Rhyanon swayed slightly and gripped the back of her chair. I saw Millie’s gaze dart around the rest of the room, taking in the tea and empty plate, the bucket of water and cloth, and for the briefest of moments, I felt embarrassed—as if she had barged in on something deeply private, something intimate that no one else was supposed to see, something small and important that I wanted to keep between Rhyanon and myself.

“Don’t hurt her,” I said, struggling to get up. Blood rushed to my head, and I almost toppled over onto the floor.

But Rhyanon had already released the lacework binding. She sat down heavily on the bed beside me.

“Sorry,” she said. “She startled me.”

Millie stayed in the middle of the room like she had been rooted to the spot. Her breathing was shallow.

“This was all my fault,” she said.

Then she burst into tears.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

Rhyanon offered Millie her chair, and then gently excused herself. In the doorway, she murmured something to Asan.

The Commander nodded in response. “You should be resting anyway. I’ll take care of it.”

Rhyanon glanced back and gave me a weary smile. I wanted her to stay, I realised. There were so many questions I still needed to ask, about Renewers, about what would happen next, but most of all, I craved reassurance from her.

I pushed aside my feelings. When I gestured thanks, she turned away. Asan ushered her out into the corridor.

“There’s been a development,” I heard the Commander say.

Millie sat with her knees hugged to her chest. Her skin had turned an ugly, blotchy red, and she seemed small and drained. Completely unlike her usual self.

“I really should have left a note for you,” I said.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“I left you alone. I poisoned you, and then I left you all alone. Could have put off paying for the stupid stuff until later.”

“Millie,” I said quickly. “Come on.”

She shook her head. I hesitated, then patted the bed beside me.

“Sit closer? Please?”

Millie unfolded from the chair and moved next to me. I found her hand, laced my fingers between hers. Her palms were clammy, and she had bitten her nails down to the quick. She hunched her shoulders, and I could tell she was trying hard not to start crying again.

“Look,” I said. “I’m all right. Everything is all right. Really, all that happened was that I got punched in the head. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“But those people could have killed you,” she said hoarsely. “And now Finn’s locked up, and the Commander’s telling everyone you’re dead—”

I straightened. “Wait, where is Finn?”

“Judicial custody.” Asan walked back into the room. “Don’t look so alarmed, we worked out a story together. As long as he sticks to it during the inquiry, they’ll let him go by tomorrow.”

“Rhyanon never mentioned that.” My heart quickened. “Is he at the Detainment Offices?”