I started toward the parlor, but Ilina caught my hand. “Not yet.”

“But—”

Ilina shook her head. “Get dressed.”

It had been almost physically painful to buy a gown from a shop—partly because I had a better idea about what things cost now, and also because I had never worn a premade dress and I was certain everyone would be able to tell. But shopping in Flamecrest meant there was so much competition that shopkeepers were willing to bargain, and if anyone knew how to get a deal, it was Ilina. In a display of Daminan charm rarely seen, she talked the seamstress into selling us the gown for half the price.

We were fastening the last of the buttons into their eyelets as Gerel walked into the bedroom, a dark look on her face. “Nothing. No idea where he went.”

I sighed. “I’m sure he’ll turn up the moment we think we’re free of him for good.”

“When he does, I’m going to gut him.” Gerel crossed her arms.

“That’s reasonable.” Chenda stepped back from me. “But will you at least acknowledge what I have accomplished?”

Ilina cleared her throat.

“With Ilina’s help,” Chenda added.

Gerel’s eyebrows lifted. “Aaru is going to combust when he sees you.”

I couldn’t imagine what Aaru would think. He had never commented on my appearance before, though the way he looked at me made me feel beautiful. Thinking of him now, knowing Altan had evaded Gerel and Hristo . . .

“Maybe he’ll reconsider how slowly he’s been moving.” Ilina’s smile drifted into a frown. “I mean, it makes sense right now, after Idris, but it’s so clear that you and he want to be together. Don’t think I didn’t see how you two held hands every night on the Chance Encounter.”

My face went hot with embarrassment.

Chenda sat on the bottom corner of the bed and beamed. “We can all rearrange rooms if you need. Just say the word.”

Gerel waved that away. “You know what? Don’t say the word. We’ll rearrange anyway. I mean, they will. Chenda and I are staying together, obviously.”

“That puts me with Zara.” Ilina sulked. “Or Hristo, I suppose, but honestly, this seems so unfair to me. Nevertheless”—she looked at me—“I’m cheering you on.”

My skin burned so much I thought I might explode. “You know he can probably hear us, right?”

The three of them looked at one another and erupted in laughter. “Good!” Gerel grinned. “Maybe he needs some encouragement, too.”

“His fault for eavesdropping.” Ilina shook her head.

They teased me a few minutes more, until a knock sounded on the door. Everyone sobered. “It’s time to go,” Hristo said.

“All right. You look beautiful. Go combust him.” Ilina swung the door open, and they all shooed me into the parlor, where Aaru waited.

I couldn’t breathe.

From the first moment I’d seen him in his cell, skinny and dirty and dark-eyed, I’d known there was something compelling about him. About the way he carried himself, about the depth of his gaze, about the shape of his mouth: even then, he’d been magnetic, and I hadn’t wanted to look away.