With that done, the only thing to do now was go to Etan.

I kept imagining his rejection. If nothing else, he was devoted to Isolte, and his character was so strong that he’d be loath to hurt Ayanna. This could end quite badly indeed.

I swallowed and went up the stairway to his room. I did the same ridiculous dance in my head, saying I just needed to breathe a little more first. But in the middle of my useless ritual, I heard talking behind the door.

I knocked and was greeted by Etan himself. He was holding a piece of paper in his hands, looking perplexed. After he flung the door wide, he went back to using that free hand to tuck in his shirt and straighten his doublet. His hair was a wild mess, but it suited him.

“Hollis, do you know anything about this?” he asked, holding up the paper.

“What is it?”

“It was slipped under my door last night. Ayanna’s gone.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. I sighed. “I might know something. Can you . . . can we have your staff leave for a moment?”

Still looking like he was asked to solve a riddle before he could pass a bridge, he nodded, staring into nothing. The butlers and dressers left, closing the door behind them.

“This is my fault,” he said. “I should have been more attentive to her. I got swept up in needing to give you the best goodbye that I could, and I don’t think she could see past it. I brought this on myself.”

“She . . . we talked. She knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and she was hopeful. You did nothing.”

He looked over at me, shocked. “You talked?”

“Yes. Women do that. I highly recommend it. Solves so many problems.”

“Didn’t solve this one,” he said bitterly, throwing himself into a chair.

“We spoke yesterday afternoon,” I told him. “Something must have happened between then and now. My best guess is that she and Hagan bonded over their positions in our lives.”

He looked up at me through the fingers that were propping up his head. “What makes you say that?”

“Oh, nothing. Just that he’s gone, too.” I held up my letter.

Etan hopped up. “Do you think they left together?”

“How would an Isolten girl know where to run unless a Coroan boy took her?”

His shoulders slumped and he started pacing. “Hollis . . . I’m so sorry. Messing up my life is its own thing, but yours?”

“I’m used to it,” I said with a shrug.

Despite his disappointed mood, he laughed. “How are you so calm about this? You and I both have to marry someone. We have to establish lines, and the most fitting options for either of us are gone.”

I shook my head, smiling. Tears came to my eyes as I whispered, “No, Etan. No, they’re not.”

He stopped walking and stared at me, looking equal parts hopeful and nervous. We probably matched in that sense.