The Silver Siren (Iron Butterfly, #3)(26)

“Hemi, I’m fine. What are you doing here? Where’s Mona? Where are the others?” No sooner had I won my freedom from Hemi, I was wrapped up in the warm embrace of Joss’s arms.

“You’re safe?” he asked in disbelief. “I can’t believe you’re safe.” He leaned back and looked at me but startled.

I had forgotten about my eye and the eerie change. Joss and Hemi had not seen it yet. I dropped my eyes to the ground.

“Thalia, what happened?” Joss said. His voice dripped with worry. I raised my head again and met his eyes.

“It’s been like that since I lost control of my power in the barn.”

“It’s…it’s…I don’t know…” Joss spoke, turning my head from right to left trying to see it better in the inn’s dim lighting.

“It’s different,” I shrugged and pulled away from him. I was a little disappointed by his reaction. It was so different from Kael’s. I turned and faced Hemi, so he could see me for the first time.

Hemi took one good look at me and made a sign to ward off evil spirits. I punched Hemi and he eventually smiled, though it took a while. He too, lifted my chin to stare into my eye.

“That’s my girl. Still the same…right?” Hemi asked.

“Yeah, just with a very bad temper from being jostled around.”

Just then, the inn door opened again, and the young boy from the stable walked in, giving me a sheepish look.

I put my hands on my hips and gazed sternly at him.

“So I may have forgot to mention they came back. You would have found them eventually, and now I’m three coppers richer.” I moved closer to him and he squeaked and ran up the closest set of stairs to escape my ire.

Joss looked impatient. He took my hand and pulled me over the table he had just vacated. Hemi followed closely, not willing to lose sight of me again. Vienna sniffed at Joss’s change in mood, but she went to fetch me a bowl of soup and bread.

Joss continued his story. “We made it to Haven and took Mona to the Queen’s Palace. We told them everything, and immediately we set back off to look for you. Darren and Fanny went west; others from the Citadel volunteered as well. But there’s more, Thalia. More have gone missing. This time right from the Citadel.”

“How can the Septori be so bold?” I gasped.

“They snuck in once; they will do it again.”

Hemi shook his head. “It’s not right, children being taken. Not right! Doesn’t matter which clan they are from.”

Over dinner, I told him the shortened version of the last few days, leaving out that I was blood-bonded with Kael. That information was too valuable for anyone—even those I trusted—toknow. Hemi was astonished that I’d actually seen the Sanctuary of the SwordBrothers.

“Yes, I did,” I said uncomfortably, hoping they wouldn’t press me for more information.

“Where was it?” Joss asked. He was on the edge of his seat with excitement.

“Far away,” I mumbled.

“South? East? West? How many days did you say you traveled on horseback to get there?”

“Joss, I’m sorry. Kael blindfolded me. I really don’t remember and I was so exhausted I didn’t pay attention when I left either,” I lied.

“Where is he? Where’s Kael and how could he not come with you?”

“He was injured when I left. I’m sure he will be following soon,” I reached out, trying to distract him from his questions with my hand on his. It worked. Joss reached over and placed his on top of mine and squeezed.

Hemi, who had been a silent observer, slammed his glass of mead down loudly on the table making me jump. He pulled out a very long knife that he used to pick at piece of dirt under his nail. His warning for Joss to back off was clear as day. I couldn’t help but wonder at the change in his mood. Was it because Fanny wasn’t around that Hemi was only now more observant? Or since we were no longer pretending to be a couple, he wanted distance between us?

I rolled my eyes and pulled my hand away from Joss’s. “Well, now that I am safe and sound we can head back to the Citadel tomorrow. Maybe we can call in the volunteers that went out looking for me and send them out looking for Tenya.”

Joss suddenly became quiet. “They already did, but any extra help is worth it. I feel like it’s been too long—that we’re too late. I can feel it here, in my gut.”

“Don’t give up so easily Joss. We’ll find your sister.” I tried to put as much reassurance into my voice as possible, though I was beginning to lose hope as well.

“And if we don’t, Thalia? What if we never find her? What are you going to do?”

The thought hadn’t occurred to me. When the search ended, would I go back to my own clan? Just the thought sent a shiver of unease down my spine. “I don’t know, Joss. I guess I would go home.”

“You can’t go home, Thalia. You belong with me at the Citadel. You know I would just come after you again.” I could tell he meant it.

“Joss, I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to go back to the Citadel. I tried to glance at Hemi and gauge his reaction, but since Joss had backed off, he’d put the knife away and sat back in the chair. Now his eyes were closed, and he rested his head on his chest feigning sleep. I knew better. I swore I could see his ears twitch with interest. My stomach growled and I began to dip the bread into my now cold but still delicious soup.