Page 22 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

Chapter7

Talodus

DAY TWENTY-NINE

The rap of knuckles against wood jars me from a pleasant dream. It’s my off day, and I could curse my neighbor to the shores of the darkness and back for this untimely intrusion. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time he’s missed the start of his route.

It’s the third time.

This week.

I glance out the window and see the sun barely peeking through the marsh trees. The wake-up calls are coming earlier and earlier; they infringe on my precious few hours of sound sleep.

“Marren,” I yell, banging my fist on the wall between our apartments. “You’re on duty.”

“Talodus.”

The knocking is coming from outside my door. Based on the harshness of his voice, Ecaeris has been trying to wake me for longer than he’d like.

“Tal. Get up. We need to go.”

Something in his tone sends chills racing down my spine. I jump from the bed, grabbing the first pair of trousers I can find. I yank a shirt from the drawer, leaving it open in my haste to rush to the door.

“What is it?” I ask.

His expression could drown armies.

“There was another beast attack—”

“When?” I demand.

“A few hours ago. I would have explained that, but you didn’t let me finish.”

“How many were injured?” I slam the door shut behind me and follow him down the path to the clinic.

He rubs his temples. “Three. Thankfully, they escaped with minor injuries.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

“There was another attack.”

I grimace. “Two attacks in one night?”

He glances at me, watching as his words sink in. “Not according to Rinya.”

“Rin?”

“Ada and Imryll are with her,” he explains. “She’s beat up, but she insists she’ll be fine. She wants to speak to you.”

“Why is Ada there already?”

“When the guards came banging on my door, they woke her up too. She’s too stubborn to be deterred. And who am I to keep her from her friend?”

Despite the situation, I grin at him. “She told you to get out of her way, didn’t she?”

He scoffs, almighty in his arrogance. “She said, and I quote, ‘Fuck all the way out of my face unless you want to be in the exam room beside her.’ I still don’t know when she’s being serious, so I brought her with me.”

“You mean—”