Page 20 of For the Strange and Surprising

I don’t want to spend my night knocking on doors to let their families know they’ve lost a loved one. But I won’t delegate that heartbreaking task to anyone else. It’s my burden to bear for sending them on a trip that I suspected was an ambush.

They’re skilled fighters, and I thought they could handle an attack. But I was mistaken, and the weight of that decision lands on me.

Selmar squeezes my shoulder as he says, “They’ll live. They’ll be out of commission for a few weeks, but they will heal, young prince. You need not worry about your people tonight. We’re capable of seeing them through this.”

Imryll stands in front of me, blocking my view as his mentor walks away. He frowns as he shakes his head. His tired eyes appear bruised and wary when he looks at me.

“Stop,” he demands. “This isn’t your fault. Suspicion and certainty are two different things.”

I nod, but I don’t believe him.

“This is certainty, Imryll. Now we know that someone who entered the catacombs is a traitor. We need to be more aware of who has access to the rotations and locations.”

“Talodus is taking care of that. The guards stationed outside the common room were instructed to make notes of who entered. He and Connak escorted Ada to her room and then went to retrieve the list. We can talk about it tomorrow once we’ve all rested and can look at this with fresh eyes.”

I sigh but thank him for stepping up, for doing more than what is required of him. He brushes off my gratitude as he pushes me out of the door.

“Why don’t you go for a walk?” he suggests. “I know you won’t be sleeping until you let go of all this restless energy and paranoia. We’ve got the hunters sorted, and your princess has been locked away for the night.”

I glare at him, and he shrugs his left shoulder. His pursed lips do nothing to hide his amusement.

“The ocean will bring you some clarity, and maybe you can search for those fucks Ada was asking about.”

“Do you think it’s strange that the attacks were worse the same day she arrived?”

He scoffs at me. “I think you’re looking for a connection where there isn’t one. The attacks have gradually gotten worse over the last month, and that has nothing to do with her.”

His sparkling green gaze bores into me, and I widen my eyes as I shake my head.

“Go on then. I know you have more to say.”

“I just have one question.” Imryll holds two fingers up as mischief flows across his features.

“What’s that?”

“What does your mother think of her?”

When I narrow my eyes, he nods.

“That’s what I thought.” He chuckles as he drops his middle finger, then he leans closer to me. “What do you think fucks look like? I know she wasn’t talking about sex, but I don’t quite understand the context.”

I shove at his chest, and my nostrils flare when he throws his head back to laugh.

“I can’t fathom why that’s so funny to you,” I hiss. “She knows who I am, yet she doesn’t care to hold her tongue. I’ve never met anyone who wants to fight so badly, nor have I seen the things she had on her feet. She’s—”

“Under your skin?” Imryll interrupts.

I growl at him. “She’s a Shade, Imy. And I’m the only one thinking clearly enough to see it.”

The grin falls off his face. “I’ve just spent hours with her. She’s not faking the shock, Ecaeris. She doesn’t know anything about this world. But—”

“But what?” I inquire, observing him replay his memories of the day.

“She’s interesting. Quiet and attentive when you’re not around. Snarky and defensive when you are.”

He rubs his jawline while I wait for him to complete his thoughts.

“She was terrified of me stitching her arm up without numbing it, but she acted like the crab berry extract only stung for a minute or two. Selmar has been here forever, and the last time I used it on him, he passed out from the pain.”