Book 5: The Past Returns

Ingrid

In the end, Raven comes to find me.

The Carmine Pox seem to be magic words. Xandra disappears with Hana, presumably to check on the twins and make sure the inherited form hasn’t somehow turned into something worse. Sahin offers me a final, apologetic nod before stumping out. And then I just sit there.

Where else should I go? I doubt there’s anywhere in this castle that isn’t talking about Amval or me, and if somebody asks me about it….

I’ve just been cleared of murder. I don’t particularly want to put myself up for suspicion again by committing one in broad daylight.

So I’m still sitting on that same damn couch when Raven knocks softly then pushes the door open. Vespera dozes on her hip, her tiny, peaceful face the exact opposite of Raven’s worried one.

“Everyone has been looking for you,” she says.

“I was never lost,” I reply.

She steps in, shuts the door, and sits on the couch beside me. A few inches away. She