“Selah,” Aleksei said. His voice broke, and I looked up at him. “You can’t be here when she doesn’t return. You don’t want to watch what happens.” He met Torden’s eyes. “Trust me.”

I was straw in a breath of wind. I was glass shattered on stone. I was the soft red flesh of a heart, vulnerable to every sharp thing in its path.

I couldn’t go home now, without a fiancé. But what would Althea think when I didn’t reappear in a month, if I couldn’t tell her what had happened?

Hermódr turned to Cobie. “Can your navigator manage the Lysefjord after dark?”

“Ever practical,” Cobie said, giving a wan smile. Hermódr pushed his glasses up, looking forlorn.

“Homer’s the best there is,” Lang said, tentative. “But unfortunately, that’s not our problem.”

I lifted my head. “What is our problem, Lang?”

He wet his lips and looked away. Into his silence, Cobie spoke instead. Her hazel eyes were sharp as knives in the dark.

“Selah, the ship is gone.”

55

I stared at her, as if she’d slapped me instead of speaking aloud. “Gone?” It came out confused, as if I didn’t know what the word meant.

“Yes,” Cobie said carefully. Beside her, Lang crossed his arms, silent.

Slowly, my gaze shifted to him. “Lang, where’s my ship?”

He didn’t answer, and I took two steps toward him. “Lang,” I said slowly. “Where. Is. My. Ship?”

Lang stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets and finally met my eyes. “The Beholder made a run to Odense while we were in Norge. It should be back tonight.”

I clenched my hands into fists at my sides. I was shaking with fury.

“Selah?” Cobie said quietly. “Do you trust me?”

I swung to face her. “Did you sign off on this decision?”

Her brows arched in surprise. “I’m a rigger, Seneschal-elect. I don’t sign off on decisions. I obey orders.”

“Then sure,” I said flatly.

“Good.” Cobie turned to Fredrik. “Take everyone to your boat and wait for us there.”

Fredrik blinked. “My boat?”

She nodded slowly, then with more certainty. “Make sure Skídbladnir is ready to sail.” She turned to Hermódr. “You, come with me to the castle. We have to get her things out. Lang’s going to get Perrault and J.J.”

“I should stay with Selah.” Lang’s voice was low, and his eyes were urgent in the dark.

“No,” I said tautly. “You should not stay with me. You should get the people you’ve put in danger out of it.”

“I’ll take care of Selah,” Torden said evenly. His arm tightened around my waist, and I wondered if I was imagining the possessiveness in his voice.