He put his lips next to her ear, and she could feel his warm breath through the fabric. “Come on, Rai,” he said, desperation edging his voice. “Don’t make this any harder, all right?”

He carried her through several twists and turns, the light changing as they passed through darkened hallways and brightly lit rooms. Finally, Raisa breathed in the night air and knew they were in the courtyard.

She recalled Micah’s kisses, his hands on her shoulders, and her heart beat faster. Desire crashed over her again. “No!” She began squirming again. “I’ve got to…go back and get my shoes.”

Amon whistled, and she heard the squeak of carriage wheels coming toward them.

“Wot you got there, soldier?” the driver asked, laughing. “Souvenir from the party?”

“My sister,” Amon said, sounding unamused. “She’s not well.”

Raisa heard laughter. “Care to introduce us, Corporal?” someone shouted.

“I…am…not…your sister,” Raisa growled. “Why do you keep saying that?” But Amon was wrestling her into the carriage, and she heard the snap of the reins, and they rattled off into the night, farther and farther from Gray Lady and the fascinating Micah Bayar.

She must have slept, because the next she knew, Amon was clumping up a flight of stairs, still carrying her in his arms. He turned and walked a hundred paces down a corridor, then carefully set her down on her feet. He unwound her from her makeshift shroud like a corpse from its wrapping, keeping one hand fastened around her arm. They were standing in front of the door to her room.

“Let me go!” Raisa said, trying to pull away. “I forgot something. I need to go back to Gray Lady.”

He pounded on the door. “Open up!”

Raisa heard Magret on the other side of the door, grumbling her way toward them.

Bam! The door slammed open, revealing Magret in her dressing gown. “A body can’t catch a little sleep athout…” Magret’s eyes focused on Raisa. “Your Highness! What happened to you?”

“She’s not feeling well,” Amon said.

“Phew!” Magret said, waving away the vapors with one hand. “Begging your pardon, but you both reek of sick!” She eyed Raisa suspiciously. “You’ve not been into the brandy, have you?”

“Lord Demonai asked me to bring her back here to you,” Amon said. “He said you’d take care of her.”

Magret puffed up with importance. “But a’course he’d say that; he knows old Magret, he does.” She took Raisa’s arm and drew her inside, then made as if to shut the door in Amon’s face.

“Lord Demonai told me to stay until he comes,” Amon said stubbornly, sticking out his boot to keep the door from closing. “She’s…in danger. He told me to stay right with her.”