I felt Jovis’s presence at my back as he swung, his shoulder brushing briefly against mine. I gathered more water from outside as I ducked a blow and Thrana snapped at the assassin’s heels.

The assassin eyed the pool of water I’d gathered. I knew what he thought: that I’d throw it in his face again, choking off his breath. Instead, I sent a small flick of it toward his face, and the rest hurtling toward his knees in a wave.

He dodged the water aimed at his head but overbalanced and fell as the wave struck his legs. Thrana darted forward, burying her teeth in the man’s arm. He dropped his blade, trying to break Thrana’s grip.

Jovis grunted.

I whipped about to find the other assassin’s blade embedded in Jovis’s chair leg. Before the man could recover, I crouched beneath Jovis’s upraised arm and cut a slit up the assassin’s abdomen. It was easier to kill than I’d expected. It was still just flesh, waiting to be carved.

My blade dripped onto the floor. “As I said—”

Jovis’s eyes narrowed and he turned, nearly knocking me over. He swung his makeshift club and the embedded dagger caught the other assassin in the face. The hilt slammed into the assassin’s temple with a crack. He’d shaken off Thrana, though his arm was limp, and his blade was in his other hand. He’d been about to stab me in the back.

My heartbeat pounded in my ears, echoing the drumming of the rain on the roof. Jovis and I stood there for a moment, shivering, our legs entangled from both our hasty pivots, our shoulders pressed together. My gaze met his, our breathing evenly matched. I found myself fixated on his parted lips. I’d once thought him unremarkable and now I couldn’t look away. I wasn’t sure what I wanted more – for him to step away or for him to stay. His free hand reached out, covering mine. I held my breath.

“The dagger,” he said, his words warm by my ear. “Someone will come.”

It took me a moment to register what he meant. Of course. I wanted to sink into the floor, into the floor below that, and then into the cold, wet earth. I was Lin, I was the Emperor and I was an idiot.

I loosened my grip on his dagger and let him take it back.

And then I remembered Thrana and Mephi and felt even more the fool. I took a few steps back from Jovis, giving him space. Both of our beasts were on their feet, blood marring their fur but their eyes bright. “Are you hurt?” I asked them.

“No,” Mephi said.

“No,” Thrana repeated.

The door burst open. Five guards marched into the room, Iloh following them. They quickly surveyed the room, the two dead assassins.

“You’re well?” Iloh asked.