For the same reason I’ve watched her from afar. Because I’m intoxicated by her.

“Not with me,” Elene said.

“You mean you’re a . . .” he was trying to sound snide, but he trailed off. Why was he trying to sound snide?

“A virgin? Yes,” she said, unembarrassed. “Are you?”

Kylar clenched his jaw. “I—look, there’s a killer here.”

Elene seemed about to comment about Kylar avoiding her question, then her look darkened as the joy leached out of it. “Two,” she said quietly.

“What?”

“Two killers.”

She meant him. Kylar nodded, again feeling a lump in his throat, and suddenly he was ashamed of what he was. “Yes, two. I saw Hu coming in, Elene. Is the Globe safe?”

He was watching her eyes. As expected, they darted to where she’d hidden it: the bottom of her closet.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s . . .” her voice died. “You’re going to steal it.”

“I’m sorry,” Kylar said.

“And now you know where I hid it. You set me up.”

She was naive, but she wasn’t stupid. “Yes.”

Anger built in her brown eyes. “Is there even an assassin, or was it all a lie?”

“There is one. I give you my word,” Kylar said, looking away.

“For all that’s worth.”

Ouch. “I am sorry, Elene, but I have to.”

“Why?”

“It’s hard to explain,” he said.

“I spent all day being embarrassed about everything I’d ever written to you. I spent all day feeling terrible how much you’d given for me. I didn’t even tell the guards you were coming because I thought—I thought . . . You’re a real piece of work, Kylar,” she said. “I guess Azoth really did die.”

Not like this. Not like this.

“I really do have to take it,” he said.

“I can’t let you do that,” she said.

“Elene, if you stay here, they’ll think you helped me. If Hu doesn’t kill you, the Jadwins might. They could throw you in the Maw. Elene, come with me. I couldn’t live with myself if they did that.”

“You’ll manage. Just take a new name. Throw money at whatever makes you feel guilty.”

“They’ll kill you!”

“I won’t repay good with evil.”

He was running out of time. He had to get out of here.

Kylar exhaled. So everything was going to go the worst possible way tonight. “Then I’m sorry for this,” he said, “but it’s to save you.”

“What is?” she asked.