Page 28 of The Stars are Dying

Nyte… I couldn’t be certain if he was my own tormenting conscience.

“I don’t know who I am,” I croaked.

His pinched brow eased from harsh lines to a soft understanding. He looked briefly at the markings on my chest. Even the first time he saw them he hadn’t seemed to find them odd. Not like the other men did earlier. They meant nothing.

Yet still they were a mystery that stacked to my growing frustration.

“What do you want to do, Astraea?” Zath asked softly, carefully.

I met his blue eyes, and they were so filled with determination my heart skipped a beat. “I’m going to leave,” I confessed in a fearful whisper lest Hektor be listening. “With Cassia, tomorrow.”

Zathrian shook his head, and my pulse spiked, gripping his arm in a plea. “It has to happen tonight.”

My back straightened at his declaration. “He’ll follow me,” I breathed—not with reluctance, but I hoped his firm face wouldn’t change with my worries. “He’ll kill you if he finds out you knew.”

Still his determination did not change. “Come. You need to pack what you can. Discreetly, so he won’t suspect a thing.”

Zathrian helped me to stand. I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I wanted to do this.Gods,nothing awoke with such a thrill and purpose than to take this dare for myself.

“I thought you were supposed to be gone.”

“I was. But then I saw those men and heard your name mentioned. He’s never spoken of you to anyone before, and I got worried. I stalled for a while until I saw Sira leading you here. Then I heard—” Zath paused, and my sickness arose along with the understanding he’d been eavesdropping enough that he’d caused the distraction deliberately.

“Thank you,” I said, though it was not enough.

He smiled sadly. “Come on.”

As he led me out to the deserted halls, my nose crinkled. Never had I truly realized how much Zath cared for me. He was willing to risk his job, his life, to help me escape, and I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve it.

In my rooms, my mind tried to lock into action. Finding a satchel, I began to think of the essentials I could need.

“Pack what you can and keep it hidden. We’re getting you out tonight, even if it puts us on the road ahead of Cassia.”

I nodded hearing the words, but my blood was roaring. I was really going to do this. I smiled, huffing a laugh as I swiped at my tears, blinking them back furiously to see the articles of clothing I was choosing. Then I headed into the bathroom for my pills.

“I’ll have to leave for a few hours to convince him I’m gone for his task. But I’ll be back before he usually retires for the night. Be ready.”

I cast my gaze to him as he lingered by the door and nodded, wearing a bright face and trying to appear brave. Zath forced a smile too, seeming reluctant to leave me. But I could handle a few hours.

“I’ll be waiting,” I said.

He nodded, and the moment the door clicked shut my heart leaped up my throat. I gathered a couple more things and paced the room, jumping at every slight sound and praying Hektor wouldn’t return early. Then I stood by the balcony and watched the stars as the only thing that could offer me a wave of calm while I waited to escape, to be free and able to not look back for the first time in my life.

8

With the soft knock at the door, I folded the map I’d been studying for hours since Zath had left me on reflex. I was equal parts terrified and exhilarated to discover the person behind it.

It was neither Zath nor Hektor.

Sira lingered timidly without entering, and her ghostly expression sent a chill deeper than the winter’s touch down my spine. “He sent for you,” she said with enough regret that I began to tremble. Had the men returned, and he’d thought to progress things faster with his plan?

My breathing picked up. “What for?”

“Another guest, milady.” Sira wrote apology in her eyes, and I couldn’t bear it.

Desperate to find a place to hide, I even spared a glance over at the balcony with the ludicrous notion I could attempt to escape that way again. I rolled my shoulders, taking a deep breath to compose myself before I even knew what guest it could be. Then, with a nod, I followed her out.

The whole way to Hector’s study I fidgeted with my skirts, combed my fingers through my hair, and focused on inhaling regular breaths when my lungs threatened to stop taking in air. The door to his study was slightly ajar, and I heard him before I saw him. The other voice…

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