Page 118 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

A breath whooshed out of me as if a punch had landed on my stomach. “They left?”

“Apparently.”

“For good?”

“It seemed that way. She was trying to find you, but I told her you’d gone to the far pastures, and she said she didn’t have time.”

“Shit. I have to catch her. I’m sorry, Val, but could you take Meadow for me?”

“Of course,” he said, grasping her reins.

I clasped my hand over his. “Thank you.” And then I turned and ran, jogging through the stables, past the gardens, and into the palace, nearly colliding into Emrin. “Do you know where Temi is?”

“She left over an hour ago.”

“An hour?”

He nodded. “They’re probably out of the city at this point.”

I took an uneasy step back. Oh no.

“Pip, are you all right?”

I shook my head but turned and jogged until I reached Hyacinth’s bedroom door, pounding on it. He didn’t answer, and I knocked again, not stopping until his voice, hoarse and low, sounded. “Yes?”

“It’s me. Please open the door.”

“Now is not a good time.”

“I know,” I said. “Let me in, anyway.”

Quiet stretched for a moment, and I pinched my fingers down into the parchment. The lock clicked, and the door opened. I stepped inside, shutting it back behind me. Hyacinth walked over and slumped into a chair. He wore only a cream pair of pants and a top, no robe or crown or jewelry. A redness bloomed over his puffy cheeks. He scrubbed his hand over his eyes. “What is it?”

“Why did you let them go?”

He huffed a sharp laugh, with no humor. “You think I let them?” His voice raised. “You think I wanted them to go?”

“Why didn’t you stop them?”

He kicked back against his chair. “And how was I supposed to do that?”

“You could have said something or stalled them somehow.”

He scratched his fingers along his forehead. “Yes. Talk to them. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“You still could. Go after them.”

His face shifted out of the shadows and into the trickle of light the drawn curtains allowed in. “Go after them?”

“Yes. Go tell them they don’t need to leave.”

“I can’t, Epiphany. It’s not proper. And Apollo wouldn’t want me to.”

“But you’re in love with him.”

He frowned. “It was a temporary affair, nothing more and—”

“I saw you together in the city.” He froze, color draining from his face. “So, sit here and lie to me and yourself all that you want, but I know what I saw.”