand how word got out,” Zephyr fumed. “We have been so careful. Taven, have you heard anything?”

“Nothing. I can try to talk to Merrin.”

“No,” Zephyr snapped. “He is in too deep. It is more dangerous to risk alerting them of your involvement.”

“Merrin?” Aurora asked. “Merrin is in too deep? What does that mean?”

Taven sighed. “He was one of the first volunteers to go out on a mission to search for you. He went south to Odilar with a contingent of Locke soldiers. All but three died. He has been different since he came back. I was never sure enough of his loyalties after that to approach him about the resistance. I do not know where he stands.”

Aurora’s eyes widened, and she clutched her own elbows tightly. She looked as if she was trying to force herself to take up less space. “So, if he found me, you think he might turn me over to Cassius, regardless of my wishes?”

Taven shrugged. “I do not know, Your Highness.”

Aurora scowled. “I told you to stop with that nonsense.”

“The point is…” Zephyr cut in. “Somehow they know you are in the city, and they are going to be looking for you, which means no more floor time on the tavern. No leaving this building at all. We have to keep you hidden until the time is right.”

“And when will that be?” Aurora asked.

“When I say it is,” Zephyr growled, bracing her hands on her desk.

Unable to stand any more of the back-and-forth, Kiran cut in, “Would it not be better to get her out of the city entirely? We do not know how far the Lockes will go to find her. They could start raiding neighborhoods indiscriminately.”

“You think they have time to do that on a hunch?” Zephyr asked. “When storms threaten daily? Surely not.”

“It depends on how sure they are she is here.”