Page 104 of Daughter of No Worlds

“Goodnight, Max,” I murmured.

“Goodnight, Tisaanah.”

And I felt his eyes follow me as I padded down the hallway. He was still standing there, unmoving, as I closed the door.

* * *

That night,I dreamed of a knock on the door. I dreamed of the searing warmth of skin — of lips against my throat and my breasts and my inner thighs, of an overwhelming ache between my legs, of the frenzied tear of clothing. I dreamed of a pair of familiar blue eyes heavy-lidded with want, of a voice that I knew so well rendered ragged and desperate in a moan against my mouth.

I dreamed of slick desire that consumed me, unmade me, destroyed me. Of the taste of his sweat, salty and iron and—

Andironand—

And in a moment, it was all gone.

I dreamed of a world suddenly cold, save for the burn of the blood that covered me — the fire of those goodbye kisses, crimson smears left by everyone I had abandoned. My forehead, my cheek, and a dozen more, a hundred more, where Max’s lips had traced across my body.

Desire tore into terrible dread.

I screamed his name.

But he was already gone.

Chapter Thirty-Five

When I rose the next morning, too-early after a fitful, restless sleep, Max was already up.

He sat at the dining table with a letter in his hand. He slid it to me silently.Tisaanah, the front read, in perfect inked script.

Grateful for the distraction, I opened it.

Tisaanah -

It was a pleasure to see you at last night’s festivities. You certainly made an impact. It would appear that many attendees developed a sudden, pressing interest in Threllian humanitarian causes — interesting coincidence, no?

But alas, this is not the subject of my correspondence today. Instead, I would like to discuss your evaluations. Normally, results would be delivered by letter and would not be available for another week or two. However, I would prefer to deliver yours in person.

Please come to the Tower of Midnight for noon. My clerks will be expecting your singular arrival.

We have much to discuss.

- Z.

I read it, then handed it across the table to Max, who did the same.

“It seems I will be traveling to the Capital again,” I said.

“It seems we will,” Max replied, and we looked at each other, anxious curiosity unfurling between us.

* * *

I toldmyself that I was not nervous.

I told myself that I was not nervous as I recited every word of that letter through my mind, as I flipped through possible outcomes. As I picked at my fingernails, watching the Towers rise into view.

Max and I both knew, of course, exactly what “your singular arrival” meant —“don’t bring Max”— but since I couldn’t reliably Stratagram myself to the city on my own anyway, he would accompany me to the Towers before my meeting. I was happy for his company.

“Perhaps they changed their decision,” I said, allowing a note of tentative hope into my voice. “About sending support to Threll with me.”

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