Page 60 of When Storms Ruin

Could the long-haired Shade have been Corian, the one I had seen experimenting on the Noctani with her?

“And the townhouse?” Puck asked with a raised brow.

It didn’t escape my notice that Tess’ hand was firmly planted inside his, their fingers interlaced. A sly smile played on my lips that I fought to hold back. Now was certainly not the time, but I couldn’t help but be happy for her, despite the seriousness of the situation.

“I believe Dragon’s Hollow is the safest place for all of you at the moment. I ask that you go there tonight, and you don’t leave again until I have sent for you.” Isaac stopped to search each of our faces. “If Donika is in Prins, it isn’t safe. We don’t have the numbers to fight yet. We aren’t ready to make any offensive move against her. Defending against an attack will only whittle our numbers further. We have no stronghold. No castle to defend. We are spread out, in hiding across the city. An attack would be detrimental to our cause, not to mention her goal is likely to capture Diana again.”

“Have the Noctani been spotted?” I asked.

Puck’s gaze fell on me. “No, it was only the two of them. Not even soldiers from their forces, they appeared to be alone.”

“Why would she come scouting without a force behind her?” Nik mused. “That doesn’t make any sense. Something isn’t right.”

“I have to agree,” Isaac sighed, moving towards the bookcase to pick up the fallen books and place them back onto the shelf. “She would have come with a force if she knew our exact location and planned to take Diana. Or even to diminish our numbers. Something else is afoot here, and until we know her motives, we need to beverycareful.”

“Did you see her yourself?” Nik asked, his gaze meeting Puck’s.

Puck gave a gentle shake of his head. “No, only reports of her sighting.”

Nik gave a thoughtful nod, his expression unreadable.

“How long are we supposed to stay holed up in the townhouse for?” Tess asked, her brows knitted together.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the idea of hiding out indefinitely either, but Isaac was right. We needed to stay safe, and we couldn’t risk recapture. Simply returning to the townhouse tonight would be nerve-wracking enough, knowing Donika was here in Prins somewhere.

“Until the threat passes.” Isaac sounded tired as he moved towards the door.

“And if it doesn’t?” Puck asked, cocking his head to the side.

“Then you don’t leave,” Isaac replied simply. “I mean it, Petyr. You four are to stay in the townhouse until furthernotice. We have another scouting mission leaving in the morning, and until there is more news, we are all to stay put.”

“And you don’t think Tyr had anything to do with the information leak?” Zion asked from the corner of the room.

He had stayed silent throughout the whole exchange with Tyr and Warrick, but now he pushed off the wall and moved towards us.

“I agree with you, Zion. I don’t think Tyr was involved. He has been under our thumb since he came back, and we never revealed that location to him. We knew it was compromised, hence why we moved here, but I never thought Donika herself would be spotted there.”

“Me neither,” Zion agreed with a shake of his head. “Do you need an escort back to the townhouse?”

“I’m not sure if you missed the part where Diana threw a grown man into the wall earlier, but I think we will be fine,” Puck replied, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk.

Tess giggled and pushed off the desk, moving towards the door with Puck in tow.

“You will let us know when you have more information?” I asked as Puck and Tess filed out behind Zion with Nik on their heels.

“Of course, Diana.” Isaac gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “There’s one more thing…” His eyes flashed to the door before moving back to rest on me, and heat immediately rushed to my cheeks.

I thought we might be able to avoid this conversation entirely, given the tenor of the earlier topic of discussion.

“Isaac you don’t—” I started, but he cut me off with the raise of his hand.

“All I was going to say is…I am happy to see you happy.”

“Nothing is going on,” I insisted, realizing what it might have looked like to an outsider.

I couldn’t explain it to Isaac, but it had been a moment of weakness andwanting. There was nothing else going on between me and Nik because I still didn’t trust him. I didn’t knowiforwhenthat would ever change…it was complicated.

“Whatever the case…Nikolai is a good man, and I have known him a long, long time.” Isaac’s expression was soft, his eyes knowing.

---