Aryal’s mouth dropped open in outrage. She snapped, “Oh, thanks so much for nothing, Dragos.”

Dragos met Pia’s gaze. Why are we still awake?

She bit her lips, because smiling was the exact wrong thing to do right then. Taking Niniane’s hand between hers, she said, “Aryal shouldn’t have done that, and when Tiago gets here, you and he will have a lot to discuss. I want you to know, I am your ally no matter what you decide to do. You’ve been under an unbelievable amount of stress for years. And if you and Tiago decide you want to come to Rhyacia…” She glanced at Dragos, who gave her a subtle nod. “We’ll welcome you with open arms. You’ll be safe, you’ll have time to decide whatever you need to do, and we’ll have your back no matter what. Nobody’s going to hurt anybody’s baby on our watch.”

“Y-you promise?” Niniane looked from her to Dragos.

Dragos shook his head. “Nobody.”

Niniane’s face crumpled and deep sobs wracked her slender frame. Pia gathered her into her arms, while Aryal watched with her mouth turned down like she might cry too.

Pia said telepathically to Dragos, And we’re taking Skeeter with us too.

He rolled his eyes. Of course we are.

Outside the storm grew worse. Lightning struck several times in quick succession. Ironically, a look of relief washed over Niniane’s exhausted face. “He’s almost here,” she said. “Wow, he really is mad.”

“That’s our cue,” Dragos said to Pia. She stood when he did. He said to Aryal, “You—out.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “What? Why me?”

He said between his teeth, “Give. Them. Some. Privacy. You cretin.”

“Fine, I’ll go home,” she snapped. “Thank you for everything you did, Aryal—said nobody.”

“Oh my God,” Niniane cried. “Leave by the back door, before you can cause any more damage.”

Dragos snapped his fingers at the dog. “Outside. Do your business.”

Skeeter jumped to obey. As Aryal went out with them, she asked, “Are you sure he isn’t your dog?”

“He is a rejected snack,” Dragos said.

“But you’re good with him. Maybe he should be your dog.”

Dragos snapped, “The only pets I kept were sentinels, and you were all pains in my ass.”

Pia could not laugh. She couldn’t, not in the face of Niniane’s agonized anticipation. Gently, she asked, “Do you need someone to sit with you until Tiago gets here?”

“No,” Niniane said, although she looked like she wanted to say otherwise. “That’s okay. I created this mess. It’s mine to fix. Tiago and I will figure things out.”