She huffed out a breath to show him what she thought of that. “Thank you, Newling Alister, for the tea and the fireworks,” she said, inclining her head. “I had a wonderful time. Now, if you will excuse me.” She strode across the quad toward Grindell, head held high. When she was nearly there, he called after her in a carrying voice, “See you tomorrow night, Newling Morley!”

She swung around. “What?”

“Tomorrow is Tuesday,” he said, bowing at the waist. Then he turned and disappeared into the night.

Raisa stood looking after him, a dozen sarcastic responses crowding forward, then dying on her lips.

C H A P T E R  T W E N T Y - F O U R

NEWS FROM
HOME

When Raisa splashed up the steps to Grindell Hall and opened the heavy front door, a single light burned in the common room, leaving the corners in shadow. Amon Byrne sat bolt upright at the library table, an unopened book in front of him. When he saw it was Raisa, he sagged a little, looking relieved.

“Finally,” he said. “Where have you been? I sent Mick and Talia out looking for you. I was afraid something had happened.”

“I was watching the fireworks,” she said. “I came straight back.”

“Fireworks? I thought you were staying in.” Amon rubbed his forehead with the heel of his hand.

“I changed my mind,” Raisa said. She shed her cloak and hung it by the fire.

Amon looked up at the clock on the mantel. “The fireworks ended an hour ago,” he said. “It took you this long to get back?”

“Why are you home already?” Raisa said, annoyed. For the shortest day of the year, this had been one of the longest nights of her life, and it wasn’t over yet. “Did you and Annamaya have a fight or what?”

“Rai,” Amon said. “Don’t.”

“Well, you’re interrogating me.” Guilt always made her short-tempered. Images of Amon and Han reverberated in her aching head.

He sighed. “We had dinner, but I decided not to stay for the fireworks. We were both tired.” And he did look tired. And sad. Raisa felt immediate remorse.

“There’s no curfew tonight, you know,” she said more gently. “There were still lots of people on Bridge Street when I walked back.”

“Bridge Street?” Amon’s eyes narrowed. “Is that where you were?”

She was too tired to lie, or even give the long version. “I decided to go look for Hallie and Talia. Henri Tourant attacked me in an alley on the way. He thought I needed to be taught a lesson.”